PUMA Breaks New Ground in Sustainable Footwear

HERZOGENAURACH, Germany, September 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

PUMA Introduces A Recycled Suede in the 'Clever Little Bag'

Sportlifestyle company PUMA introduces PUMA Re-Suede.  PUMA took one of the Brand's most well-known and iconic shoes, the Suede, and re-tooled each component with the highest degree of recycled materials, delivering sustainable style through an unforgettable look.

     (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20110916/481056 )

An icon of culture, the original PUMA Suede was a 70's statement shoe, an 80's Hip-Hop must-have and ever present in the alternative music scene of the 1990's.Famous for its bright colours, suede material, and custom lacing techniques, the PUMA Suede now stands for another thing…sustainability.

The PUMA Re-Suede has been developed using the latest materials and processes in eco-friendly product innovation. Every aspect of the shoes has been designed with environmental impact in mind including the upper, sockliner, laces and sublining…all made with 100% recycled materials and an innovative new outsole material.

The synthetic ultra suede upper material is created by Toray, leaders in the development of environmentally-responsible materials. The synthetic suede is comprised of 100% recycled polyester fibers, produced by a chemical recycling process that reduces the energy consumption and the CO2 emission by 80% compared to the production of virgin materials. Additionally, the PUMA Re-Suede outsole is made from Double R Rice Rubber, which replaces a portion of the rubber content with a rice husk filler, reducing the overall rubber needed, and saving considerable fossil fuel energy in manufacturing and agricultural resources.

The new footwear is incredibly light weight, thereby reducing the fossil fuels needed in transport, saving 15 tons of carbon emissions for every ten-thousand pairs shipped. The Re-Suede will be sold in PUMA's Clever Little Bag, a cutting-edge innovation in sustainable packaging that replaces traditional shoeboxes.  

For more information, visit: http://www.puma.com/cleverlittlebag