Royal DSM, a Dutch multinational global science-based company in nutrition, health and sustainable living, has today introduced first seamless trail running shoe made with bio-based dyneema fibre by Norda, a Canadian shoe brand. The shoe upper is seamlessly constructed with dyneema fabric, which benefits from its intrinsic properties.

 

Dyneema fibre is engineered at the molecular level to provide high strength, low weight, waterproof and breathable properties – fusing the technical performance of ultra-light materials with aesthetic design that does not sacrifice strength or durability, Royal DSM said in a statement. In addition to the increased foot stability and wearer comfort of the upper, dyneema fibres are also used to increase abrasion resistance and stretch in the shoe laces – providing four times the level of strength when compared to standard lace materials like nylon and polyester.

 

“When we set out to create the Norda 001, our mission was to design an ultra-strong and durable high performance trail running shoe, and do it as sustainably as possible,” Willamina and Nick Martire, co-founders at Norda, said in a press release. “To achieve our goal, we had to look outside of the standard materials used by the footwear industry. We realised the properties of bio-based dyneema beat everything available today.”

 

The company further added that, Norda was founded under the mission to empower athletes to unlock their peak potential through innovation and cutting-edge technology. The brand’s flagship product, Norda 001, utilises bio-based dyneema fibre to enhance performance and sustainability in a lightweight construction,” 

 

In line with DSM’s commitment to protect people and the environment they live in, bio-based dyneema boasts the same exact performance as conventional dyneema with a carbon footprint that is 90 per cent lower than generic HMPE. Sourced from renewable, bio-based feedstock, DSM’s latest advancement in fibre technology uses the mass balance approach to further reduce the reliance on fossil fuel-based resources, while still contributing to a more circular economy, the Dutch multinational corporation said.

 

“The latest development with Norda is an example of how dyneema fibres are enabling our customers to deliver the highest performing products made with the most sustainably sourced materials to end consumers,” Marcio Manique, global business director, consumer and professional protection, DSM protective materials said. “Incorporating bio-based dyneema fibres means there’s no compromise when it comes to performance or sustainability.”

 

Together with suppliers, customers and key partners, DSM is building an integrated product portfolio that enables both innovation and environmental responsibility. The partnership between DSM and Norda breaks the historical boundaries of footwear development in the trail running category and proves that performance and sustainability should always run together.