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• Our circularity concepts for footwear;
• Elastopan® SpringPURe: More lightness in your step;
• Merging footwear automation and cutting-edge materials.
BASF is presenting new materials, concepts and recycling methods for polyurethanes in footwear at SIMAC Tanning Tech (simactanningtech.it). The leading international trade fair will take place from September 23-25 in Milan, Italy. We will showcase our unique and integrated toolbox of Elastopan® (PU) and thermoplastic polyurethanes Elastollan® and Infinergy®. Together with our partners and customers we bring innovative products to the market offering utmost lightness paired with mechanical performance and automated processing. Our new sustainable material developments and recycling methods for the footwear industry will be presented at BASF, hall 10, G56/H55.
Circularity is more than an option
Circular economy is one of the major topics in all industries. The concept of meltable PU is an essential step forward towards a circular future of footwear: Bottom units, upper parts or even complete shoes made of meltable PU or combinations of TPU and PU are ready for mechanical recycling concepts. The new TPU Elastollan® RC with up to 100% recycled content can be used as a raw material for new shoe parts. Alongside this concept, we are unveiling further strategies for circularity: by utilizing depolymerization, both post-industrial and post-consumer footwear waste can be incorporated into new polyurethane shoe soles. Alternatively, ChemCycling® enables us to achieve up to 100% attributed recycled feedstock by utilizing end-of-life tires or mixed plastic waste.
Get the spring vibes with our new Elastopan®SpringPURe
Imagine a PU that’s as light as a spring breeze but tough enough to handle any adventure welcome to the SpringPURe portfolio! These products feature low density without sacrificing durability and performance you expect from polyurethane. Whether you’re after the bouncy flexibility of polyether-based materials or the easy processing of polyester-based options (perfect for top-tier safety shoes), SpringPURe has it all. We support all the latest production methods, from classic casting to direct injection. Our collaboration with Stemma S.R.L. brings together our SpringPURe material advances with Stemma's NUCLEOOS technology, a hybrid technology for chemical-physical foaming. Together, we create lighter midsoles with outstanding style and performance, seamlessly integrating into existing polyurethane molding processes.
Next-Gen footwear: Merging automated manufacturing with cutting-edge materials
Experience the next level of automated footwear creation with our collaboration alongside Desma Schuhmaschinen GmbH. Together, we’re rethinking design flexibility and enhancing lightweight comfort showcasing concepts such as direct soling with Elastopan®SpringPURe lightweight midsoles combined with robust Elastollan® TPU film outsoles. Explore the possibilities of fully automated PU processing, paired with the dynamic elasticity of Infinergy®, resulting in exceptional midsoles crafted in a single step. The classic "Detonate" cupsole concept brings tradition into the future, utilizing foamed TPU to achieve adaptable densities and superior performance. Meanwhile, Desma’s cutting-edge SCF machine streamlines production to deliver ultra-light Infinergy® midsoles with outstanding elasticity and energy return.
Visit us at Simac 2025, hall 10, booth G56/H55
About BASF
At BASF (basf.com), we create chemistry for a sustainable future. Our ambition: We want to be the preferred chemical company to enable our customers’ green transformation. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Around 112,000 employees in the BASF Group contribute to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio comprises, as core businesses, the segments Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, and Nutrition & Care; our standalone businesses are bundled in the segments Surface Technologies and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of €65.3 billion in 2024.
About BASF’s Performance Materials division
BASF’s Performance Materials division (performance-materials.basf.com) leads the transformation of the plastics industry by merging sustainability with a competitive edge. Our broad material competencies and product portfolio, backed by deep industry understanding, make us the ideal one-stop-shop. With dedicated material-focused teams and strong R&D power, we deliver industry-leading technologies and expertise to our customers worldwide. Our global network ensures a competitive advantage through superior innovations, regional proximity, and tailor-made solutions that meet local market demands. We are committed to enhancing performance and efficiency across sectors such as automotive, consumer goods, industrial applications, and construction. With BASF, our partners embark on #OurPlasticsJourney towards a more circular and sustainable future. In 2024, the Performance Materials division achieved global sales of €6.8 billion.
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sylvia.kaufmann[.]basf.de 
