Interview with inov-8 Founder Wayne Edy on his Return to the Helm

Inov-8 Sustainability

Inov-8 and the University of Manchester have worked together to create ‘innovative’ new footwear culminating in the creation of the TRAILFLY ULTRA G 300 MAX™ G-Fly with Graphene Foam and ADAPTER-FLEX technology producing a 25% better energy resilience return compared to other leading brands and lifting the bar to enhance cushioning.  A trail shoe designed from the ground up.

Ultrarunner Magazine were privileged to speak to both inov-8 founder Wayne Edy and Dr Aravind Vijayaraghavan, Reader in Nanomaterials at The University of Manchester to discuss Wayne’s return to inov-8, where they see Graphene taking their future and their ‘inov-8’ approach to sustainability.

Wayne Edy return to the helm at inov-8

“I’m very much a hands-on entrepreneur and founder so for me its fantastic to be back.  [With COVID] I thought that the brand is best in my own ship going through a difficult period because I will always take decisions that are in the brand and the teams best interests, nothing short-term, it’s always long-term, and I’m pleased I did.”

Where are you hoping that Graphene will take you?

“Graphene has got so many fantastic properties, we’re very excited about it and we’ve got a very good relationship with the University of Manchester.  It works well for them and it works well for us.  We’ve got the two world’s first’s with Graphene and just to say we’re working on some other parts of the footwear and other products that runners will use so watch this space.  It’s all looking very exciting.”

inov-8 on Sustainability

“We have a multi-pronged approach to sustainability. The biggest impact we can have is making the shoes longer lasting; if we can get a shoe that lasts twice as long then it has a huge impact on the environment…If the customer gets twice the life out of the product then it is significant.”

Recycling the product

Wayne explained ; “We also don’t use carbon plates and with regards to the shoes end of life; the shoe can be separated, the upper from the mid-sole and the mid-sole from the out-sole and these can then be recycled. The rubber can be recycled and so can the foam whereas if it has a plate in it, it’s a lot more difficult to recycle.  We continue to ‘inov-8’ every area of the business.”

University of Manchester

Discussing the collaboration of inov-8 with the University of Manchester, Dr Aravind Vijayaraghavan stated:

“Its a great story for both inov-8 and the University of Manchester.  It demonstrates how the university can work with industry to develop new technologies and help deliver ideas to the real world consumer and also it’s an example of how we can take new technologies, new science and new research from the university and translate it into something tangible.

It’s really great for me as a researcher and an academic to speak to the press to explain the science behind the shoe and what difference it makes.”

Check out the TRAILFLY ULTRA G 300 MAX™ at inov-8.

Interviews with Wayne Edy and Dr Aravind Vijayaraghavan by Wayne Drinkwater

Article written by Wayne Drinkwater