Vivobarefoot has partnered with Bloom to develop what it claims is the first molded shoe made from algae. Bloom is a performance-based materials manufacturer headquartered in Meridian, Mississippi with operations in Solana Beach, California. Bloom uses algae biomass harvested from freshwater sources around the world to make EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate) foams out of a non-fossil fuel. This innovation is supposed to helps offset the substantial use of petroleum ingredients found in conventional flexible foams. Meanwhile, collecting algae at high risk of algal bloom also helps clean freshwater sources – like rivers, lakes and ponds – in the process. Vivobarefoot's Ultra shoes will be the first to use Bloom's algae-EVA foams. According to the two companies, a single pair of men's size 42 Vivobarefoot x Bloom shoes returns nearly 216 liters of clean water to habitat. The Ultra shoe using Bloom's technology will be available for purchase online on www.vivobarefoot.com in July.

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