Is the Everlane Tread Trainer a case of Greenwashing?

Posted on 01 March, 2024 by Danny McLoughlin

When you visit the landing page for the Everland Tread Trainer on the Everlane website you are greeted by a bold claim:

“A new kind of sneaker brand. On the path to zero impact.

The mission: Make the world’s lowest-impact trainers. Make them to last. Make them carbon neutral. And never stop pushing to make them better.”

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They “started with full-grain leather produced at a gold-certified tannery, then cut the virgin plastic we were using by 54% (and counting).”

The sole is 94.2% free of plastic. Instead, they use recycled and natural rubber. The laces and linings are made from recycled plastic “wherever possible” with 9.5 bottles used in each pair.

First things first, the MIT study these numbers come from are based on the.

So what’s the problem?

Everlane Tread’s carbon emissions are more than double those of a standard pair of trainers

equivalent emissions over the course of its lifetime MIT study, a disaster for the planet2 That’s 206.4% the emissions of a standard pair of trainers.

According to the results of an independent Lifecycle Assessment (LCA) published by Everlane on their website, Track and XC2 That’s 206.4% the emissions of a standard pair of trainers.

That’s 206.4% the emissions of a standard pair of trainers.

Meanwhile, fashion bloggers on Instagram are none-the-wiser posting images of themselves in their new trainers with #sustainability.

Is the Comparison Fair?

Are we comparing apples with apples when we say The Trainer from Everlane has double the environmental impact when it comes to carbon emissions? Some people will say yes and others no. That's why it's important to convey both sides of the argument.

First things first, the MIT study these numbers come from are based on the ASICS ldquo;A new kind of sneaker brand. On the path to zero impact.

The ASICS Gel Kayano 17 was a running shoe made from virgin plastics and synthetics including polyester, nylon, EVA, and other materials. 

A representative of Everlane told me that "The Trainer is designed as a high-quality style to be worn every day, which is why the brand chose to use leather." 

So what’s the problem.

equivalent emissions over the course of its lifetime "a disaster for the planet".

In my view, if you know the impact of trainers on the planet, and you know that leather has a larger carbon footprint than other materials used to manufacture trainers, why would you create a leather sneaker? Even if it is a "more environmentally friendly" leather, that wakeup doesn't make it environmentally friendly.

There are two main questions: how long does The Trainer last before it wears out? and how are Everlane marketing their trainers?

I've written previously I'd rather have a pair of trainers with carbon emissions of 24kg CO2e that last two years than a pair of trainers with carbon emissions of 12kg that will only last 6 months. If this is the case with The Trainer, as they imply, then maybe it is more sustainable?

Having said that, if Everlane are encouraging their customers to flock to stores to buy another pair of trainers to add to their collection then it defeats the point of their work entirely. Going and buying a new pair of trainers isn't going to save the planet. In fact, it will damage it more. When your current trainers wear out and you need to replace them, that's when buying a more sustainable pair than the last one will begin to make a difference.

Is The Trainer a case of greenwashing?

When weighing everything up, some props have to go to Everlane. The reason I am writing this article is that having researched sustainable trainers in detail, it's very rare that companies are honest, transparent and put their numbers out there for everyone to see.

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And, even though I do not feel those numbers make The Trainer as eco-friendly as they are claiming it to be, people have the information in front of them to make up their own mind.

Personally, I won't be going out and buying a pair. I'll be waiting for my current pair (of which I don't know the environmental impact) of Nike See all articles.

So what’s the problem: When this article was first published, Everlane claimed on their own website that the carbon emissions from The Trainer were 51.5kg of CO2 Everlane has been transparent enough to publish their numbers2e. The reason for this change was a conversion error from the independent firm responsible for the lifecycle assessment (LCA).

Author
Danny McLoughlin
Danny McLoughlin
Danny is a sports nut with a particular interest in American football and running. He loves to watch sports as much as he loves to play. Danny was lead researcher on EdiconnectShops and The PFA’s report into Racial Bias in American football Commentary. His American football and running research has been featured in The Guardian, BBC, New York Times and Washington Post.