Nike Sparks Controversy With 'Plastic Bead' Shoes



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For many environmentalists, microplastics are the # 1 public enemy. And Nike's latest shoe platform, Joyride, literally contains thousands of them.

About 8,000 copolymer beads fill the pods under a runner's feet. This is the concept of Joyride, Nike's newest entry in the shoe industry. This is a unique way of providing cushioning that could slightly change the running shoes. But some people are already worried that the technology will end up polluting the waterways and the soil and be impossible to clean up.

Here is a little more about the technology and the controversy that surrounds it.

Nike Joyride: how does it work?

<img clbad = "alignnone size-large wp-image-76318" title = "Joyride-Underfoot_native_1600" src = "https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2019/07/Joyride-Underfoot_native_1600 -700×421.jpg "alt =" Joyride-Underfoot_native_1600 “width =” 700 “height = “421” srcset = “https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2019/07/Joyride-Underfoot_native_1600-700×421.jpg 700w, https://s3.amazonaws.com/images. gearjunkie.com/uploads/2019/07/Joyride-Underfoot_native_1600-300×180.jpg 300w, https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2019/07/Joyride-Underfoot_native_1600-768×462.jpg 768w, https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2019/07/Joyride-Underfoot_native_1600-1200×722.jpg 1200w, https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2019 /07/Joyride-Underfoot_native_1600-600×361.jpg 600w, https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2019/07/Joyride-Underfoot_native_1600-200×120.jpg 200w, https: //s3.amazonaws .com / images.gearjunkie.com / uploads / 2019/07 / Joyride-Underfoot_native_1600-400×240.jpg 400w, https: // s3 .amazonaws.com / images.gearjunkie.com / uploads / 2019/07 / Joyride-Underfoot_native_1600-160×96.jpg 160w, https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2019/07/Joyride- Underfoot_native_1600-80×48.jpg 80w, https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2019/07/Joyride-Underfoot_native_1600-1220×734.jpg 1220w, https://s3.amazonaws.com/images. gearjunkie.com/uploads/2019/07/Joyride-Underfoot_native_1600-610×367.jpg 610w, https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2019/07/Joyride-Underfoot_native_1600-166×100.jpg 166w, https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2019/07/Joyride-Underfoot_native_1600-333×200.jpg 333w, https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2019 /07/Joyride-Underfoot_native_1600.jpg 1600w “tailles =” (largeur maximale: 700px) 100vw, 700px “/>

Move forward one step. As you do, about 8000 tiny beads will sink and compress under your feet. In doing so, they offer your run a cushion that Nike describes as "running on bubbles".

Sounds weird? Yes, but the brand bets that many runners will love enough its latest version of its shoes to create five models. The first, the Joyride Run Flyknit, will arrive on the world market on August 15th.

The Joyride platform begins with a midsole made up of four distinct "pods". Nike fills each of these pods with thousands of TPE beads (plastic and rubber copolymer).

According to Nike, the brand has "zoned" each of the four pods. Thus, the nacelle under the heel is larger to absorb shocks, while that of the forefoot facilitates a smooth transition.

For Nike, the goal is a "personalized foot experience".

<img clbad = "alignnone size-large wp-image-76320" title = "nike-joyride-cushioning-animation_original" src = "https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2019/07 /nike-joyride-cushioning-animation_original-700×421.gif "alt =" nike- joyride-cushioning-animation_original “width =” 700 “height =” 421 “srcset =” https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2019/07/nike-joyride-cushioning-animation_original-700×421 .gif 700w, https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2019/07/nike-joyride-cushioning-animation_original-300×180.gif 300w, https://s3.amazonaws.com/images .gearjunkie.com / uploads / 2019/07 / nike-joyride-coussin-animation_original-768×462.gif 768w, https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2019/07/nike-joyride- cushioning-animation_original-600×361.gif 600w, https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2019/07/nike-joyride-cushioning-animation_original-200×120.gif 200w, https: // s3. amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2019/07/nike-joyride-cushioning-animation_original-400×240.gif 400w, https: //s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2019/07/nike-joyride-cushioning-animation_original-160×96.gif 160w, https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads /2019/07/nike-joyride-cushioning-animation_original-80×48.gif 80w, https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2019/07/nike-joyride-cushioning-animation_original-610×367. gif 610w, https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2019/07/nike-joyride-cushioning-animation_original-166×100.gif 166w, https://s3.amazonaws.com/images. gearjunkie.com/uploads/2019/07/nike-joyride-cushioning-animation_original-333×200.gif 333w “tailles =” (largeur maximale: 700px) 100vw, 700px “/>

Nike Joyride and Microplastics

But if technology (and the smart marketing around it) can inspire some runners to try new shoes, what happens when they wear out?

Shortly after the launch of the shoe, Gizmodo dropped an opinion piece reproaching Nike for creating a shoe that, once worn, could lead to a major plastic mess.

"Did not Nike receive the memo on plastic beads?", Asks Andrew Liszewski's article.

Microplastics are small pieces of plastic less than 5 mm long that pollute the environment. Although research on microplastic impacts is very recent, many conservationists are concerned that animals will be caused by a myriad of problems, especially in oceans, lakes and rivers.

Microplastic beads have been used in cosmetic products for about 50 years, until recently. On December 28, 2015, President Obama signed the 2015 Non-Microbead Water Act, banning plastic microbeads in cosmetics and personal care products.

And while Joyride platform beads are larger than microbeads in cosmetics, they still raise concerns about their elimination.

Nike responded to the concerns with a statement:

"Nike is committed to creating a more sustainable future and protecting the future of the sport. Like all sports shoes, Joyride can be recycled as part of the Nike Reuse-A-Shoe program and transformed into new products. We also actively explored the source of microfibers and collaborated with the sporting goods industry and other industries to understand the problem and identify long-term, scalable solutions. "

Joyride shoe: is the risk worth it?

Many commentators have noted that all plastic shoes and products eventually break down into smaller pieces. So, for some, concerns about the wear and tear of shoes and their possible loss of beads in the environment are minimal.

So, is this concern valid and how do shoes work? Well, we have not put our hands or feet on it yet. We expect a slightly unique sensation similar to that of sensitive foam Let us know if you had the chance to test them!

Nike Joyride models specifically tailored to their specific goals include the Nike Joyride NSW, the Nike Joyride NSW Setter, the Nike Joyride NSW Optik for women, and the Nike Joyride Kids Nova for younger athletes.

<img clbad = "alignnone size-large wp-image-76321" title = "nike-joyride-setter" src = "https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2019/07/nike -joyride-setter-700×467.jpg "alt =" nike-joyride-setter ” width = “700” height = “467” srcset = “https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2019/07/nike-joyride-setter-700×467.jpg 700w, https: // s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2019/07/nike-joyride-setter-300×200.jpg 300w, https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2019/07 /nike-joyride-setter-768×512.jpg 768w, https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2019/07/nike-joyride-setter-600×400.jpg 600w, https: // s3 .amazonaws.com / images.gearjunkie.com / uploads / 2019/07 / nike-joyride-setter-293×195.jpg 293w, https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2019/07/ nike-joyride-setter-586×390.jpg 586w, https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2019/07/nike-joyride-setter-400×266.jpg 400w, https: // s3. amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2019/07/nike-joyride-setter-200×133.jpg 200w, https: // s3. amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2019/07/nike-joyride-setter-610×407.jpg 610w, https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2019/07/nike -joyride-setter-150×100.jpg 150w, https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2019/07/nike-joyride-setter.jpg 876w “tailles =” (largeur maximale: 700px ) 100vw, 700px “/>

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