Huntsman and Steitz Secura launch circular PU midsoles
US chemicals supplier Huntsman has partnered with safety shoe manufacturer Steitz Secura to create a polyurethane (PU) midsole system designed to increase circularity in safety footwear.
The Daltoped system allows recycled PU scrap to be reused in new midsoles without changing existing processes or affecting performance.
Industrial-scale trials have confirmed durability, comfort and safety remain on a par with virgin materials, the companies have said.
Wolfgang Burkhard, head of PUR at Steitz Secura, said the company now produces midsoles with up to 30% recycled PU. Alex Stepuk, business development circularity manager at Huntsman, added that the approach offers a scalable way to recover and repurpose PU, supporting demand for sustainable, high-performance footwear.
