Salomon’s Running Shoe To Ski Boot Concept Earns Innovation Award
Salomon Sports, the global leader in trail running and winter sports equipment, was awarded an Innovation Award at the second annual Outdoor Retailer Innovation Awards for its recyclable running shoe concept. The Outdoor Retailer Innovation Awards recognize achievements in outdoor products, materials and services that are pushing the industry forward. Salomon was honored as a winner amongst 30 finalists for its solution to footwear sustainability that significantly extends the lifecycle of the materials used.
“This running shoe concept is a significant building block in our Play Minded Program, our global initiative that addresses our commitment to operate in a more sustainable and socially responsible manner,” says Becky Marcelliano, outdoor marketing manager for Salomon in North America. “With this concept we wanted to show that it is possible to find more sustainable materials to create footwear. We are honored to be recognized by Outdoor Retailer and we hope that this concept opens the doors for more innovative sustainability solutions throughout the industry.”
Salomon’s Recyclable Concept Shoe, which was launched in November 2019, provides a uniquely Salomon solution to footwear sustainability that extends the lifecycle of the materials used. The concept shoe is made completely of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), a petroleum-based material that has the ability to be reused and remolded due to its thermoplastic properties. TPU is the material used to construct Salomon’s alpine ski boot shells, which means that the 100-percent TPU shoe can be broken down, added to other recycled plastics and completely reused in ski boot construction. The concept was developed over the course of 18 months at Salomon’s Annecy Design Center in the French Alps, and Salomon’s footwear team is working to implement elements of this concept in running footwear that will be available in upcoming seasons.
The Outdoor Retailer Innovation Awards recognize achievements in outdoor products, materials and retail services. For the 2020 awards, finalists were selected by a 19-member judging panel from over 170 entries on four main criteria of spark, design, function and impact. Winners were awarded last night at a live award ceremony during the Outdoor Retailer + Snow Show in Denver.
For more information about Salomon’s Play Minded Program and the Recyclable Concept Shoe, please visit www.salomon.com/en-int/sustainability.
