Puma, the German sports company, has bolstered its environmental credentials with the announcement that it is to switch to more eco-friendly packaging for its shoes.

Puma has created the ‘Clever Little Bag’ which will replace the traditional shoe box. From the end of next year shoes will be placed in a frame made from a single cardboard sheet and wrapped in reusable shoe bags. Customers can leave the card at the store or take it home and recycle it. The bag can be re-used or recycled, and is biodegradable.     

According to Puma the new packaging and distribution system will reduce paper used for shoeboxes by 65% and carbon emissions by 10,000 tons per year.

"Sustainability in business is no longer negotiable, it is absolutely necessary, and we companies are overdue in taking responsibility," said Jochen Zeitz, Puma's chief executive and chairman.

"Business is part of the environmental problem; and we need to do what we can to fix it - companies need to lead the way.

"Meanwhile, consumers are becoming increasingly discerning in their choices and we need to address this too."

The change is part of Puma’s wider objectives of long-term sustainability and was designed by Yves Behar of Fuse Project, San Francisco.

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