- Revolutionizes cushioning with
high-elasticity biomass-based materials
- Unified domestic industries go beyond performance to promote
sustainability in the outdoor industry
SEONGNAM, South Korea,
April 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- SK
chemicals (CEO Ahn Jae-hyun),
Dongsung Chemical (Co-CEOs Baek
Jin-woo and Lee Man-woo), and
BYN Black Yak (Chairman Kang
Tae-sun, hereinafter Black Yak) announced on the 18th that
they've developed sustainable footwear materials using the
naturally-derived material "ECOTRION" and applied them to Black
Yak's "Trekking Shoes 343 MAX."
Consumers are attracted to the trekking shoes, launched as a new
product this spring, because they satisfy both the high
functionality required for outdoor activities and the value
consumption trend for eco-friendly materials that reduce greenhouse
gases.
The three companies introduced this product after a year of
collaboration. SK chemicals is the supplier of 100% bio-based
polyol "ECOTRION," while Dongsung Chemical develops the
bio-polyurethane resin "NEOPANĀ®" for footwear using this as a raw
material. Utilizing this material, Black Yak produced the "Foot
Pillow Cushioning Foam," which is applied to the heel support layer
of the midsole to minimize loading on the ankle and knee
joints.
The midsole of trekking shoes is a key component that determines
the footwear's weight and acts like a car's suspension to provide
the level of function. Cushioning is important because the midsole
must absorb the impact on the body and ensure safe strides, even on
rough terrain.
Dongsung Chemical's bio-polyurethane resin "NEOPAN" for footwear
maintains the high elasticity and flexibility of existing
polyurethane resins while using bio-based raw materials, providing
the shock absorption function of the "Foot Pillow Cushioning
Foam."
ECOTRION, utilized in NEOPAN, is an eco-friendly material that
uses raw materials that reduce greenhouse gas emissions by
approximately 40% in comparison to conventional petrochemical raw
materials. It is utilized in the production of spandex, artificial
leather, and urethane elastic materials that are challenging to
recycle. ECOTRION has one less carbon atom in its chemical
structure compared to petrochemical materials, which gives it a
helical-shaped polymer structure that enables the production of
products with high elastic resilience, similar to a spring.
Kim Eung-soo, Head of SK
chemicals' Green Materials Business Division, stated,
"Bio-materials, along with recycled plastics, are one of the
promising alternatives to replace petrochemical materials. We plan
to actively highlight the sustainability and functionality of PO3G,
focusing on big brands that are leading the sustainable trend with
bio-materials."
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