Typical hiking boots contain polyurethane materials in many parts of the shoe.
Polyurethane materials are ubiquitous in performance textiles, sportswear, and footwear. From insoles, midsoles, and outsoles, to protective films and breathable membranes, to coatings and adhesives, many high-performance products use polyurethane materials because of their durability, comfort, and versatility. For footwear alone, it is estimated that each year about 774,000 metric tonnes of polyurethane elastomers are consumed – an extraordinary amount, roughly equivalent to the weight of 77 Eiffel Towers – every year.1
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