Footwear Insight

14 • Footwear Insight ~ September/October 2022 footwearinsight.com Sustainability Stories from Around the Industry PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT ECO INNOVATION The GEL-LYTE III CM 1.95 sneaker from ASICS is the result of over 10 years of R&D. Next Level Innovation from ASICS ASICS recently unveiled the new GEL-LYTE III CM 1.95 sneaker, which emits just 1.95kg CO2e across its life cycle, significantly lighter than the lowest CO2e sneakers currently available on the market*, according to the brand. e new sneaker represents a sig- nificant leap forward by ASICS in its commitment to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. e shoe is set to hit retail in Fall/Winter 2023. e exact price point for the shoe has not been announced yet, but expect the price to be comparable to the other GEL-Lyte III models in the ASICS lineup ($120-$170). The brand says the GEL-LYTE III CM 1.95 is the result of over 10 years of research and development by ASICS, beginning when ASICS first partnered with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) back in 2010 to find a better way to accurately measure the CO2e impact across the entire life cycle of a product. Among the sneaker's series of in- novations is a new carbon negative foam, which features as part of its midsole and sockliner. Made from a fusion of bio-based polymers derived partly from sugarcane, these combine to deliver high-level comfort and quality in a sustainable way. Other key design details in the shoe include the use of recycled and solution dyed polyester in the main upper material and the sockliner mesh, reflecting ASICS' target of sourcing 100% of its polyester from recycled sources by 2030. e shoe features a new structure utilizing tape that enables less material usage, and 100% renewable energy used throughout the manufacturing phase. Expect to see learnings from the shoe's R&D process in other prod- ucts moving forward. States Minako Yoshikawa, Senior General Manager, ASICS Sustainability Division, "While the GEL-LYTE III CM 1.95 is a hugely significant milestone on this jour- ney, this is only the beginning. Our ambition now is to continue apply- ing the learnings and build on the blueprint of this shoe in a way that

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