Is it possible to rethink the effects of carbon emissions and upcycle them to our benefit? This is the exact question made by On behind their innovation: CleanCloud®.
This is a high-performance foam created by upcycling CO2 that sits at the core of the CloudPrime, the world's first running shoe prototype made from carbon emissions.
Carbon Becomes Cushioning
The CleanCloud® was developed in partnership with leading biotech firms LanzaTech and Borealis to become a tool for capturing CO2 from industrial sites and transforming it into EVA foam.
Captured carbon is fermented using special bacteria to produce ethanol. This is then converted into ethylene and polymerised into EVA. The result is a performance-grace foam that supports every stride while reducing environmental harm.
Currently, 51% of Cloudprime's EVA foam is made from CO2. The shoe also incorporates upcycled TPU for the outsole and CleanCloud® polyester for the upper.
Not for Sale— Yet
The Cloudprime is not commercially available yet, but On's ambition is clear. To integrate CleanCloud® across its entire product range, including the Cloud and THE ROGER collections. And that's why the Pace running apparel collection is already using this technology, taking a step closer to replacing virgin polyester entirely.
Again, On continues to prove itself as a leader in sustainable innovation. The CleanCloud® builds on On’s earlier Cyclon initiative, which introduced recyclable running shoes through a subscription model. Together, these innovations form a core part of On’s plan to decouple growth from carbon emissions, paving the way toward a circular, fossil-free future in sportswear.
Read more about On's technologies on Reflawns' news page.
All Images: On
How does CleanCloud® work?
Industrial carbon emissions are captured and fermented into ethanol using specially selected bacteria. That ethanol is then converted into ethylene and polymerized into EVA foam, forming the base of CleanCloud®.
What is the Cloudprime?
The Cloudprime is the world’s first running shoe prototype made using carbon emissions. It features a CleanCloud® EVA midsole, a CleanCloud® polyester upper, and an outsole with 35% upcycled TP.
