Everybody enjoys a great pair of sneakers. While I’m not a hardcore sneakerhead, I do find myself obsessing over specific styles now and then. Durability is usually key when picking out sneakers—we all want shoes that will last. However, some sneakers end up lasting longer than we expect. In a recent Washington Post article by Daliah Singer, He digs a little deeper into the harsh reality of the environmental impact these sneakers are having.
How often do you wear your favorite sneakers? On average, most people wear them for around 100 days. But surprisingly, these shoes are built to last a whopping 1,000 years, as stated by Yuly Fuentes-Medel, the program director of climate and textiles at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The secret lies in their rubber soles, mainly composed of various plastics and synthetic petroleum-based rubber, creating their remarkable durability.
In addition to the extended breakdown period of these shoes, there’s another issue related to their rubber soles. Picture yourself on a stroll through nature, walking along a path with beautiful leaves and crunchy dirt. Unfortunately, as you are walking, your shoes are leaving behind shreds of microplastics that remain on the natural ground.
While many footwear brands are taking positive steps toward sustainability by utilizing recycled materials or offsetting their carbon emissions, they often overlook the significant issue of the rubber and plastic used in the soles of the shoes.
In the Washington Post article, Singer interviews Thomas Bogle, the owner of Solum, a brand that creates completely plastic-free shoes. Bogle collaborated with Gene Kelly to develop shoe soles crafted from beeswax, vegetable oils, and plant byproducts like corn husks and hemp leaves. Singer notes, “Bogle explained that Solum’s soles naturally release biologically derived nutrients into the soil as they wear down over time.” Instead of traditional shoes that leave behind microplastics and rubber, Solum offers a small ecological contribution with each step.
On top of that, Solum Shoes biodegrade in just three years. You might wonder why you chose shoes designed to break down. However, consider your experience with your last pair of sneakers. How long did they truly last with regular wear before the soles wore out, became uncomfortable, or even developed holes? Personally, my sneakers typically become uncomfortable and show visible signs of wear within one to two years, sometimes three. At that point, they’re either donated or discarded, yet they persist on the planet for another thousand years, untouched and unworn.
So yeah, you’re investing in a pair of shoes that will only last three years, but it’s also an investment in your future. By choosing shoes like Solum, you’re actively reducing your contribution to the staggering 92 million tonnes of textile waste generated globally each year from discarded clothing and shoes. I believe that is something worth investing in.
*Proofread and Edited with AI Assistance
Katie Galimanis 
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