The shoe brand Vivobarefoot and the materials science start-up Balena have announced a collaboration to develop biodegradable 3D-printed shoes. Together, they want to create solutions to the immense waste problem in the footwear industry.
Balena has developed BioCir®flex, a thermoplastic polymer that is over 50% bio-based. It is fully industrially compostable and recyclable and replaces environmentally harmful materials such as TPU, PVC or LDPE. Products made from BioCir®flex can be biodegraded in a controlled manner at the end of their life cycle.
The further development BioCir3D is particularly suitable for 3D printing of flexible and durable products. Unlike TPU, it is biodegradable and therefore does not contribute to plastic pollution. Vivobarefoot and Balena see great potential here for sustainable shoe production.
The combination of advanced biomaterials and 3D printing could reduce waste in the future, according to the vision. For example, longer product lifecycles would be possible through individual customization and design flexibility, as well as a clear biological recycling cycle for used shoes.
The first Biome test shoes with Balena’s BioCer should be available in six months. According to the company, the cooperation represents a significant milestone in the harmonization of biomaterial research and natural design. The long-term goal is the environmentally friendly, needs-based production of biodegradable shoes.
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