Puma introduces Re-Suede with rice husk filled rubber outsole

According to Puma, every aspect of the Re-Suede shoes has been designed with environmental impact in mind including the upper, sockliner, laces and sublining – all made with 100 % recycled materials and a new outsole material.

The Puma Re-Suede is sold in the company's Clever Little Bag

The outsole is made from Double R Rice Rubber, which replaces a portion of the rubber content with a rice husk filler, reducing the overall rubber needed, and saving considerable fossil fuel energy in manufacturing and agricultural resources.

The original Puma Suede was a 70's statement shoe, an 80's Hip-Hop must-have and ever present in the alternative music scene of the 1990's, says the company. Famous for its bright colours, suede material, and custom lacing techniques, the shoe now stands for sustainability.

The synthetic ultra suede upper material is created by Toray, leaders in the development of environmentally-responsible materials. The synthetic suede is comprised of 100 % recycled polyester fibres, produced by a chemical recycling process that reduces the energy consumption and the CO₂ emission by 80 % compared to the production of virgin materials.

The new footwear is very light weight, thereby reducing the fossil fuels needed in transport, saving 15 t of carbon emissions for every ten-thousand pairs shipped. The Re-Suede will be sold in the company's Clever Little Bag, an innovation in sustainable packaging that replaces traditional shoeboxes.