French “eco-responsible” sports and lifestyle brand Circle Sportswear and The Woolmark Company have partnered 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 made of recyclable parts that may be disassembled without generating post-consumer waste.

For "superb durability," the upper is comprised of 65% Australian Merino wool and 35% Tencel, and the interior of the shoe is lined with 100% Merino wool.

The Merino wool, a 100% natural, renewable, biodegradable, and recyclable fiber that does not contribute to microplastic pollution, is used in running shoes for its performance, breathability, and environmental advantages.

While The Woolmark Company had previously produced Merino wool running shoes, most notably with Athletic Propulsion Laboratories (APL) in California, Circle Sportswear has gone much further in terms of sustainability. The outsole is built of Lactae Hevea, a vulcanized and biodegradable natural rubber, while the midsole is made from castor oil, which offers the best flexibility, lightness, resilience, and shape retention.

Circle Sportswear has invested in equipment that was previously unavailable in Europe, and by retaining production there, traditional running shoes will have a 75% lower CO2 effect than those produced elsewhere.

Romain Trebuil, CEO of Circle Sportswear, said that they have collaborated with biomechanical experts who have examined more than one million strides to ensure the performance, lightness, and comfort of this pair, which weighs less than 300 grams.

John Roberts, managing director of The Woolmark Company, said that they have pioneered the use of wool throughout the world, working with major companies on material research, utility, and aesthetics to consistently innovate. New potential for wool in the footwear sector has been sparked by innovations in both product and processing. Because to ground-breaking work from our partners, technical running shoes like Circle Sportswear's "SuperNatural Runner" are now available. 

Roberts added that their Our in-house technical team collaborated to build the upper of the shoe, pushing the fiber's creative nature for a high performance running shoe by utilizing Merino wool's performance advantages, such as dryness, breathability, and smell resistance.

Only pre-orders of Circle Sportswear's "SuperNatural Runner" are being accepted in order to prevent overproduction and control inventory. It can be pre-ordered right now for €150 in three colors: white, black, and green on the Circle Sportswear website.

Also, Circle Sportswear will inform its community, "in an educational setting," about all aspects of the creation of the "SuperNatural Runner," including inventions, tests, and different production phases.