Dow Teams Up With Under Armour to Make Shoe Soles Lighter and More Sustainable

In the field of athletic and performance footwear, performance, comfort, and sustainability are becoming the new focus of competition among brands. As a global leader in materials, Dow is driving the footwear industry towards a lighter, faster, and greener future through Performance Footwear materials, collaborating with well-known brands such as Under Armour and Crocs.

Image source: DOW official website

From "unicorn foam" to rubber-free soles

The collaboration between Dow and Under Armour resulted in the UA Flow technology, known as the "Unicorn Foam." This material achieved the industry's first rubberless outsole "unitsole" design, significantly reducing weight while enhancing grip and durability.

The foam material formula provided by Dow balances high energy return, cushioning, and durability, helping athletes achieve faster speeds and greater stability on the basketball court. This innovation has been applied to top basketball shoes like the Curry Flow 8 and has received recognition with the 2022 Edison Award.

Collaborating with Crocs for a Low-Carbon Future

In the field of casual footwear, Dow collaborated with Crocs to utilize Ecolibrium™ bio-based polymers to replace part of the petrochemical raw materials, achieving a low-carbon upgrade of the classic Croslite™ material. By introducing renewable raw materials through a mass balance approach, Crocs has reduced its carbon footprint by 50% while maintaining lightness, comfort, and durability, setting a green benchmark for fashionable casual shoes.

The value of Dow Performance Footwear materials lies in performance breakthroughs, achieving lightweight and structural integration, simplifying manufacturing processes, and reducing energy and raw material consumption. This shortens production cycles, enhances production efficiency, and lowers overall costs. Additionally, it can balance eco-labels with actual performance, strengthening the brand's green image.

With the rapid growth of the global athletic and leisure footwear market, consumers' demands for performance and environmental sustainability are increasingly strong. Dow Performance Footwear's technological roadmap showcases the future direction of the footwear industry, where the pursuit of ultimate performance goes hand in hand with environmental responsibility. From professional sports to everyday life, material innovation is becoming the core of the footwear industry's upgrade.