CHINAPLAS 2024: BASF and Li-Ning collaborate to produce fully recyclable concept shoes made exclusively of Elastollan® TPU

At CHINAPLAS 2024, BASF will reveal its 100% fully recyclable Elastollan^® thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) concept shoes co-created with Li-Ning, a leading Chinese sports brand.

With the high-performance material solution Elastollan^®, the fully TPU concept shoes provide design freedom. It is also light and comfortable, yet possesses excellent mechanical properties including durability and slip resistance:

·       Elastollan^® Freeflex™ series for shoe upper: Freeflex™ TPU have good adhesion to the TPU film and midsole, while also providing excellent abrasion resistance.

·       High temperature film Elastollan^® for shoe upper: A high-temperature film with good softness and adhesion to fabrics. It is also anti-blooming with good resistance to washing, and a variety of surface effects that can be achieved with different treatments.

·       Elastollan^® Freeflex™ series for shoelaces: Freeflex™ TPU provide good elasticity, durability and anti-loosening effects.

·       Injection Grade Elastollan^® for decoration and support: With a wide range of hardness to choose from, Elastollan^® offers improved physical properties and processibility for greater design flexibility. At the same time, the combination of various material properties complements high-performance shoe components for improved stability.

·       Elastollan^® for midsole and insole: When applied to the midsole, Elastollan^® provides excellent shock absorption, high rebound and flexibility. Additionally, it possesses exceptional hydrolysis and abrasion resistance.

·       Low hardness grades Elastollan^® for outsole: Provide excellent abrasion resistance and a high-grip tread pattern to maximize surface contact and enhance traction.

“The partnership between Li-Ning and BASF demonstrates how we can create a win-win situation to attain the business and sustainability goals of the footwear segment,” said Marilyn Lye, Vice President, Performance Materials Asia Pacific, BASF. “The advanced technologies and recycling materials that we bring to the concept shoes are good examples to show to the entire footwear production value chain advancing in its sustainability journey.”

Through this collaboration with BASF, Li-Ning looks forward to providing sports enthusiasts with professional product experience and sports experience, and at the same time, jointly exploring the feasibility of total recyclability of footwear. Li-Ning has always pursued breakthroughs and innovations in the field of sports science and technology.

BASF is accelerating its plastics journey towards a more sustainable future! At CHINAPLAS 2024, BASF will showcase its latest innovations, competencies, and developments – particularly in the areas of sustainability and co-creation. Join us at CHINAPLAS 2024 and let us walk you through the MAKE–USE–RECYCLE phases in our plastics journey.