American firm Woolybubs brings sustainable baby shoe

The shoes are made from a proprietary fabric that has the soft hand of silk and the durability of synthetic fibres. They can withstand normal baby wear and tear and will hold up to the elements. Once outgrown, the shoes can be placed in boiling water and in 40 minutes, will dissolve into a safe, non-toxic liquid. The liquid can be poured down the drain. Bacteria decomposes the dissolved solution back to CO2 and water. The shoes will also break down in industrial composting as an alternative to boiling, the company said in a media release.

“The Newbie is our first step to empowering more parents with ways to leave a smaller footprint,” said Megan Milliken, Woolybubs co-founder. “As parents of three we’ve seen first-hand the waste that comes with having kids. Hand-me downs are a great option, but eventually they wear out and end up in landfill. The idea behind the Newbie was to create a product that will disappear once outgrown, leaving behind less harm to the planet.”

“They won’t dissolve in the rain or when hand washed,” continued Milliken. “They’ve been rigorously tested here in the Pacific Northwest, and we can confidently say they meet the performance standards of even the most adventurous crawling and toddling babies. For new parents, it’s hard to resist all the adorable things out there for your baby, but with the Newbie, parents finally have a really cute and practical option without the guilt.”

The Newbie is available in sizes 0-12 months and comes in four colours.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KD)