World Car Free Day is held annually on September 22nd.
Here’s a collaboration you probably didn’t see coming: Volvo Cars Canada has teamed up with Vancouver-based Casca Footwear to create earth-friendly footwear in celebration of World Car Free Day. The limited-edition shoe includes recycled material in the sole and the upper to show off the sustainability work of both companies.
Inspired by the Scandinavian simplicity of Volvo’s electric XC40 Recharge, the sustainable sneaker is straightforward with Volvo’s Thor’s Hammer treatment in the linework and paneling of the shoe. Each sole is composed of 10% recycled car tire (a first for Casca shoes), while seven recycled plastic bottles are used to make the yarn for each breathable, flexible knit upper. Finally, there is a Swedish flag on one shoe tag and Casca’s classic yellow on the other shoe tag honouring the collaboration between the two brands as well as minimalist, Scandinavian design.
Casca says that by next year all of its knit uppers will be made from recyclable or renewable materials.
“The Volvo XC40 Recharge was designed to reduce environmental impact, so it was the perfect inspiration for the shoe,” said Kevin Reid lead director and co-founder, Casca. “Through this collaboration we’re also celebrating many design firsts – our first shared design, our fastest production to market, and new recycled materials we’ve never used before.”
As for Volvo, the Swedish automaker has set lofty environmental goals in the coming years, specifically to have 100% climate-neutral manufacturing operations by 2025 and full climate neutrality by 2040.
“We’re excited to team up with Casca footwear who share similar values and combine our passions for sustainability, technology, and understated modern design,” said Matt Girgis, managing director of Volvo Car Canada. “The shoe we have created with Casca in celebration of World Car Free Day, is one way to recognize the many steps we are taking on our journey to climate neutrality.”
World Car Free Day, which is celebrated on September 22, encourages motorists around the globe to give up their cars for a day in an effort to promote mass transit and bring awareness to city congestion and pollution. It was first held in October 1994 in Reykjavik, Iceland, La Rochelle, France, and Bath, UK before expanding and being recognized in cities across the globe.
The Volvo Cars Canada X Casca Footwear’s limited-edition sneaker, inspired by the pure electric Volvo XC40 Recharge, will be available for purchase ($198 CAD) on September 22, 2021 at: ca.casca.com/pages/volvoxcasca.
