Allbirds Appeals on Fashion Industry To Adopt Carbon Footprint Labels

Allbirds is a shoe company that made a name for itself in the fashion industry as an eco-minded business that is open to sharing its trade secrets.

Their proprietary sugarcane-based EVA foam has been adopted by more than 100 companies, including Reebok, Timberland, and UGG.

Now, Allbirds has released its carbon footprint calculator — a unique tool that shows the environmental impact of a product.

According to Treehugger, the idea is that other shoe and clothing companies will not only add a carbon label to their products, but will also empower customers to make more sustainable purchasing decisions.

Joey Zwillinger, co-founder and co-CEO of Allbirds, explained in a press release: "For too long, many brands have focused on marketing sustainability rather than actually implementing holistic, high-impact solutions — and to an extent, it’s worked. If we want to continue pushing fashion toward a more sustainable future, we need brands to take responsibility for what they share with consumers.”

Using a universal identifier like the carbon footprint, fashion companies could evaluate their sustainability claims and prove their commitment to fighting global warming.

This calculator is like a nutrition label for clothes.

However, in Allbirds they say that carbon labeling isn’t the only thing that matters. The fashion industry should also prioritize repair, rental, and circular or deconstructable design as well.