New research project into biobased soles
19/09/2025
Soles are commonly made from synthetic polymers such as PU, TPU, EVA and rubber, and are believed to represent 40% of the total mass of a shoe, making a significant contribution to a shoe’s footprint. Soles are furthermore subject to abrasion and thus a source of fibre fragmentation and microplastics released into the environment.
Brand partners in the project include adidas, Target and Zalando, with material innovators Algenesis Labs, Balena, Evoco, Kuori and Yulex. The research project will be testing and validating various alternatives, with UK-based SATRA, to see which ones offer the performance of conventional fossil-fuel derived materials.
“The Next Stride is a critical, collaborative intervention to de-risk the widespread adoption of
high-performance bio-based alternatives for footwear soles,” commented Fashion for Good director Katrin Ley.
Image by Bliyak courtesy of Fashion for Good
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