Reebok's new biodegradable sneakers will feature corn-based soles

As part of the company's Corn + Cotton initiative, the new pair of kicks will have petroleum-free soles made of corn and organic cotton uppers.

Global athletic footwear and apparel brand Reebok is jumping in on the "green" bandwagon with the announcement of its latest project, a new pair of sneakers that is entirely biodegradable and recyclable.

The shoes, which are part of the company's Corn + Cotton initiative, will have soles made of petroleum-free and nontoxic industrial-grown corn and uppers adopting 100 percent organic cotton.

"Reebok is trying to clean up the entire life cycle of shoe making,” Bill McInnis, vice president of Reebok’s future team, said in a statement.

According to the company, all materials that will be used to create the footwear are compostable, meaning once the sneakers are worn out, they can be recycled into a different pair.

At present, the soles of most sneakers utilize oil-based plastic that takes centuries to decompose and poses great environmental risks. A 2013 study by researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology found out that about 30 pounds of carbon dioxide are emitted into the atmosphere in the production of just one pair of sneakers.

Reebok is not the first company taking the eco-friendly route. Industry giants Nike and adidas, Reebok's parent company, have already launched lines of sustainable footwear.

"We now have the formula to replicate this across a range of sneakers," McInnis said. "This is the blueprint for a lot of shoes to come."