Asics Nimbus Mirai is a performance running shoe designed to be remade at the end of its lifecycle “without compromising the quality or performance.”

In Japanese, “Mirai” means future, reflecting Asics’ “commitment to positively impact future generations of runners, paying them kindness in advance.”

With the Nimbus Mirai running shoe, designed with recycling in mind, Asics is launching a new returns program, encouraging runners to return the shoe at the end of its use to support a circular journey.

The Nimbus Mirai represents another step in Asics’ mission to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, hot on the heels of its iconic Gel-Lyte III CM 1.95 shoe.

Click on the image above, or here, to learn more about the Nimbus Mirai 

Shoes Made to be Remade
The Asics Nimbus Mirai is one of the “most advanced shoes” the company has made. Asics designed the shoe with uniform polyester material. The entire upper has no overlays, meaning “the shoe is sortable for recycling when it reaches its end-of-life.”

Asics created a glue that “promotes an easier recycling process.” The glue offers a “durable bond” but pulls apart easily for its next lifecycle, with the upper also easily detaching from the sole during the recycling process.

Asics reported that through testing, “87.3 percent of the shoe’s upper material, which underwent the recycling process, is retrievable as a new polyester material and ready to be remade into a new shoe.”

The shoe also features an FF Blast Plus Eco midsole that delivers “cloud-like cushioning” from approximately “24 percent renewable sources, including leftovers from sugar cane processing.” 

Asics is also working with its partners to ensure the shoe’s sole gets a second life as part of its recycling process.

Designed With Returns In Mind
In an Asics’ first, runners can return the Nimbus Mirai at Asics’ retail stores or ship them back to several global locations, giving their worn shoes a new life and purchasing their next pair. Participating markets include the U.S., the UK, Netherlands, France, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand.

Fumitaka Kamifukumoto. the project leader of the Nimbus Mirai’s development at Asics, said: “The announcement of Nimbus Mirai is a proud moment for us and an important milestone in our ambition to be a net-zero carbon emission business by 2050. It has remained our focus not to compromise the product’s performance at all so that runners can wear the shoe as they would any other from Asics—protected and supported as they replenish their body and mind. We ask runners to take an extra step with this shoe; however, and bring it back to us once they have finished with it. That way, we can continue our mission towards creating a Sound Earth for future generations.”

The Nimbus Mirai is available for men and women. For more product information, go here. 

Image courtesy Asics, video courtesy YouTube