With the improvement of global awareness of environmental protection, the development of sustainable upper materials has become a research hotspot in the footwear industry. In this article, we mainly discuss the aspect of “resource conservation”. For the aspect of “environmental friendliness”, please refer to the previous article. As an environmentally friendly and recyclable resource, recycled materials have significant advantages in the development of uppers.
Principles of resource-saving material selection: 1. Give priority to renewable resources, such as soy protein, corn starch, etc., to reduce dependence on non-renewable resources. 2. The recycling and reprocessing capabilities of materials to reduce raw material consumption and waste generation. 3. Evaluate the resource efficiency of materials throughout their life cycle, including the mining, processing, use and waste treatment of raw materials.
Principles of resource-saving material selection:
1. Give priority to renewable resources, such as soy protein, corn starch, etc., to reduce dependence on non-renewable resources.
2. The recycling and reprocessing capabilities of materials to reduce raw material consumption and waste generation.
3. Evaluate the resource efficiency of materials throughout their life cycle, including the mining, processing, use and waste treatment of raw materials.
Application of recycled materials in uppers
Application of recycled polyester in upper materials
1. Recycled polyester (R-PET), as the main source of upper materials, has the dual benefits of reducing oil dependence and reducing carbon emissions.
2. Studies have shown that the carbon emissions of upper materials made of R-PET can be reduced by about 30% compared with traditional polyester materials.
3. The recycling and reuse process of recycled polyester meets the requirements of sustainable development and helps to build a closed-loop material economic system.
Application of bio-based materials in shoe upper development
1. The application of bio-based materials such as polylactic acid (PLA) and corn starch-based materials in shoe uppers can reduce dependence on fossil resources.
2. Bio-based shoe upper materials are biodegradable, which helps reduce plastic pollution in the environment and conforms to environmental protection trends.
3. With the advancement of biotechnology, the performance of bio-based materials continues to improve and is expected to become the mainstream of shoe upper materials in the future.
Application of nanocomposites in shoe upper materials
1. Nanocomposites combine the high performance of recycled materials and the special properties of nanomaterials to improve the durability and anti-slip properties of shoe upper materials.
2. The research and development and application of nanocomposites will help improve the environmental performance and market competitiveness of shoe upper materials.
3. In the future, nanocomposites are expected to become a research hotspot and industrial development direction in the field of shoe upper materials.
Application of 3D printing technology in shoe upper material innovation
1. 3D printing technology can customize the production of shoe upper materials to meet the personalized needs of consumers and reduce material waste.
2. Through 3D printing, the design of the upper with complex structure can be realized, and the comfort and functionality of the shoes can be improved.
3. The application of 3D printing technology in the field of upper materials has promoted the development of the footwear industry towards intelligence and greenness.
Types of recycled materials
1. Recycled rubber: Recycled rubber is a rubber material extracted from waste tires, rubber products and other wastes. According to statistics, more than 300 million cars are scrapped every year in the world, of which the recycling rate of tires is only about 30%. Recycled rubber has excellent elasticity and wear resistance and is an important source of upper materials.
2. Recycled polyester: Recycled polyester is mainly derived from waste plastic bottles, fibers, etc. Polyester materials have the characteristics of lightness, wear resistance, corrosion resistance, etc., and are an important substitute for upper materials.
3. Recycled nylon: Recycled nylon comes from waste fibers, plastics, etc. Nylon materials have the characteristics of high strength, wear resistance, corrosion resistance, etc., and are suitable for the development of upper materials.
Advantages of using recycled materials in shoe upper development
1. Environmental protection: The application of recycled materials can reduce pollution to the environment and reduce resource consumption, which is in line with the concept of sustainable development.
2. Economic: The cost of recycled materials is low, which is conducive to reducing the production cost of footwear products and improving corporate competitiveness.
3. Performance: The performance of recycled materials is almost the same as that of virgin materials, and even has more advantages in some aspects, such as the wear resistance of recycled rubber.
4. Market demand: With the improvement of consumers’ environmental awareness, the demand for environmentally friendly footwear products continues to grow, and recycled material upper products have broad market prospects.
Technical challenges of recycled materials in shoe upper development
1. Quality control of recycled materials: The quality of recycled materials is affected by factors such as raw materials and production processes. Ensuring the quality of recycled materials is the key.
2. Modification of recycled materials: In order to improve the performance of recycled materials, modification treatments such as adding additives and improving molecular structure are required.
3. Process technology: The application of recycled materials in shoe upper development requires innovative process technology to improve production efficiency and product quality.
In short, the application of recycled materials in shoe upper development has important environmental, economic and social significance. In the future, with the continuous advancement of technology and the growth of market demand, the market for recycled material uppers will usher in broader development prospects.
