Chinese researchers develop bio-based degradable footwear

BEIJING -- Chinese researchers have recently developed and produced bio-based degradable shoes which are stable for everyday use and can degrade quickly under composting conditions, according to China Science Daily.

The research team from the Beijing University of Chemical Technology first developed a bio-based polyester rubber and used it as the material for the sole of shoes, with other parts made from hemp fiber, bamboo fiber and corn stalk latex.

The team, headed by Zhang Liqun, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering, has completed the 1,000-tonne-scale pilot test production of the polyester rubber, which can also be used to produce bio-based degradable tire and oil-resistant seal ring.

The team has started small-scale production of such shoes and will work with enterprises to realize mass production.

The lack of biodegradable rubber material has limited the development of degradable shoes in China and many as 1 billion pairs of shoes are discarded every year, posing a threat to the environment, said Prof. Wang Zhao, a member of the research team.