Allbirds Has the Best Sustainable Shoes Out Now

23rd December 2024 EDT RELEASES

Allbirds Has the Best Sustainable Shoes Out Now

Learn about the shoe brand that adorns the feet of presidents, celebrities, models, and the folks at Silicon Valley.

Allbirds Has the Best Sustainable Shoes Out Now

Allbirds Retail US$

These days, almost every major shoe brand has a sustainability initiative or program going, and more and more eco-friendly products are hitting the market than ever. This move parallels today’s consumers, who are much more conscious about what they buy and the brands they support.

According to the PwC 2024 Voice of the Consumer Survey, people are willing to spend an average of “9.7% more on sustainably produced or sourced goods, even as cost-of-living and inflationary concerns weigh”. For a sneaker company to not cater to this trend in some form or fashion (pun intended) would be foolish.

Cutting through the noise in this arena is San Francisco-based Allbirds, launched in 2016 by former professional footballer Tim Brown and co-founder Joey Zwillinger. While most shoe brands take on sustainability as an initiative, with Allbirds, sustainability is the natural byproduct—it’s authentic. The key ingredient behind this is the materials they use.

Allbirds Has the Best Sustainable Shoes Out Now - Allbirds co-founders Joey Zwillinger and Tim Brown

Joey Zwillinger (left) and Tim Brown (right), Allbirds co-founders

“We’re a material science company and a material innovator, and more than anything, we happen to make shoes,” said Zwillinger in an interview with CNBC. Allbirds replace petroleum-based synthetic materials commonly used in footwear production with natural alternatives whenever possible. If not, they invent their own or invest in novel solutions like Plant Leather—all while minimizing the materials used.

Sustainability seems to be sexy, too. Allbirds has caught the attention of some pretty big names. Travis Barker, Chris Hemsworth, Jennifer Lawrence, and Chris Pratt are just a few celebrities who rock Allbirds. And did we mention that presidents wear them, too?

In an attempt to learn more about the brand and what fans can look forward to, we spoke to Brand Lead for Allbirds in Singapore, Jasper Lim, to get his insights.

Jasper Lim, Brand Lead for Allbirds in Singapore

What are the challenges of making shoes with materials not typically used in footwear production?

One main hurdle is cost efficiency, as using unconventional (and sustainable) materials like wool, sugarcane, and natural rubber can require higher costs to process. The solution is to partner with suppliers focused on scaling sustainable materials and leveraging economies of scale.

Co-founder Joey Zwillinger mentioned in an interview with EO that for other sustainable companies, sustainability is usually the focus, whereas for Allbirds, the product comes first. Would you say this differentiating factor is the main reason for Allbirds’ success today?

Yes, Allbirds strongly advocates that a company can be profitable without harming the environment. Many of our consumers in Singapore connect deeply with the brand’s vision and story. Interestingly, more than half of our customer base consists of millennials and younger individuals, many of whom are from the start-up and tech space. This mirrors the brand’s early success in Silicon Valley.

That said, other factors beyond the brand story have also contributed to its success, including timing, cultural influences, trends, and even a bit of luck—such as organic endorsements from notable figures like Barack Obama and Ashton Kutcher.

A result of this ethos was launching with one well-polished silhouette—the wool runner—as opposed to many options, a route most brands usually take. Much to your credit, Time Magazine called it the most comfortable shoe in the world, and it made a million dollars in sales in the first month.

How important is it for Allbirds to stick with this principle of not overcrowding the shelves today, even when the brand has become much bigger and tasted success repeatedly?

Sticking to the principle of simplicity and not overcrowding the shelves remains critical for Allbirds, even as the brand has grown and achieved significant success. This ethos is deeply tied to its identity and mission. By focusing on fewer, high-quality products, the brand stays committed to sustainability—reducing waste and overproduction—and maintains its ability to innovate thoughtfully.

Allbirds SuperLight Wool Runner

The success of the original Wool Runner showed us that customers value purposeful design and exceptional comfort over an overwhelming number of options. Scaling the business doesn’t mean we abandon that philosophy; instead, it challenges the brand to remain disciplined in expanding the product line responsibly. Each new launch must meet the same high function, sustainability, and simplicity standards that define Allbirds.

Allbirds categorizes shoes into everyday wear, travel wear, and activities. Pretty straightforward and easy to understand for the consumer. But for the person with analysis paralysis deciding between the everyday wear and travel wear options, what would you say differentiates the models in the two categories?

For most people, everyday wear shoes are versatile and durable enough for casual travel. I believe it comes down to the individual’s personal preference and requirements. For example, the Tree Lounger model focuses on softness for comfort and breathability for materials.

Allbirds Has the Best Sustainable Shoes Out Now - Tree Lounger

Allbirds Tree Lounger

In contrast, the Tree Dasher 2 model has responsive foam and extra grip. Again, both these models are suitable for casual travel, depending on the terrain of one’s travel destination and individual style preference.

Of course, not forgetting the silhouettes in the activity category—let’s talk performance. What sports do the shoes here cater to? Feel free to speak on the technology aspect of things as well.

Specific models, such as the Tree Dasher 2 and the Tree Flyer, are popular for running and gym workouts, focusing on grip, breathability, and support. It is also interesting to note that the brand has positioned its products as a recovery shoe option for post-workout use in certain events.

Allbirds Has the Best Sustainable Shoes Out Now - Tree Runner Go

Allbirds Tree Runner Go

As an active person, I find this to be true, and my Tree Runner Go is an excellent alternative to simply wearing slippers after a long run to decompress. That said, the brand has recently expanded its range of shoes for trail running, hiking, and golf, and we can potentially see these in Singapore in the next six to 12 months!

What are some initiatives or programs that Allbirds has in place that customers can participate in? We understand there’s the Allbirds ReRun™ marketplace; would you be able to speak on that and any others that may be in effect?

Yes, that is an initiative the brand is working on globally. Here in Singapore, whilst we are currently only available online, concrete plans exist to roll out physical stores within the next six to 12 months. Such stores will give us more leverage to organize similar initiatives and programs!

Congratulations on creating the world’s first net zero carbon shoe, the M0.0NSHOT, slated to arrive in 2025. Would you care to share a little bit about how this shoe came to be and what inspired its design?

Thank you! The idea for the M0.0NSHOT came from realizing that incremental improvements wouldn’t be enough to address the climate crisis—the brand needed to aim for something groundbreaking. This shoe results from years of research, collaboration, and experimentation with natural materials and cutting-edge processes.

Allbirds Has the Best Sustainable Shoes Out Now - M0.0NSHOT

Allbirds M0.0NSHOT

Allbirds drew inspiration from nature, focusing on materials like regenerative wool sourced from farms that actively improve soil health and carbon sequestration and utilizing innovative manufacturing techniques to reduce emissions across the supply chain. The design is minimal yet functional, reflecting the brand ethos of simplicity and sustainability.

The M0.0NSHOT represents not just a product but a statement: net-zero carbon is achievable, and hopefully, it inspires others in the industry to follow suit, so much so that the brand is open-sourcing the toolkit to other industry players.

We understand that Allbirds announced a partnership with adidas in 2020. Would you be able to share about any fruits this partnership has borne?

While I am not at liberty to reply to this question for the brand globally, adding that we do not carry this collaboration range locally, this partnership has increased the brand’s attention and awareness here in Singapore. It also powerfully conveys that traditional competitors can collaborate for a higher purpose!

For the environmentally-conscious consumer who wants the TL; DR—what sets Allbirds apart from other brands who claim to be sustainable?

Allbirds is a B Corp Certified Business, meaning the brand meets the highest social and environmental performance standards, accountability, and transparency. B Corp Certified businesses balance profits and purpose to create a more sustainable impact on the planet. Other well-known B Corp Certified businesses include Patagonia.

What can fans of the brand look forward to in the year 2025 and beyond?

Fans can count on Allbirds to continue its commitment to innovation and sustainability. The brand will continue to push for greater industry collaborations—such as the adidas partnership—to reduce carbon emissions and transform the footwear and fashion sectors.

Source: PwC 2024 Voice of the Consumer Survey

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