MOVERS & MAKERS 2018
Tim Brown
Allbirds
When you support eco-friendly products you're usually asked to make a decision; pay more for sustainable materials, or take the cheaper option with a bit of guilt on the side. According to New Zealand native Tim Brown, co-founder of Allbirds, going green doesn't have to come with a tax. The brand has just pioneered and launched a new EVA foam that uses sugar cane instead of petrochemicals to create a carbon-negative material that they're in the process of rolling out across their line-up of flip-flops, slip-on loungers and the famous wool runners. What's more – after three years in development, rather than keep the secret of their new foam proprietary, Allbirds is going open source and encouraging other companies, including competitors, to use it.