# Algae-Enriched Foam Footwear Native Shoes' Sneakers are Made with a Single Piece of Foam By Laura McQuarrie | Published 2019-10-24 | Eco Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/native-shoes-sneakers References: [dezeen](https://www.dezeen.com/2019/10/24/native-shoes-jefferson-bloom-algae-foam/) & [nativeshoes](https://www.nativeshoes.com/) Native Shoes recently unveiled a [unique new footwear design](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-ripple-shoe) that's made from a single piece of algae-enriched EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate)—including the shoe's upper, midsole and outsole. The design fuses EVA with 10% Bloom foam, which is made with repurposed algae. According to the footwear brand's design and development manager Gabe Lam, "Replacing even this amount of the EVA with Bloom cleans 80 litres of water per pair, and keeps 15 balloons of CO2 from entering the atmosphere in comparison with a pair made up of 100% EVA." As global temperatures rise, algae is becoming more prevalent in fresh waterways and this solution helps to keep waterways free and clear. On top of having [environmental benefits](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/allbirds-m00nshot-zero), the sneakers are durable, [water-resistant](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/waterproofshoe) and easily cleaned thanks to their unique design. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.7/10 - Popularity: 81% | Activity: 82% | 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 ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Algae-enriched Footwear:** Using algae-enriched foam in footwear design provides environmental and performance benefits. - **Sustainable Materials:** The use of repurposed algae in footwear highlights the trend towards sustainable material choices. - **Single-piece Design:** The innovative single-piece construction of the shoes offers durability, water resistance, and easy cleaning. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Footwear:** The footwear industry can explore the use of algae-enriched foam to create sustainable and high-performance products. - **Sustainability:** The sustainability industry can incorporate algae-based materials in various product categories, such as fashion and accessories. - **Eco-friendly Manufacturing:** Manufacturers can adopt the single-piece design concept to optimize production, reduce waste, and minimize environmental impact. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Living Footwear Concepts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/jessica-thies-synthiesis.md) - [Algae-Made Slippers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vegan-slippers.md) - [Sustainable Single-Piece Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/on-cloudboom-strike-ls.md) - [Compostable Sole Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/swave-sport.md) - [Sustainable Running Shoe Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/supernatural-runner.md) - [Net Zero Carbon Shoes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/allbirds-m00nshot-zero.md) - [Bio-Circular Trail Shoes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/norda-001a.md) - [Sustainable 3D-Printed Footwear](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/4dfwd-1.md) - [Recycled Material Casual Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/recovery-mode.md)