Swiss firm Dow launches Engage Ren plant-based POEs for footwear

Some of the key benefits of Engage Ren for manufacturers in the footwear industry include improved foam quality and polymer consistency; better resilience; lighter foams with equivalent hardness; and improved abrasion resistance and durability, Dow said in a media release.

When used alongside other recycled materials, brands will be able to offer a more complete sustainable footwear option to their customers. These products will soon be available to sustainability-conscious consumers through Dow’s collaboration with footwear brand Crocs. Dow has begun supplying plant-based polymers for use in Crocs’ manufacturing process of its proprietary Croslite material, which have an even lower CO₂ impact than their current material. The company will take a mass balance approach to scaling the percentage of plant-based polymers into its footwear over time. Crocs is the first footwear brand to go-to-market with this new material technology.

Engage Ren polyolefin elastomers (POEs) are produced using renewable energy and plant-based feedstocks such as used cooking oil. As only waste residues or by-products from an alternative production process are utilised, these raw feedstock materials do not consume extra land resources nor compete with the food chain.

Engage Ren plant-based polymers deliver equivalent performance in the final application as fossil-fuel counterparts and therefore do not require reformulation.

“Manufacturers, brands, retailers and consumers all recognise the role they play in reducing the impact of climate change and as a result, are seeking out more sustainable options,” said Imran Munshi, global bio-polymers and consumer market manager at Dow. “Combining a lower carbon footprint and no compromise on performance, Engage Ren provides the footwear industry with an innovative solution that enhances the sustainability profile of their products, while maintaining the same high-performance results they’ve come to expect from Dow. We are committed to enabling our customers to reduce their carbon impact and meet their sustainability targets and we are excited about how this innovation advances the market for more sustainable materials.”

As a leading materials science company, Dow continues to work towards transformational change with partners and policy makers to tackle the challenges of climate change. The introduction of Engage Ren highlights how Dow is supporting the markets we participate in, to reduce the carbon footprint and provide more sustainable, high-performing solutions to our customers.

ALCHEMPro News Desk (KD)