San Diego Champions Plant-Based Tourism Innovation as...

SAN DIEGO, California — Along the sun-drenched coastal shores of Southern California, the humble beach flip-flop—an enduring symbol of relaxed seaside leisure—has been reimagined into a sophisticated vehicle for sustainable destination marketing and circular materials science.

Developed through an innovative public-private partnership between the San Diego Tourism Authority (SDTA) and local clean-technology pioneer Algenesis Labs, the "Flipfloptimism" initiative replaces conventional promotional merchandise with colorful, biodegradable footwear engineered from plant-based polyurethane.

Originally introduced in April 2026 to celebrate the historic announcement that the flagship global TED conference will relocate to the San Diego Convention Center in 2027, the campaign has captured renewed international attention in November.

By utilizing Soleic—a proprietary bio-foam derived from renewable algae and plant feedstocks that biodegrades naturally without leaving persistent microplastic residues—San Diego is demonstrating how destination marketing organizations can move beyond disposable plastic giveaways to champion indigenous scientific research.

The initiative unfolds against a critical economic backdrop. With San Diego's visitor economy generating $14.4 billion in direct spending and supporting the region's second-largest employment base, municipal tourism leaders are navigating heightened competition across domestic and international markets.

By linking the city’s world-renowned beach lifestyle with its thriving biotechnology and climate-innovation sectors, Flipfloptimism establishes a forward-thinking blueprint for environmental storytelling in global tourism promotion.

SAN DIEGO "FLIPFLOPTIMISM" & SUSTAINABLE TOURISM SCORECARD (2026)

Category / Entity	Details / Impact
Campaign Name	Flipfloptimism Destination Marketing Campaign
Lead Destination Entity	San Diego Tourism Authority (SDTA), California, USA
Materials Innovation Partner	Algenesis Labs (University of California San Diego Biotech Spinout)
Creative Brand Agency	The Shipyard (San Diego & Sacramento, California)
Official Initial Launch Date	17 April 2026 (Announced During TED2026 in Vancouver, Canada)
Core Promotional Product	Limited-Edition Biodegradable Flip-Flops (5,000 Pairs Ordered)
Proprietary Foam Material	Soleic Plant-Based Polyurethane Foam (Non-Food Renewable Feedstock)
Embossed Sand Messages	"Good Vibes" and "Shine Bright" (Leaves Temporary Sand Imprints)
Carbon Reduction Metric	Up to 65% Greenhouse Gas Reduction vs. Petroleum-Derived TPU
Anchor Global Conference Event	Flagship TED Conference Relocation to San Diego (1–4 March 2027)
Venue for TED 2027 Flagship	San Diego Convention Center (Downtown Waterfront, San Diego Bay)
Historic Research Precedent	2015 Algae-Derived Surfboard Collaboration with UC San Diego
Annual Regional Visitors	32.4 Million Visitors (2025 Actual; 17.8M Overnight / 14.6M Day)
Direct Visitor Spending	$14.4 Billion (2025 Actual; $20 Billion Total Economic Impact)
Hotel Sector Benchmark	17.4 Million Room Nights Sold; 72.2% Occupancy; $213 ADR (2025)
Overarching Brand Platform	"Bright Side" Campaign (Targeting LA, SF, Chicago, New York)

The Anatomy of Flipfloptimism: Merging Promotional Merchandise with Molecular Science

Destination marketing organizations around the globe have long relied on standard promotional merchandise—synthetic tote bags, plastic keychains, printed luggage tags, and branded pens—to maintain visibility among travel advisors, meeting planners, and consumers. However, in an era increasingly defined by heightened environmental awareness and corporate net-zero commitments, conventional promotional plastic is facing severe reputational scrutiny.

The Flipfloptimism campaign redefines this dynamic by substituting generic imports with an indigenous lifestyle product rooted in regional academic research. Flip-flops represent the universal uniform of San Diego’s 70 miles of open Pacific coastline. By redesigning this ubiquitous footwear with advanced bio-materials, SDTA and its creative agency partner, The Shipyard, transformed an everyday beach accessory into a tactile conversation piece regarding environmental stewardship.

Manufactured in bright, sunlit colorways reflecting the aesthetic of Southern California, the limited-edition sandals feature raised lettering engineered into the outsole. When a wearer walks across the damp sand along the surf line of Mission Beach, Pacific Beach, or Coronado, the sandals leave crisp, legible imprints reading "Good Vibes" and "Shine Bright."

This interaction transforms the traveler into an active brand ambassador, generating organic visual moments on the beach while reinforcing the destination's optimistic positioning.

According to official tourism authority data, an initial run of 5,000 pairs was commissioned for targeted promotional distribution. Rather than flooding mass-market retail shelves, the footwear was deployed strategically at premier international industry gatherings, business events summits, and executive travel forums.

The campaign’s significance lies not in mass consumer shoe manufacturing, but in its ability to embody the destination’s dual identity: a relaxed coastal playground underpinned by a cutting-edge scientific intellect.

THE STRATEGIC GENESIS OF THE FLIPFLOPTIMISM CAMPAIGN

Column 1
[ University of California San Diego ]
Synthetic biology & algae research develops plant-based polymers; Algenesis founded.
v
[ Algenesis Labs (Soleic Foam) ]
Engineers high-performance, non-petroleum polyurethane from renewable plant feedstocks.
v
[ San Diego Tourism Authority + The Shipyard ]
Conceives "Flipfloptimism" concept; marries coastal beach culture with green chemistry.
v
[ TED2026 Vancouver Activation ]
Debuts footwear on 17 April 2026; celebrates TED flagship relocation to San Diego 2027.
v
[ Global Destination Storytelling ]
Positions San Diego as an innovative, sustainable, high-yield coastal metropolis.

Soleic Science: How UC San Diego Algae Research Eliminates Persistent Microplastics

To evaluate the environmental weight of Flipfloptimism, one must examine the molecular innovation that distinguishes Soleic from standard petroleum-based synthetic polymers.

Conventional flip-flops and athletic sandals are overwhelmingly manufactured from synthetic compounds such as ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), polyurethane (PU), or petroleum-based thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). While these synthetic materials provide excellent water resistance, flexibility, and mechanical cushioning, they are fundamentally recalcitrant in natural environments.

When discarded in municipal landfills or accidentally lost in waterways, conventional sandals do not biodegrade; instead, they undergo mechanical fragmentation through solar UV exposure and tidal abrasion, fracturing into billions of microscopic polymer particles known as microplastics. These persistent particles infiltrate coastal marine food chains, absorb environmental toxins, and resist biological decomposition for centuries.

Algenesis Labs emerged directly from the laboratories of the University of California San Diego (UC San Diego), founded by scientists Stephen Mayfield and Michael Burkart. Their research aimed to solve the plastic pollution crisis by developing plant-derived polyurethanes that microorganisms recognize as organic food sources.

The resulting technology, branded as Soleic, utilizes non-food, renewable plant oils and algae feedstocks. According to technical documentation and peer-reviewed materials evaluations released by Algenesis, Soleic delivers several transformative environmental advantages:

Elimination of Persistent Microplastics: Independent university laboratory testing demonstrates that when Soleic foam undergoes wear and tear or enters suitable biological environments (such as active soil, compost, or wastewater microbial systems), the particles are consumed by native bacteria and fungi, breaking down into water, carbon dioxide, and natural biological mass without leaving persistent synthetic residues.
Significant Carbon Footprint Reduction: Comparative life-cycle analysis estimates indicate that manufacturing certain Soleic bio-polyurethane formulations generates up to 65 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions compared to equivalent petroleum-derived thermoplastic polyurethanes.
Functional Durability During Service Life: Soleic is specifically engineered to maintain structural integrity, tensile strength, and cushioning resilience throughout its normal consumer lifespan. The material does not dissolve or weaken upon casual exposure to ocean water, sunlight, or foot perspiration; degradation is triggered only when the material is immersed in active microbial environments containing the specific enzymes required to cleave its bio-based urethane bonds.

Environmental scientists and tourism executives emphasize that clear consumer education is vital. "Biodegradable" must never be misinterpreted as an open license for environmental abandonment. The rate of biological decomposition depends heavily on temperature, moisture levels, oxygen availability, and microbial density.

A discarded sandal abandoned on dry coastal rocks or buried in sterile dry sand will not vanish overnight. Consequently, the tourism authority stresses that responsible disposal in organic waste or dedicated composting streams remains mandatory to fulfill the product's circular potential.

MATERIALS COMPARISON: SOLEIC FOAM VS. CONVENTIONAL PETROLEUM EVA/TPU

Metric / Feature	Soleic Bio-Polyurethane Foam	Conventional Petroleum Foam
Primary Feedstock Base	Renewable Plant & Algae Oils	Crude Oil & Petrochemicals
Microplastic Persistence	0% Persistent Synthetic Residue	Centuries of Accumulation
Microbial Digestibility	Consumed by Soil Microorganisms	Non-Biodegradable Polymeric
Carbon Emission Reduction	Up to 65% Reduction in GHG	High Petrochemical Baseline
Mechanical Water Resistance	Stable During Marine Use	Stable During Marine Use
Decomposition Mechanism	Enzymatic Cleavage in Compost	Physical UV Fragmentation
Post-Consumer Lifecycle	Circular Organic Return	Landfill or Ocean Marine FX

The 2015 Precedent: From Algae Surfboards to Wearable Footwear

The Flipfloptimism initiative is not an isolated marketing gimmick; it represents the latest milestone in an established, decade-long institutional partnership between San Diego's tourism leadership and regional academic researchers.

In 2015, the San Diego Tourism Authority collaborated with UC San Diego’s biology and chemistry departments to unveil the world's first surfboard made entirely from algae-derived polyurethane foam.

That pioneering project, which gained worldwide visibility through a National Geographic documentary spotlighting San Diego as one of the world's leading smart cities, demonstrated that algae oil could match the flex, buoyancy, and structural performance demanded by professional ocean surfers.

The evolution from an algae surfboard in 2015 to biodegradable flip-flops in 2026 illustrates a deliberate strategy of using familiar ocean-lifestyle symbols to explain complex green chemistry. While surfboards represent elite coastal recreation, flip-flops are universally accessible, worn by virtually every visitor walking the boardwalks of Pacific Beach or checking into seaside resorts.

By anchoring destination marketing in tangible products created by local clean-tech entrepreneurs, San Diego successfully differentiates its brand from competing coastal regions. While destinations in Florida, Mexico, or the Caribbean rely on standardized promotional photography of turquoise waters and palm trees, San Diego communicates a distinctive regional narrative: a destination where natural beauty is actively protected by indigenous academic excellence and biotechnology innovation.

The TED 2027 Connection: The Business Tourism and MICE Catalyst

To understand the strategic timing of the Flipfloptimism campaign, one must examine its direct link to San Diego's meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) sector.

In December 2025, the global ideas organization TED announced that its flagship annual conference would relocate from Vancouver, British Columbia—where it had been hosted for over a decade—to San Diego beginning in 2027.

The premier event is scheduled to take place from 1 to 4 March 2027 at the San Diego Convention Center, situated along the downtown waterfront on San Diego Bay.

Securing the flagship TED conference represents a major economic and reputational victory for San Diego. The event convenes thousands of international scientists, technology executives, philanthropists, artists, and heads of state, generating tens of millions of dollars in direct spending across regional hotels, restaurants, and event logistics providers.

More importantly, TED serves as an elite international megaphone for progressive ideas and environmental solutions.

TED FLAGSHIP CONFERENCE CONTEXT: VANCOUVER TO SAN DIEGO

Category / Entity	Details / Impact
Event Entity	TED Flagship Annual Conference
Historic Host Destination	Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (2014–2026)
Relocation Announcement	December 2025 (Confirmed by TED & San Diego Leadership)
First San Diego Dates	1–4 March 2027
Host Venue Facility	San Diego Convention Center (Waterfront Downtown District)
Target Audience Demographics	Global Innovators, Scientists, Investors, Tech Leaders
Promotional Bridge Tool	Flipfloptimism Sandal Launch at TED2026 in Vancouver
Strategic Objective	Showcase San Diego's Clean-Tech Ecosystem to Future Guests

When the San Diego Tourism Authority traveled to TED2026 in Vancouver in April 2026, the delegation utilized the Flipfloptimism footwear as their official welcoming gift to conference organizers, speakers, and global attendees.

Presenting delegates with plant-based, biodegradable footwear created an immediate, tangible bridge between the relaxed coastal atmosphere delegates can expect in March 2027 and the intellectual rigor of the region’s research institutes.

This alignment demonstrates the growing convergence between leisure tourism branding and corporate business travel. Professional meeting planners increasingly select host cities based on environmental credentials, carbon-reduction policies, and local intellectual capital.

By leading with a functional example of biotechnology in action, San Diego signaled that its convention industry is deeply aligned with the sustainability goals of international business organizations.

Macroeconomic Realities: Analyzing San Diego’s $14.4 Billion Visitor Economy

The necessity for high-impact, differentiated destination marketing is underscored by the macroeconomic statistics governing San Diego’s tourism sector.

Tourism represents the second-largest economic engine in the San Diego regional economy, surpassed only by military and defense spending. However, official performance indicators published by the San Diego Tourism Authority for completed calendar years 2024 and 2025 demonstrate that the regional visitor sector is navigating post-pandemic demand stabilization and increased domestic competition.

SAN DIEGO VISITOR INDUSTRY PERFORMANCE: 2024 VS. 2025 ACTUALS

Entity / Route	Metrics	Operational Status
Tourism Performance Indicator	Calendar Year 2024 Actual	Calendar Year 2025 Actual
Total Visitor Volume	32.5 Million Visitors	32.4 Million Visitors
Overnight Visitors	18.0 Million Visitors	17.8 Million Visitors
Day Visitors	14.5 Million Visitors	14.6 Million Visitors
Direct Visitor Spending	$14.8 Billion	$14.4 Billion
Overall Economic Impact	~$20.0 Billion	~$20.0 Billion
County Tax Revenue Generated	>$1.0 Billion	>$1.0 Billion
Hotel Room Nights Sold	17.5 Million Nights	17.4 Million Nights
Average Hotel Occupancy	74.2%	72.2%
Average Daily Room Rate (ADR)	$212.00	$213.00

A forensic evaluation of the data reveals several notable market shifts:

Marginal Contraction in High-Yield Overnight Visitors: Total visitor volume remained relatively steady, easing slightly from 32.5 million in 2024 to 32.4 million in 2025. However, the composition shifted: overnight travelers, who generate the highest per-capita economic contribution, contracted from 18.0 million to 17.8 million, while lower-spending regional day-trippers increased from 14.5 million to 14.6 million.
Direct Spending Contraction: Direct visitor expenditure fell from $14.8 billion in 2024 to $14.4 billion in 2025—a decrease of approximately $400 million. This spending compression reflects broader macroeconomic factors, including inflationary cost sensitivity among domestic travelers, fluctuating airline fares, and foreign currency headwinds affecting international inbound travel.
Hospitality Sector Margin Pressures: Regional hotels sold 17.4 million room nights in 2025 compared to 17.5 million in 2024, driving average countywide occupancy down from 74.2 percent to 72.2 percent. While hoteliers successfully defended pricing power—nudging the Average Daily Rate (ADR) up slightly from $212 to $213—the combination of lower occupancy and escalating labor, energy, and insurance costs created operational margin pressure across the accommodation sector.

These metrics illustrate why the San Diego Tourism Authority cannot rely on passive, legacy advertising alone. Maintaining visibility and defending pricing power requires innovative marketing campaigns that capture international media attention, generate earned editorial coverage, and reinforce why discerning travelers should choose Southern California over competing domestic or international warm-weather hubs.

The "Bright Side" Campaign and Key Domestic Source Markets

Flipfloptimism operates as a specialized tactical execution nested within San Diego’s broader overarching brand platform, titled "The Bright Side."

Managed by SDTA and The Shipyard, the Bright Side strategy seeks to balance San Diego’s established reputation for coastal leisure with its diverse urban neighborhoods, culinary arts, historic cultural institutions, and thriving creative community.

The promotional strategy targets a tiered matrix of domestic feeder markets, segmented by geographic proximity and seasonal travel intent:

Regional Intra-California Drive Markets (Los Angeles & San Francisco): Travelers from the Greater Los Angeles basin and the San Francisco Bay Area represent the reliable foundation of San Diego’s weekend break and spontaneous leisure travel. For these urban residents, San Diego offers a less congested, pedestrian-friendly coastal retreat featuring pristine marine recreation and celebrated farm-to-table dining.
Long-Haul Metropolitan Markets (Chicago & New York): Major northern and eastern metropolitan markets are targeted with targeted seasonal campaigns, particularly during the late autumn, winter, and early spring months. For residents enduring freezing Midwestern and East Coast winters, San Diego presents an inviting refuge boasting an average year-round temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius), 260 days of sunshine, and expansive outdoor parks.

Industry observers note that while national media coverage frequently references these major metropolitan markets, the 5,000 pairs of Flipfloptimism sandals were not distributed across retail shoe stores in New York or Chicago.

Instead, the footwear serves as a compelling narrative anchor within digital video campaigns, national travel press features, and industry trade summits hosted in those cities. It provides a tangible hook that makes advertising messaging memorable across competitive media channels.

SAN DIEGO "BRIGHT SIDE" DOMESTIC TARGETING STRATEGY

Entity / Route	Metrics	Operational Status
Market Category	Primary Cities Targeted	Strategic Travel Value
In-State Drive Markets	Los Angeles, San Francisco,	High-frequency short breaks
	Orange County, Inland Empire	Spontaneous weekend getaways
Eastern & Midwestern Hubs	New York City, Chicago,	High-yield winter escapes
	Boston, Washington D.C.	Extended multi-night stays
Innovation & Business Hubs	Silicon Valley, Seattle, Austin	MICE conference delegates
		Clean-tech business travel

Sustainable Coastal Tourism in Practice: San Diego's Broader Eco-Ecosystem

While biodegradable flip-flops provide an engaging entry point, San Diego’s commitment to sustainable tourism encompasses a comprehensive municipal and business framework designed to preserve delicate marine and terrestrial ecosystems.

In June 2026, the San Diego Tourism Authority published an updated, comprehensive Sustainable Travel Guide. This operational resource provides travelers with concrete strategies to minimize their carbon footprint and reduce waste during their stay:

Electrified Public Transit Mobility: The guide encourages visitors to utilize the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) Trolley network. The UC San Diego Blue Line light rail provides seamless, zero-emission transit linking the Mexican border at San Ysidro directly through downtown San Diego, the Convention Center, Old Town, and the UC San Diego campus in La Jolla. Additionally, the North County Transit District's COASTER commuter train offers scenic coastal rail transport connecting downtown with seaside communities including Solana Beach, Encinitas, Carlsbad, and Oceanside.
The Tourism Accelerator Program: To ensure equitable economic distribution, SDTA operates the pioneering Tourism Accelerator program. This initiative provides financial grants, executive mentoring, commercial networking, and marketing support to small, minority-, veteran-, and women-owned tourism businesses across San Diego County, with particular emphasis on operators delivering eco-conscious tours, locally sourced gastronomy, and sustainable lifestyle goods.
Marine Protected Area Stewardship: San Diego’s coastline features vital marine protected reserves, most notably the La Jolla Underwater Park and Ecological Reserve. This 6,000-acre marine sanctuary protects rocky reefs, kelp forests, and submarine canyons. SDTA’s responsible travel guidelines instruct visitors on mandatory wildlife viewing distances, strictly prohibiting the harassment or touching of wild California sea lions, harbor seals, and nesting seabirds along La Jolla Cove and the Children's Pool.

SAN DIEGO NATURAL ASSETS & SUSTAINABILITY STEWARDSHIP

Entity / Route	Metrics	Operational Status
Ecological Sanctuary	Core Natural Assets	Visitor Stewardship Rule
La Jolla Cove & Reserve	Kelp Forests, Sea Lions, Seals,	Maintain 50-foot distance;
	Leopard Sharks, Garibaldi	No single-use plastics
Torrey Pines State Reserve	Rare Pinus torreyana Pines,	Strictly stay on trails;
	Fragile Coastal Sandstone Bluffs	Pack-it-in, pack-it-out
Balboa Park Cultural Campus	1,200 Acres, Historic Botanical	Walkable cultural campus;
	Gardens, 17 Museums	Public transit accessible
Coronado & Silver Strand	Tidal Flats, Coastal Salt Marsh	Leash pets; protect
	Nesting Snowy Plovers	fragile sand dune ecology

Strategic Itinerary: Exploring San Diego’s Sustainable Coastal Ecosystem

For travelers inspired by the ethos of the Flipfloptimism campaign, experiencing San Diego through an eco-conscious lens reveals a destination rich in biodiversity, sustainable gastronomy, and active outdoor recreation:

RECOMMENDED 4-DAY ECO-CONSCIOUS SAN DIEGO ITINERARY

Column 1
DAY 1: DOWNTOWN WATERFRONT, CONVENTION COMMONS & EMBARCADERO
- 09:00: Check into a LEED-certified hotel in downtown San Diego or the Gaslamp Quarter.
- 10:30: Stroll the Embarcadero promenade; admire the San Diego Convention Center.
- 12:30: Sustainable dockside lunch at an ocean-to-table seafood cafe on Tuna Harbor.
- 14:30: Tour the Maritime Museum of San Diego or rent an electric bicycle along the bay.
- 18:30: Dinner in Little Italy featuring organic, locally harvested Californian produce.
DAY 2: BIODIVERSITY & BOTANICAL CONSERVATION AT BALBOA PARK
- 09:00: Board the MTS Rapid Bus or Trolley to Balboa Park’s cultural campus.
- 10:00: Explore the historic Botanical Building and Spanish Colonial Revival arcades.
- 12:30: Outdoor lunch enjoying native botanical gardens and shade pavilions.
- 14:00: Visit the San Diego Natural History Museum (theNAT) for regional ecology exhibits
- 17:00: Walk the Florida Canyon nature trail, observing endemic chaparral vegetation.
DAY 3: MARINE STEWARDSHIP & COASTAL CLIFFS AT LA JOLLA
- 08:30: Ride the MTS Blue Line Trolley to Nobel Drive; transfer to coastal bus routes.
- 09:30: Guided eco-kayak tour of La Jolla Ecological Reserve; spot leopard sharks.
- 12:00: Observe California sea lions at La Jolla Cove from designated clifftop trails.
- 14:00: Hike the scenic Guy Fleming Trail inside Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve.
- 18:30: Sunset coastal dining overlooking the Pacific surf breaks of Scripps Pier.
DAY 4: ISLAND CYCLING & TIDAL CONSERVATION IN CORONADO
- 09:00: Take the low-emission Coronado Ferry across San Diego Bay from downtown.
- 10:00: Rent pedal bicycles to tour Coronado’s oceanfront path and historic hotel.
- 12:30: Casual picnic lunch on the wide sandy beaches of Coronado Central Beach.
- 14:30: Walk along the Silver Strand State Beach, observing protected bird habitats.
- 17:00: Ferry return to downtown; connect to airport via low-emission transit routes.

Essential Guidance for Conscientious Travelers

Visitors wishing to align their travel plans with San Diego’s sustainable coastal ethos should keep several practical considerations in mind:

Retail Availability Realities: The Flipfloptimism footwear remains a specialized promotional product distributed through official tourism summits and partner activations. It is not currently available for retail purchase in local department stores or airport gift shops. Travelers should focus on supporting local green businesses and exploring products made with plant-based Soleic foam through authorized apparel channels.
Public Transit Efficiency: San Diego’s light rail system makes car-free travel entirely practical for urban stays. The PRONTO smart-card app allows riders to access all MTS Trolley lines and buses with daily fare capping, offering an affordable and climate-friendly alternative to ride-hailing apps.
Leave-No-Trace Beach Etiquette: California state law strictly prohibits single-use plastic bags and foam food containers along public beaches. Visitors should carry reusable insulated water bottles, avoid single-use plastics, and ensure that all personal belongings, footwear, and trash are packed out upon departure.
Wildlife Protection Compliance: Keep at least 50 feet of clearance from resting marine mammals on rocks and beaches. Fines are strictly enforced by municipal authorities for approaching, feeding, or harassing sea lions, seals, or nesting marine birds.

As global tourism navigates the delicate transition toward genuine environmental responsibility, San Diego’s Flipfloptimism campaign demonstrates that sustainability messaging does not have to be solemn or abstract. By uniting clean materials science with the joyful, sun-drenched spirit of Southern California’s beaches, the initiative leaves a lasting impression on the global travel community—while leaving nothing behind in the sand.

San Diego Champions Plant-Based Tourism Innovation as Flipfloptimism Campaign Connects Coastal Culture with Biodegradable Footwear