YY Nation, a new sustainable shoe brand from New Zealand, is launching in the US with its eco-friendly Legacy Footwear Collection, which includes the Nimbo shoe, made from bamboo and algae.

Following three years of intensive research and development, YY Nation’s Nimbo shoe has the industry’s smallest carbon footprint of 5.45kg CO2e (ISO 14067 Certified), which has three times fewer carbon emissions than conventional sneakers, the brand says.

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The entire Legacy Footwear Collection has a carbon footprint ranging from 5.45kg CO2 emissions to 8.15kg CO2 emissions per shoe, which is 42-61% lower than conventional trainer emissions of 14kg CO2, according to YY Nation.

The brand adds its shoes are Zero Carbon Certified and are expected to be carbon negative in 2022. The carbon footprint of all YY Nation shoes have been independently double certified by thinkstep-anz and Ekos.

“We are on a journey to make the world’s most sustainable shoes,” says YY Nation founding director Jeremy Bank. “While we’re off to a good start, good is not enough. These are the worst shoes we’ll ever make in terms of carbon footprint but are a leading sustainable option. It feels great to be making a difference, we just want to keep doing better. With today’s launch, YY Nation is committing to a carbon-negative future that combines rigorous sustainability standards with incredible design and comfort.”

YY Nation’s low carbon footprint design

Made from a combination of carefully selected, sustainable materials like wool, bamboo, pineapple husk, recycled post-consumer plastic, algae and sugarcane, all elements of a YY Nation shoe are designed to be reused and repurposed to minimise waste, with a long-term goal of being 100% sustainable.

Materials include Merino wool, which is ethically sourced and traceable from New Zealand growers, woven bamboo/nylon mesh, pineapple leather, sugarcane, and algae.

“Every component of the Legacy Footwear Collection, from the soles to the laces to the packaging, is made with sustainable, natural or waste materials that would otherwise be landfill-bound,” Bank adds. “We are conscious of how we bring things into the world but more careful of what we leave behind. We are proud to come from Aotearoa, New Zealand. We grew up enjoying nature as our playground, which is why we’re serious about protecting our land and oceans.”

The Legacy Footwear Collection is launching with four styles available in 12 colours. The uppers are available in soft, breathable certified Merino wool or woven bamboo/nylon mesh, the laces are made from post-consumer waste recycled plastics and the outsoles feature either sugarcane or algae combined with recycled rubber.

YY Nation shoes retail from US$98 to $128 and are available in whole and half sizes ranging from men’s sizes 3.5 – 15 and women’s sizes 5 – 13.