ASICS has launched the Nimbus Mirai 2, the second generation of its running shoe line built around circularity. The model succeeds the original Nimbus Mirai, introduced in 2024.
The new version is lighter by around 37 grams compared with its predecessor. ASICS also claims a lower carbon footprint: 4.9 kilograms of CO2e per pair, compared with 6.1 kilograms of CO2e calculated for the original model, a reduction of around 20%.
A design built for recycling
The original Nimbus Mirai featured an upper made mainly of a single material, which simplified material recovery at end of life. ASICS also used a specially developed adhesive, which bonds the upper and the sole firmly during use but can be released by heat for recycling.
Each pair carries a QR code on the tongue, providing information on how to return it. Consumers are encouraged to send back their Nimbus Mirai 2 once it reaches end of life, so that the materials can be reintegrated into the recycling process.
A gradual rollout
The return programme is currently available in the United States, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, France, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and China. The Nimbus Mirai 2 itself will be available worldwide from October 1, 2026.
Still, the environmental figures put forward, carbon footprint and weight reduction, come from the brand's own calculations, with no independent validation mentioned at this stage.
