Innovating Sustainable Footwear: Vivobarefoot and Balena Unveil 3D Printed, Compostable Shoes

The global fashion industry, and particularly footwear manufacturing, faces a significant environmental challenge. Consider this staggering statistic: approximately 25 billion pairs of shoes are produced annually worldwide. Disturbingly, a staggering quarter of these shoes are discarded and end up in landfills after just a single year of use. This highlights a critical issue within an industry widely recognized as one of the biggest contributors to environmental pollution, from resource depletion and manufacturing waste to massive carbon footprints and non-biodegradable materials. In response to this pressing crisis, a growing number of forward-thinking companies are actively seeking innovative solutions to redefine fashion, integrating principles of sustainability, longevity, and circularity into their core operations. Today, we delve into the inspiring work of one such company, Vivobarefoot, which is pioneering a radical shift in footwear production. Vivobarefoot recently announced an exciting new partnership with Balena, a collaboration focused on bringing truly 3D printed shoes to the market, designed from the ground up to be compostable and circular. This initiative represents a significant step towards mitigating the immense environmental impact of the footwear sector.

Vivobarefoot, a distinguished British shoe label established in 2012, has built its reputation on the philosophy and production of barefoot shoes. Their foundational credo, “Only nature is truly sustainable,” encapsulates a comprehensive approach to environmental responsibility. This philosophy extends beyond merely sourcing sustainable materials; it embraces a holistic vision for human well-being and ecological harmony. Vivobarefoot believes that environmentally friendly resources alone are insufficient to foster a truly healthy and sustainable lifestyle. Instead, they advocate for a broader societal shift towards increased physical activity and a return to our innate, natural modes of movement. This means re-engaging with the environment through practices like walking barefoot and utilizing footwear crafted from materials that naturally return to the earth. These two pillars — promoting natural movement and utilizing compostable materials — are central to how Vivobarefoot aims to reconnect individuals with their intrinsic relationship to the natural world, particularly through the very shoes they wear.

10,000 years ago, people either walked barefoot or made footwear from materials provided by nature. Vivobarefoot is inspired by this concept.

Vivobarefoot and Balena Championing a ‘Degrowth’ Movement in the Footwear Industry

In their dedicated mission to “bring people closer to nature again,” Vivobarefoot is committed to developing an advanced line of regenerative shoes and products specifically designed to close the natural material loop. This ambitious goal forms the cornerstone of their strategic cooperation with Balena, a pioneering materials research company. Balena has carved out a unique niche by focusing intensely on the development and production of compostable, recyclable, and bio-based thermoplastic materials. At the heart of their innovation is BioCir®flex, a revolutionary material that seamlessly integrates these critical properties into a single, high-performance elastomer. This material is not only exceptionally durable and flexible, meeting the rigorous demands of footwear, but it also possesses a crucial feature: it is fully biodegradable. This means that products manufactured from BioCir®flex will naturally decompose after disposal, preventing them from contributing to the escalating landfill crisis and allowing their components to reintegrate harmlessly into the environment. This groundbreaking material offers a genuine alternative to conventional synthetic polymers, which persist in ecosystems for centuries.

Expanding on their material innovation, Balena offers BioCir3D, a specialized variant of BioCir®flex, meticulously engineered for optimal performance in 3D printing applications. This material’s unique properties, combined with the inherent advantages of additive manufacturing, unlock unprecedented possibilities for footwear design and production. 3D printing provides unparalleled opportunities for personalization, allowing for the creation of shoes tailored precisely to individual foot anatomies and aesthetic preferences. Beyond bespoke design, it also facilitates on-demand manufacturing. This means that shoes can be produced only when an order is received, dramatically reducing overproduction, inventory waste, and the associated environmental footprint of traditional mass production. The synergy between Balena’s advanced, biodegradable materials and the flexibility of 3D printing lays the foundation for a truly sustainable and responsive manufacturing model.

The collaboration between Vivobarefoot and Balena harnesses these combined strengths to launch a transformative sustainable production project. The culmination of their efforts is the VivoBiome, an innovative digital scan-to-print system. This groundbreaking platform empowers users to effortlessly order their customized, individual, and sustainable shoes with a simple click. The process promises a seamless experience, from precise foot scanning to the final 3D printed product, ensuring an unparalleled fit and adherence to sustainable principles. Through these circular shoes, both partners are not merely offering a product; they are actively pursuing the ambitious goal of instigating a “degrowth” trend within the fashion industry. This concept of degrowth, in this context, challenges the conventional paradigm of endless growth and consumption. Instead, it advocates for a more conscious, responsible approach to production and consumption, prioritizing durability, regenerativity, and end-of-life solutions that minimize environmental impact. Vivobarefoot and Balena envision a future where footwear consumption is transformed from a linear, wasteful process into a circular, regenerative one, fundamentally altering our relationship with the products we buy and discard.

Customized, Circular Shoes in Just One Click: The VivoBiome Process

The promise of bespoke, eco-friendly footwear delivered to your door is compelling, but how exactly does one acquire these innovative VivoBiome shoes? The acquisition process is meticulously designed for individualization and efficiency. Upon receiving an order, the journey begins with the creation of an individual design, specifically tailored to the end-user. This customization is facilitated by patented software, a sophisticated tool that allows for the generation of unique CAD geometries for various components, most notably the outsoles. This software ensures that the shoes are precisely designed to conform to the specific shape of the customer’s last or foot, a critical aspect for optimal comfort and the promotion of natural foot function, aligning perfectly with Vivobarefoot’s barefoot philosophy. The shoes themselves adhere to a minimalist design aesthetic, characteristic of Vivobarefoot’s core offerings. They feature thin and highly flexible soles, which are essential for sensory feedback and unrestricted movement, mimicking the experience of walking barefoot. Additionally, a wide cut ensures ample toe splay and natural foot articulation, further enhancing comfort and promoting freedom of movement. Following this precise design phase, the physical production commences. The shoes are then carefully printed using a combination of biosynthetic and recycled materials, showcasing the commitment to both innovation and environmental stewardship at every stage of the manufacturing process.

The VivoBiome project has been progressing steadily through its developmental stages. It entered a crucial test phase in July of the previous year, during which approximately 200 individuals across the United Kingdom were recruited to rigorously evaluate the VivoBiome shoes. These testers provided invaluable feedback on various aspects, including their performance under different strains and environments, as well as their overall wearing comfort. The insights gathered from this initial testing phase are instrumental in refining the product and the production process. The program is now advancing into its next critical stage. Balena and Vivobarefoot have publicly announced their commitment to dedicate the subsequent six months to intensive testing and further iterative development, ensuring that the final product meets the highest standards of quality, durability, and sustainability. Looking ahead, the partners anticipate making these cutting-edge shoes available to customers within the next 18 months. The ultimate vision is set for 2025, when it should become possible for consumers to effortlessly order fully compostable, 3D-printed shoes with the simple click of a mouse, and subsequently receive them on their feet a mere ten days later. This expedited delivery, combined with the revolutionary sustainable design, is poised to set a new benchmark in the footwear industry. For those eager to learn more about Vivobarefoot’s broader initiatives and sustainable commitments, further information can be found HERE.

The collaboration between Balena and Vivobarefoot heralds a new era for sustainable footwear, combining cutting-edge 3D printing technology with innovative compostable materials to create shoes that are not only personalized and comfortable but also truly eco-conscious from creation to decomposition. What are your thoughts on these revolutionary 3D printed, compostable shoes from Balena and Vivobarefoot? We invite you to share your opinions and insights by leaving a comment below. You can also engage with us and join the conversation on our LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter pages! Don’t miss out on the latest advancements and news in the world of 3D printing by signing up for our free weekly newsletter here, delivered straight to your inbox. Additionally, you can explore all our engaging video content and interviews on our dedicated YouTube channel. Join our community and stay informed about the innovations shaping our future!

*All Photo Credits: Vivobarefoot