BASF & KPR® King Power collaborate to launch safety footwear made with recycled polyurethanes (PU) solution Elastopan® Loop
- Elastopan Loop - a recycled PU solution for the footwear industry
Shanghai, China – April 9, 2024 – BASF and KPR® King Power (KPR), a leading name in the safety footwear industry, have collaborated to develop safety shoes made with Elastopan® Loop, a recycled polyurethanes (PU) solution incorporating recycled PU materials.
“We are thrilled to have commercialized and supplied the first order of ‘Loop’ solutions in China to KPR for the production of their new line of safety shoes based on recycled PU materials,” said Silvia Mok, Vice President, Business Management Polyurethanes Systems, Performance Materials Asia Pacific, BASF. “This collaboration not only helps us to enable the green transformation of customers such as KPR, it is also a step forward in reducing the environmental footprint of the thriving footwear industry.”
The patented PU recycling technology behind Loop uses a combination of sophisticated advanced liquification techniques to recycle PU from waste generated across the value chains into high-quality PU materials, which is transformed into recycled PU solutions for the footwear market. These solutions meet industry standards and have strong commercial viability.
The use of high-quality recycled PU materials ensures that the footwear retains its essential properties of durability and reliability, which is crucial for safety shoes used in demanding conditions of various industrial environments. At the same time, it provides the user comfort that PU materials such as Elastopan, are known for in footwear applications.
About BASF
At BASF, 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. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchange in Frankfurt (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the United States. Further information at www.basf.com.
About BASF’s Performance Materials division
BASF’s Performance Materials division 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 knowledge and understanding, make us the ideal one-stop-shop. With dedicated material-focused teams and strong R&D power, we constantly 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. Join #OurPlasticsJourney on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/basf-performance-materials/ and in our newsletter https://plastics-rubber.basf.com/global/en/performance_polymers/plastics-journey-newsletter
