Puma has developed an experimental version of its most iconic sneaker, the Suede, to test for a product to make it biodegradable. The Re:Suede, which uses latest technology, will be made from more sustainable materials such as Zeology tanned suede, biodegradable TPE and hemp fibers. The experiment is a pilot in circularity. Designed to help address the challenge of waste management in the footwear industry, Re:Suede experiment will allow Puma to take more responsibility when it comes to tackling the after life of its products.

The pilot will launch in January 2022. Participants will wear Re:Suede for six months to test the durability of product using biodegradable materials in real life, before sending them back to Puma via a takeback infrastructure, designed to move the products to the next step in the experiment. The sneakers will then be subject to an industrial biodegradation process in a controlled environment. The findings will help Puma assess the biodegradable process and unpick essential research and development for the future of sustainable shoe consumption.

Re:Suede is the first circular program to launch under Puma’s Circular Lab – a new innovation hub, which is led by Puma’s sustainability and design experts who work to develop the future of the company’s circularity programs.