Sustainable luxury footwear brand Koio launches 99% biodegradable sneaker

By

Jennifer Braun

Published
Apr 28, 2023

NYC-based sustainable luxury footwear brand Koio has introduced its first 99% biodegradable sneaker, marking a major milestone for the brand and luxury footwear industry. 

Dubbed the 'Mello', the new sneaker is a product of two years of extensive research. Handcrafted in Italy, it is made with carbon-neutral, regenerative leathers, and features a Lactae Hevea sole that's handmade in France from rubber-tree milk, corn, wool and kenaf insole and certified organic cotton laces.

The Mello is available in both men’s and women’s sizes and comes in three of Koio’s signature colorways—Castagna, a warm brown shade, Summit, an off-white shade, and Onyx, a true-black shade. It retails for $395 and is exclusively available on koio.co.  

“The Mello is our greatest sustainable achievement to date, and we’re so proud of it,” said co-founder Johannes Quodt. “This shoe is proof that no sustainable goal is unachievable, and we hope it inspires our friends in the footwear industry to take big steps towards a more sustainable future.” 

Koio offers a growing collection of carbon-neutral shoes, which are made using leathers from regenerative farms in the Swiss Alps. By prioritizing these regenerative farming methods, Koio saves 43.75 pounds of carbon for each pair of shoes.

“Our customers have shown a genuine enthusiasm for our carbon-neutral shoes. The first release for Earth Day 2022 sold out within a couple of weeks. Everyone’s excitement about the planet-restoring power of regenerative leather has really motivated us on this journey to create a sneaker that is both carbon-neutral and biodegradable,” added co-founder Chris Wichert. “We can’t wait for everyone to experience the Mello.”