Covestro’s recyclable thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) has been used in designing a concept shoe by Chinese shoe designer Axis Liu. Covestro will showcase the concept shoe at K 2019 to be held during October 16-23 in Düsseldorf. The company will demonstrate that shoes can be made from a single material type.
Shoes usually consist of several kinds of materials that widely vary in their chemical composition. In order to be able to recycle these materials, they would first have to be separated from one another in a time-consuming process. At the K 2019 trade fair, Covestro will demonstrate that trendy and functional shoes can be made from a single material type. The company will present sneakers, designed by Chinese shoe designer Axis Liu, that are made entirely of TPU.
The option to recycle the concept sneaker, however, is not the only reason why it sets new standards in terms of sustainability. Ut contains TPU types of the Desmopan eco range, whose carbon content partly originates from biomass. Other types like the Desmopan 37385A in use are based on polyethercarbonate polyols, which Covestro produces from CO2 using an innovative technology and sells under the name cardyon.