What Our Recycled Midsole and Insole Are Derived From

The midsole and insole in every MACAW are made from recycled performance foam. People ask what that actually means, so here's the plain version.

Shoe factories generate foam scrap. When midsoles get cut and molded, the offcuts and trimmings usually go to landfill — clean, high-grade foam, thrown away because it's the wrong shape. That scrap is what our foam is derived from: post-industrial waste from the performance running shoe industry, turned into outstanding performance-based components.

Blumaka, our foam partner, collects that waste from production lines it has 100% traceability on, then re-engineers it into new midsoles and insoles that are up to 85% recycled by volume. The process is certified to the Global Recycled Standard, uses about two tablespoons of water per pair of midsoles — a 99% reduction compared to conventional foam production — and averages 65% lower carbon emissions than traditional foam manufacturing. Because the waste stream is in China, the foam is the one part of the MACAW that doesn't come from the Dominican Republic, where the rest of the shoe comes together.

Two things worth being straight about. First, this is manufacturing scrap, not old shoes. Nobody's grinding up used sneakers; the material never made it into a shoe the first time. Second, the remaining percentage is virgin material, because that's what it takes to hit performance specs.

High sustainability is half the story. The other half is high performance, and the numbers are Blumaka's own: 17% more cushioning, 14% higher energy return, and cushioning guaranteed for 1,000 miles.

Blumaka's $55 Max Cushion insole is the stock insole in every MACAW — the same one they sell on their own site. Breathable, antibacterial, and moisture-wicking, designed to minimize impact while maximizing your protection. Most brands treat the insole as an afterthought — a thin sheet of foam you replace in a month. We treat it as half the comfort story, because it is.

There's a second Blumaka insole in the lineup: the NonSlip Performance insole. Same recycled foam underneath, with a full-surface grip top that keeps your foot from sliding inside the shoe. Less movement in the shoe means more connection with it — more ground force through a golf swing, quicker reactions moving laterally. Add it to any shoe order and it's 50% off at checkout.

Better for the feet. Better for the planet. Better for the soul.

Blumaka midsole and insole, up to 85% recycled foam. Full-grain leather upper. Vibram Ecostep outsole. Designed in Costa Mesa, assembled in the Dominican Republic.