CleanStep™ is a 50/50 mix of virgin thermoplastic rubber (or TPR) and algae-based resin, a material that not only helps clean and filter polluted water, but keeps CO2 from entering the atmosphere. Algae is one of the fastest growing plants on earth, making it the perfect resource to create a sustainable material.
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CleanStep™: our new technology
1-What is CleanStep™?
2-How did CleanStep™ come about?
Our journey started with RPPL (pronounced RIPPLE) last fall, our sustainable sneaker crafted with a knit upper made out of recycled plastic bottles and a sustainable EVA sole made from algae biomass. Since then, we have been working on expanding our sustainability offering to our core fashion styles.
Sustainable textiles are becoming more and more available, however, the development of sustainable alternatives for fashion footwear components is happening at a slower pace. That’s why we’ve taken matters into our own hands and partnered with a leading sustainable materials provider Algix to co-create a new innovative and low-impact material made out of algae biomass: CleanStep™.
Algae is a renewable plant source that does not require pesticides, fertilizers, irrigation, or human labor to grow. In other words, unlike crops like cotton or corn, there is no intensive agriculture involved. Harvesting helps reduce algae blooms that can be toxic to people and marine life. After a harvest, algae will quickly regenerate.
CleanStep™: the environmental impact
3-What is algae’s role in the environment and why do we have an algae bloom crisis at hand?
Algae is an aquatic plant that is naturally present in marine and freshwater ecosystems. Algae grow while absorbing carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere and producing oxygen. Nitrogen and phosphorus support the growth of algae, which helps to feed marine wildlife. But, nutrient pollution can cause algae to grow beyond what ecosystems can support. An algae bloom produces toxins while also reducing oxygen in the water, causing large numbers of fish to die. Lately, algae blooms have become bigger, more common and longer lasting. This is the algae bloom crisis.
4-Is algae bad for the environment?
Algae is an essential part of our ecosystem. However, algae negatively impacts our fresh water sources when it becomes overpopulated due to a high presence of nitrogen and phosphorus from industrial production and agriculture runoff. Dense algae growth creates darkness and prevents photosynthesis, causing the algae to consume the oxygen in the water and leaving insufficient amounts of oxygen available for marine animals to survive. Using algae in our shoes helps alleviate this negative impact.
5-How does CleanStep™ help clean and filter polluted water?
During the harvesting process of the algae, water containing algae is filtered through a harvester unit that skims off the algae, releasing clean water back into the environment. Removing algae also removes the nitrogen and phosphorus it consumed over its lifetime, which helps to counteract nutrient pollution that causes large numbers of fish to die.
6-How does CleanStep™ keep CO2 from entering the atmosphere?
Algae sequesters CO2 as it grows, but when a bloom becomes too large, growth slows. Blooms that are left untouched will eventually die, releasing CO2 back into the atmosphere. Harvesting algae blooms stores that CO2 in the material produced, while also allowing the harvested area to regenerate, thus storing even more CO2. The algae used is not grown or cultivated but harvested from areas in which nutrient availability is so high that algae growth becomes out of hand.
7-How are you sure CleanStep™ outsoles are more sustainable than regular rubber outsoles?
We work with life cycle assessment methodology to make sure we choose the right materials with measurable sustainability benefits. The ALDO Group has a dedicated sustainability team, which includes a Chemical Engineer & Life Cycle Assessment expert and we work with a freelancer with a Ph.D. in climate science.
Our partner BLOOM also hired a third-party consulting firm to assess its algae’s full life cycle environmental impact. The analysis found that algae-based materials are 20 to 41% less environmentally harmful than pure petroleum-based materials.
8-Why is algae considered a sustainable material?
Algae is a renewable, non-food plant source that does not require pesticides, fertilizers, irrigation, land transformation or human labor to grow. In other words, unlike traditional crops like cotton or corn, there is no intensive agriculture involved. Harvesting helps alleviate algae blooms that can be toxic to people and marine life. After a harvest, algae will quickly regenerate.
9-How are your ecofacts calculated?
The ALDO Group’s Corporate Sustainability team is responsible for verifying environmental claims and calculating eco-facts to help understand how one pair makes a difference.
The amount of CO2 removed from the atmosphere is calculated based on a life cycle assessment study conducted by our partner BLOOM, which assesses the CO2 carbon capture in algae growth. This study was peer reviewed by a critical panel, including algae experts. The amount of polluted freshwater cleaned thanks to algae harvesting is based on actual measures from our partner BLOOM on litres of freshwater that have been oxygenated and have had nitrogen and phosphorus removed.
For any additional information about how ecofacts are calculated, contact CSR@aldogroup.com.
CleanStep™: the manufacturing process
10-Who is manufacturing CleanStep™?
The algae biomass raw material is manufactured by BLOOM. BLOOM is a sustainable brand driven by algae-based technologies originating from ALGIX – an eco-innovation company headquartered in Meridian, Mississippi. To learn more about BLOOM, visit: https://www.bloomtreadwell.com/.
11-How is algae turned into an outsole material?
Algae biomass is harvested from lakes and rivers that are affected by algae bloom. The algae is dried and turned into an TPR-algae-based hybrid pellet in BLOOM’s polymer facility in Meridian, MS, USA. The pellets are then shipped to our footwear supplier and then transformed into soles for our shoes. Quality control tests are performed by BLOOM to ensure that the harvest is free from algae-produced toxins from decaying algae blooms.
12-Where is the algae harvested from?
Algae biomass is harvested from fresh water sources such as lakes and rivers that have a high risk of algae overpopulation around the world. Algae is also sourced from water treatment facilities in the US, where it is used as a final decontamination step.
13-Will I be able to smell the algae in the sneaker?
No. A special odor neutralizer specifically developed for BLOOM [https://www.bloomtreadwell.com/] has been added in the production process to ensure the algae won’t dispense any odor.
14-Does ALDO plan on using more innovative materials for future collections?
Environmental consciousness has always been at the heart of ALDO. We strive to influence society not only through fun, fashion & style, but also in our fundamental responsibility to the planet. Our designers and material teams are continually exploring the latest advancements in sustainable materials to incorporate in our products. Our materials will become more & more sustainable as we continue to research and implement new technologies in our products.
To learn more about our commitments and sustainable initiatives, visit https://www.aldoshoes.com/uk/en_UK/aldo-sustainability