On’s Cyclon Awarded ISPO Product of The Year

Cyclon, the world's first recyclable performance shoe available via subscription, takes home 2021’s ISPO Product of the Year and award for Sustainability Achievements.

February 3, 2021 – ZURICH, SWITZERLAND – Swiss running brand On receives praise at ISPO for the Cyclon running shoe, the first product in its groundbreaking Cyclon subscription service to bring On's vision of closed-loop product life cycles to fruition, cementing On as a leader in sportswear’s circular economy. The jury at ISPO, the world's largest sporting goods trade show, recognizes Cyclon’s strides in sustainability by extending its highest award, ISPO Product of the Year accompanied by an additional award for Sustainability Achievement.

ISPO Jury Statement

"With the Cyclon, On meets two runners’ needs: The quest for an up-to-date roadrunning-shoe, that performs like the newest generation of lightweight training or even racing shoes, and care for the environment. The shoe is super light, at the same time it delivers good cushioning for running on hard surfaces, and it features a modern rocker-geometry, enabling the runner to perform better. The subscription service means always staying in the rhythm of having adequate running shoes. At the same time, the Cyclon means zero waste. It is a product that goes beyond the dimensions of traditional running shoe innovations." – Urs Weber, editor RUNNER'S WORLD

ISPO Sustainability Jury Statement

"The Cyclon running shoe, developed by Swiss technologists and made of recyclable and partially bio-based polyamide from castor beans, impresses with its simple, undyed design and mono material composition. It’s totally recyclable internally and the new business model of a yearly subscription makes the product at its end of life easily collected and returned to the manufacturer. Here it becomes clear how easily innovation and creativity can be transformed into one product. A big step forward for a running shoe."

The Cyclon shoe is a product of three years of research in the On Lab and a breakthrough discovery of fusing two high-performance polyamides to fulfill the demands of a running shoe without compromising performance. On Co-Founder Caspar Coppetti is honored to accept the ISPO awards on behalf of the On Innovation Team.

"The Cyclon project is a small step, that hopefully will inspire other partners in the industry to follow On's path towards a positive impact on protecting the resources and the planet that we so much depend on to do our sports. – On Co-Founder, Caspar Coppetti

For $29.99/month, the Cyclon subscription service will equip runners worldwide with the latest in running technology and the means to return it in exchange for On’s next version, i.e., previously returned, recycled, and rebirthed materials. By ensuring after-life acquisition of used products via a subscription model, Cyclon represents a significant landmark in sportswear’s circular economy. By 2021, Cyclon aims to redirect approximately 9 tons of material en route to landfills or incineration.

For the full statement by On Co-Founder Caspar Coppetti read here.

Media assets are available here and here with updated outsole.