Norda introduces running shoes made of bio-based Dyneema fiber

Norda, a Canadian shoe company, has released the first seamless trail running shoe manufactured using DSM’s bio-based Dyneema fiber. Norda 001, the company’s main product, uses bio-based Dyneema to improve performance and sustainability in a lightweight design.

The shoe upper is made entirely of Dyneema fabric, which benefits from the world’s strongest fiber’s inherent characteristics. Dyneema is molecularly designed to give high strength, low weight, waterproof, and breathable characteristics, combining the technical capabilities of ultra-light materials with an aesthetic design that does not compromise strength or durability.

In addition to the increased foot stability and wearer comfort of the upper, Dyneema fibers are utilized in the shoelaces to enhance abrasion resistance and flexibility, offering four times the strength of traditional lace materials such as nylon and polyester.

Willamina Martire, the co-founder of Norda, said that when they set out to design the Norda 001, their goal was to produce an ultra-strong and durable high-performance trail running shoe that was also environmentally friendly. They had to explore outside of the conventional materials utilized in the footwear business to achieve their goal.”

Bio-based Dyneema offers the same performance qualities as traditional Dyneema while emitting 90% less carbon than generic HMPE. DSM employs the mass balancing technique to minimize dependency on fossil fuel-based resources by sourcing renewable, bio-based feedstock.