A range of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) materials from Lubrizol Engineering Polymers are widely used in high-performance footwear to meet the growing needs of footwear manufacturers. These include simplifying the shoemaking process, reducing material waste, and using more sustainable materials while meeting performance requirements.
According to the US Department of the Interior, Americans alone throw away at least 300 million pairs of shoes every year. These shoes end up in landfills, where they can take 30 to 40 years to break down. This number inspired Lubrizol Engineering Polymers to design an innovative and advanced polymer product portfolio that provides footwear manufacturers the opportunity to create nearly 100% recyclable TPU shoes without compromising performance .
Justin Park, Lubrizol Global Performance Shoes Market Manager, said: "The advantage of 100% TPU shoes is that after the end of the wear cycle of the shoe, it can be reground and then transformed into new shoes to extend the life of products and materials. "
Lubrizol Engineering Polymers' advanced shoe TPU product portfolio gives shoe manufacturers the opportunity to work with a solution provider to meet their needs. Another benefit of using its TPU as the main material for footwear production is the ability to reuse waste, thereby reducing unused materials during the manufacturing process.
Key technologies in Lubrizol's specialty engineering polymer TPU product line can be used to make almost all parts of footwear. Includes Estex (TM) TPU for yarn loading to keep the structure of shoes smart and lightweight; BounCell-X (TM) is a low density, plasticizer-free, recyclable, thermoplastic foam cushioning material; Estane ( R) TRX TPU as a functional alternative to rubber outsole; Pearlthane (TM) ECO TPU is a bio-based renewable material; Estane (R) 3D TPU is a soft, flexible material that provides design for 3D printed components Degree of freedom; Pearlbond (TM) TPU is used for adhesives, which can flexibly connect various substrates together.