Fulton insoles are carbon negative.

Fulton insoles are carbon negative announcement

Today marks the start of Earth Week, a week when the world comes together to celebrate the environment and discuss how we can protect it moving forward. For Fulton, environmental sustainability has always been our top priority. In a world of billions of pairs of plastic, gel, and styrofoam insoles, it has never been more important to push the boundaries of what we thought was possible and reduce our collective impact on the planet. 

Over the last few months, we teamed up with an external partner to conduct an independent, thorough analysis of our end-to-end supply chain known as a Life Cycle Assessment. We analyzed everything including our materials, production processes, and transportation partners, boiling the environmental impact of creating a pair of Fulton insoles down to a single number known as a Carbon Footprint. 

Today, we are excited to share the results of this analysis: the Carbon Footprint of one pair of Fulton insoles is -0.81 kg CO2e. Fulton is carbon negative. 

What does this number mean, and how can our carbon footprint be negative? Simply put, carbon negative products remove more carbon dioxide equivalents (greenhouse gases) from the environment than they emit. So, creating Fulton insoles is actually beneficial for the planet: not harmful. Building physical products that are carbon negative represents a giant step forward within insoles, footwear, and consumer products as a whole.

The entirely natural materials that comprise the Fulton insole are the driving force behind our Carbon Negativity. Even though Fulton does emit Carbon Dioxide Equivalents throughout the production and transportation processes, we counteract this impact by working with materials that are even more environmentally friendly. 

Cork tree illustration

For example, the base of our insole is made of cork, which is harvested from the bark of a tree. During the process of stripping the bark, the tree is not actually harmed, allowing the tree to regrow its bark and absorb more Carbon Dioxide (photosynthesis, for the win!) The same regenerative processes occur with the middle and top layers of Fulton insoles (natural foam and vegan cactus leather, respectively) This means the plants from which we harvest our materials are able to continue absorbing carbon dioxide and minimize our Carbon Footprint.

The United Nations has declared achieving Carbon Neutrality by 2050 the world’s most urgent mission. This means, by the year 2050, we as a planet should emit the same amount of Carbon equivalents as we are removing. Yet, in 2022, Fulton is changing the game, establishing Carbon Negativity as the bar. 

Fulton was able to achieve this great milestone through prioritizing sustainability as a core value, and investing in thoughtful design. The materials that make up Fulton insoles may be more expensive than plastics, gels, and styrofoams, but we weren’t willing to compromise. Our materials lead to higher quality products, more effective results for our bodies, and better outcomes for our planet. This is the standard we should set for business everywhere. 

Sliding a pair of Fulton insoles into your shoes means supporting your body as well as the planet. Let’s hold other businesses to the same standard of not only doing good for the consumer, but also doing good for the environment. We hope you join us in the fight to reduce our impact on the planet one step at a time. 

Learn more about Fulton insoles here

illustration of cactus plant used to make Fulton insoles

About The Author

Libie Motchan is the co-founder of Fulton, dedicated to creating shoe insoles that enhance comfort and foot health. Since launching the company in 2021, she’s focused on transforming the way people walk and move every day.