BASF Developed a Concept Shoe made of Sustainable Materials
BASF has partnered with Maddy Plant, a footwear design company, to explore the possibilities of using BASF's innovative material, realize energy-efficient production by using industry-leading technologies, and launch its concept shoe MADGAMMA - Intertek Saturn.
Minli Zhao, Vice President of Consumption Industry in the Asia Pacific Region of BASF’s Functional Materials Department, said: “Our successful philosophy is used in this concept shoe to make it sustainable and with high performance. Our goal is to introduce these advanced technologies into mainstream footwear production.”
The features of MADGAMMA-Intertek Saturn are as follows.
The shoe upper is made of 100% recyclable monofilament fiber Freeflex™thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). Freeflex™ fit the foot with minimal seams and stitching for superior comfort and performance. It's also very light. Besides, its transparency makes the design more flexible.
The shoe tongue is made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fiber and Freeflex ™ TPU. The Freeflex ™ TPU elastic fiber is used as a substitute for dry spandex due to its soft tensile properties. It is eco-friendly because it is manufactured without organic solvents and with a cost-effective manufacturing process.
The replaceable midsole is made of lightweight, high-rebound, and bio-based Elastopan®N polyurethane (PU). Compared with the traditional midsole, it is more sustainable since the Pu is made of bio-recycled materials, which also provides excellent cushioning and durability.
Another replaceable midsole is made of TPU foam, which has low density, high energy return, and can be recycled.
With the replaceable midsole, users can choose a midsole for different occasions. For example, the lightweight and high-rebound Elastopan® midsole for sports, and the TPU foam midsole for casual wear.
The shoe handle is made of bio-based Elastollan® N TPU, which contains 35% bio-based ingredients. Elastollan® provides great rigidity and complements high-performance sneaker components such as the torsion system for improving stability.
The outsole and cage are made of bio-based Elastopan® PU. The outsole made of Elastopan® features a high-grip pattern to optimize traction and provide maximum surface contact. This high-performance material also contains 30% bio-based ingredients.