Huntsman Bio-PU: Reshaping Shoe Sole Materials with Plant Byproducts

In the process of the footwear industry moving towards "low-carbon manufacturing," material innovation has become a key factor.  chemical giant Huntsman collaborated with American outdoor brand KEEN to develop a bio-based polyurethane sole material made from agricultural by-products, providing a new model for sustainability in the footwear industry.

Bio-PU from agricultural by-products

Huntsman, at its Footwear R&D Center in Belgium, developed a sole material containing 35%–51% bio-based content for KEEN's "Field to Foot (F2F)" collection, based on the DALTOPED®S polyurethane technology platform. The raw materials are partially derived from agricultural processing by-products, which reduces the use of petrochemical resources and lowers the carbon footprint.

Compared to conventional outsole materials, this bio-based polyurethane maintains consistent performance in resilience, comfort, hydrolysis resistance, and durability, achieving a "sustainable without degradation" technical balance.

Integration of Design and Manufacturing Innovation

The material uses a direct injection process, suitable for KEEN's one-piece sole design. Huntsman's technical team customized the formulation to balance lightweight and support, meeting the high requirements for anti-slip and cushioning in outdoor shoes. The project underwent cross-border collaboration during the pandemic, with R&D personnel from the United States, Europe, and Asia working together remotely to quickly implement the solution into mass production.

The collaboration between Huntsman and KEEN represents not only product innovation but also the integration of the bio-based chemical system with the footwear supply chain.

Huntsman's bio-based polyurethane provides a powerful statement for the footwear industry—sustainability does not equal compromised performance.