Shoes kick up to speed with assist from Mother Nature

Mizuno, a producer of running footwear and apparel, is using a new thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) range from Arkema (Colombes, France) for the Wave Technology plates in four models of its running shoes set to debut this year.

The new TPE, Pebax Rnew, is produced from castor oil, which is a renewable resource. It is made up of block copolymers consisting of a sequence of nylon 11 and polyether segments. It can be used neat, as an additive, or in blends with other polymers and rubbers. It can also be reinforced with fillers.

“Mizuno is taking the initiative to protect the environment,” says the company’s U.S. director of athletic footware marketing, Rod Foley. “By being the first in the athletic footwear industry to use Pebax Rnew, we exemplify our commitment to managing the limited resources that the Earth provides.”  —[email protected]