Polymer producer Arkema had a shoe from On Running on display at its stand at Intertextile Shanghai at the end of the August.

Global textile platform manager, Echo Xun, explained that the white running shoe was the result of a partnership between Arkema and the Swiss athletic shoe brand. It was made entirely from Arkema’s biobased P11 polymer, which derives from castor beans, processed into yarn by a partner company.

“We use different processes for the different components, but it’s the same material throughout,” Ms Xun said. “It is also recyclable. Customers can bring worn shoes back and we can recycle the material to make components for new shoes.”

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