Canadian shoe retailer Aldo is launching its first sustainable shoe collection, RPPL.
Pronounced like “ripple,” the sleek sneakers are made completely using recycled materials. BLOOM foam, a material which transforms hazardous algae overgrowth into a renewable plant source, is infused into the soles. The rest of the shoe is created with knit fabricated from recycled plastic bottles (each shoe requires three to six bottles to make).
The collection will save 46 tons of carbon dioxide from going into the atmosphere and represents 2.5 million litres of clean, filtered water that goes back into waterways, thanks to the removal of algae.
“The launch of the RPPL is a pivotal step towards our ongoing journey and commitment towards a more sustainable future,” said Aldo senior vice-president Daianara Grullon Amalfitano in a press release. “We’re thrilled to have begun this partnership with the team at BLOOM, a move that has allowed us to explore new materials and methods of production that will have meaningful benefits on our customers, allowing them to choose good, while helping our planet.”
RPPL comes in two colourways for women and four for men, and is available in-stores and online for $90.
This isn’t Aldo’s first big move towards sustainability. In August, it announced plans to phase out single-use shopping bags with the goal of saving 7 million bags globally from going to landfills.