# Backyard Compostable Sneakers Public School Created a Sustainable Sneaker from Kombucha Waste By Laura McQuarrie | Published 2021-03-10 | Eco Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/compostable-sneakers References: [dezeen](https://www.dezeen.com/2021/03/10/public-school-compostable-trainers-theanne-schiros-onexone/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+dezeen+%28Dezeenfeed%29) & [researchgate.net](https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Theanne-Schiros) Public School made the most of an alternative to leather, grown by microbes, to create a backyard compostable sneaker. The New York streetwear label collaborated with material scientist Theanne Schiros to create the symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY) that forms most of the footwear design, including the upper, midsole and laces. Notably, this is a key component of making kombucha and through fermentation, the SCOBY creates a substitute to leather that's said to have "up to a 97% lower carbon footprint than synthetic polyurethane (PU) leather," according to Schiros. The sneakers made with microbial bio-leather are designed to last several years but they can also be broken down in a backyard compost pile in a matter of months. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.6/10 - Popularity: 81% | Activity: 77% | Freshness: 9% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Eco](https://www.trendhunter.com/eco) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Microbial Bio-leather Footwear:** There is an opportunity for companies to develop sustainable footwear using microbial bio-leather technology. - **Backyard Composting:** Opportunities exist for companies to create products that can be easily composted in a backyard, reducing waste and environmental impact. - **Sustainable Materials:** Companies can explore the use of sustainable materials in their products to reduce their carbon footprint and appeal to environmentally conscious consumers. ### Who This Affects Most - **Footwear Industry:** The footwear industry can benefit from investing in sustainable materials and production methods, such as microbial bio-leather technology. - **Sustainability Industry:** The sustainability industry can promote and develop backyard composting solutions for easy and eco-friendly disposal of products. - **Fashion Industry:** The fashion industry can incorporate sustainable materials and design practices to reduce waste and promote environmental awareness. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Compostable Sole Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/swave-sport.md) - [Kombucha By-Product-Formed Leathers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/scoby.md) - [Mushroom-Based Sneaker Boxes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mr-bailey-x-adidas-originals-ozlucent.md) - [Living Footwear Concepts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/jessica-thies-synthiesis.md) - [Sustainable Modular Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/modular-sneaker-1.md) - [Grown Microbial-Woven Fabrics](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/compostable-fabric.md) - [Plastic-Free Compostable Sportswear](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/organic-athletic.md) - [Textile-to-Textile Recycled Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/allbirds-remix.md) - [Sustainable Single-Piece Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/on-cloudboom-strike-ls.md)