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The new “Space Hippie” line of footwear from Nike is a new vegan sneaker made from recycled materials to lessen both their impact and yours on the environment.

All recycled materials were, in fact, trash and would have ended up in a landfill if they weren’t used in the manufacturing of this new shoe line from Nike. The well-known sportswear company has created four very future inspired designs that look like something straight out of a sci-fi movie.

Nike is proud of these new sneakers having the lowest carbon footprint of any shoe they’ve made to date. The company has said in a statement to Vegan News.

“Space Hippie product presents itself as an artifact from the future. It’s avant-garde; it’s rebelliously optimistic,” says John Hoke, Nike’s Chief Design Officer. “Space Hippie is also an idea. It is about figuring out how to make the most with the least material, the least energy, and the least carbon.”

The fly knit constructed uppers on the “Space Hippie’s” use around 85 percent less rPoly plastic by using primarily recycled water bottles, yarn scraps and t-shirts in its construction.

Around 85 percent of the shoes upper fly knit construction is made from recycled materials.

(Picture Courtesy of Nike)

The soles of the new sneakers use 15 percent “Nike Grind Rubber” in combination with 100 percent recycled foam material from various sources.

“I’d say Space Hippie attacks the villain of trash,” adds Hoke. “It’s changed the way we look at materials, it’s changed the way that we look at the aesthetics of our product. It’s changed how we approach putting product together.”

Nike has made a commitment to its “Move to Zero” initiative. The initiative lays out the company’s ongoing goal to become both a zero-carbon and a zero-waste company.

Recycled foam is used in the construction of the sole of the new shoes.

(Picture Courtesy of Nike)

Following in that initiative and to reach their end goal of being carbon neutral and zero waste many of their sneakers including their flagship sneaker the “Nike Air” now uses recycled materials in its construction and renewable energy at their factories.

According to Nike, the new “Space Hippie” sneaker line is a new benchmark representing the companies commitments in responsible and renewable shoe design.

“We believe the future for product will be circular,” says Seana Hannah, Vice President of Sustainable Innovation. “We must think about the entire process: how we design it, how we make it, how we use it, how we reuse it and how we cut out waste at every step.”

Nike isn’t the only shoe company large or small moving toward more sustainable and environmentally friendly shoe manufacturing. Back in 2016, Adidas teamed up with the marine advocacy group Parley to create a line of athletic training wear.

Those products used around 75 percent recycled materials that were upcycled directly from plastic recovered from the world’s oceans.

Adidas has had other releases of sustainable footwear from the Futurecraft.LOOP, to the vegan shoes designed by Stella McCartney, to the Beastie Boys vegan shoes launched in celebration of the groups anniversary.

Many mainstream brands like Converse, Vans, Marks & Spencer, Topshop, and many others are also putting out incredible vegan footwear that we shouldn’t forget. Many like Converse and Vans have had vegan sneakers available since they began decades ago.

Pictured are the Space Hippie 01, 02, 03 and 04 with varying design changes from straps to laces or no laces. Perfect for a run around the block or a trip to Mars.

(Picture Courtesy of Nike)

The Space Hippie 01, 02, 03 and 04 will be available this spring for Nike members in SNKRS and SNEAKERS. They will also be available at Nike House of Innovation flagship locations and at select retailers nationwide in the United States and other countries to be announced.

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