Cole Haan launches its first sustainable shoe featuring dandelion rubber

Cole Haan, the iconic American performance lifestyle brand and retailer, introduces Generation ZERGRAND II featuring FlowerFoam™, the company’s first-ever sustainable sneaker. Generation ZERGRAND II was created with the customer in mind, and it demonstrates the brand’s dedication to delivering more ecologically responsible products without sacrificing performance, comfort, or craftsmanship.

The first product of Cole Haan’s new Change Forward™ project for Sustainable Innovation and Natural Design is Generation ZERGRAND II. Change Forward™ symbolizes the Company’s goal to improve themselves and the world around them by actively seeking naturally derived or recycled materials for many of its product components. This program also formally extends the work the Company has done over the years to decrease waste throughout its supply chains, such as using recycled materials in packing and shipping cartons.

All Cole Haan items designated SUSTAINABLE will now contain a minimum of 25% organically sourced or recycled content by weight.

Jack Boys, CEO of Cole Haan, said that they feel that they must all do their share to conserve the planet. Cole Haan has always been and continues to be publicly committed to doing their share to contribute to positive change in the future. This is how they fight for the things they believe in. Saving Mother Earth now, more than ever, necessitates a sense of urgency. While they are confident that their sustainable Generation ZERGRAND II product will provide the all-day performance that our consumers have come to expect, we also encourage everyone to pick sustainable products in all parts of their lives, regardless of brand or retailer.

Generation ZERGRAND II is a ground-up breakthrough product. Its outsole is composed of patent-pending FlowerFoam™, which is made up of at least 25% natural dandelion rubber. The FlowerFoam™ outsole absorbs impact while providing all-day responsive cushioning and energy return.

David Maddocks, Brand President, Cole Haan, said that Cole Haan has pioneered a sustainable, performance outsole manufactured from natural dandelion rubber. For more than a century, they have been redefining footwear and bringing revolutionary goods to our customers. Through their Change Forward project, they are currently inventing for their environment today and tomorrow. Their entire firm is excited about bringing this product to market and transforming their product line as a result of this project.

Generation ZERGRAND II is more than just floral power. Its upper is comprised of vegan microfibre suede with 21% recycled material and reconstituted felt fabric with 85% recycled plastic bottles (rPET).

The laces are composed entirely of rPET. The Ortholite® Hybrid™ footbed is composed of 5% recycled rubber, 15% production waste foam, and a 100% rPET fabric top sheet. Generation ZERGRAND II, like other Cole Haan products, adheres to the Cole Haan philosophy of Natural Design, which focuses on four major benefits: Natural Motion, Responsive Cushioning, Energy Return, and Breathability.

Scott Patt, Chief Creative Officer of Cole Haan said that after leading the pace for innovation in our industry for several years, this is a huge move for the Cole Haan brand. They’re expanding their Natural Design concept with FlowerFoam™ technology and their charter to create goods with more organically derived and recycled components, marrying their attractive, flexible products with the sustainability criteria their consumers have grown to expect.

Starting February 10, 2022, Generation ZERGRAND II and more sustainable solutions are available on ColeHaan.com and in the select US and international shops. The men’s and women’s sizes are available in a variety of colors and retail for $130 USD, with more innovation set to arrive in the coming seasons.