Circle Sportswear teams up with The Woolmark Company for eco-friendly running shoes

French “eco-responsible” sports and lifestyle brand Circle Sportswear has partnered with The Woolmark Company to create eco-friendly Merino wool running shoes – the first to be made entirely in Europe from biodegradable and 100% recyclable materials.

The ‘SuperNatural Runner’ is designed for disassembly, with each component selected to be recycled without creating post-consumer waste.

The upper is made from 65% Australian Merino wool and 35% Tencel “for superb durability”, and the shoe is fitted with a 100% Merino wool lining.

The running shoes utilise the performance, breathability and eco benefits of Merino wool, a 100% natural, renewable, biodegradable and recyclable fibre that does not contribute to microplastic pollution.

While The Woolmark Company has created Merino wool running shoes before, notably with California-based Athletic Propulsion Labs (APL), Circle Sportswear has taken the sustainability credentials one step further. The midsole has been created from castor oil by Arkema and has optimal flexibility, lightness, resilience and shape retention, while the outsole is made of Lactae Hevea, a vulcanized and biodegradable natural rubber.

Circle Sportswear has invested in machinery that didn't exist in Europe up until now, and keeping manufacturing within Europe ensures 75% less CO2 impact than traditional running shoes.

Circle Sportswear CEO Romain Trebuil, said: “We have worked with biomechanical experts who have analysed more than one million strides to ensure the performance, lightness and comfort of this pair, which weighs less than 300 grams.”

The Woolmark Company Managing Director John Roberts, commented: “We have pioneered the use of wool across the world, collaborating with leading brands on material development, functionality and aesthetics to constantly innovate.

“Innovations in both product and processing have driven new opportunities for wool in the footwear industry, with breakthrough developments from our partners resulting in the creation of technical running shoes such as the ‘SuperNatural Runner’ by Circle Sportswear.

“Our in-house technical team worked collaboratively on the development of the shoe’s upper, harnessing the performance benefits of Merino wool - such as dryness, breathability and odour resistance - to push the innovative nature of the fibre for a high performance running shoe.”

Circle Sportswear’s ‘SuperNatural Runner’ is only being sold on pre-order to limit overproduction and manage stocks. It is now available for pre-order on the Circle Sportswear website in three colours – white, black and green - at a pre-order price of €150.

Additionally, Circle Sportswear will share innovations, tests and the various stages of production with its community, “in an educational context”, including everything about the fabrication of the ‘SuperNatural Runner’.