Trinseo | How Bioplastics Provide High-Performance and Sustainable Textile Solutions for Fashion & Footwear

September 11, 2019

How Bioplastics Provide High-Performance and Sustainable Textile Solutions for Fashion & Footwear

Garments and textiles present numerous opportunities for innovation in sustainability: the global apparel and footwear industry accounts for eight percent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, according to a study commissioned by ClimateWorks Foundation.

At the same time, the market demand for flexible and lightweight footwear has been steadily increasing. API, an Italian company acquired by Trinseo in 2017, specializes in the production of thermoplastic elastomeric compounds and bioplastics focusing on the latest product developments in polymer materials and production technologies for the footwear industry.

API’s range of thermoplastic bioplastics includes APINAT™ BIO and APILON™ 52 BIO in soft and rigid grades, which have a long history of serving fashion and function. APILON™ BIO (TPU) was developed to address the increasing importance of sustainability principles in the world of fashion and is part of an evolution towards an eco-sustainable economy.

The company introduced its newest lightweight footwear solutions in 2018. APILON™ 52 EXP was designed specifically for microcellular midsoles, whereas APILON™ LIGHT offers an outstanding combination of performance, aesthetics, and lightness.

API and ICM (Industria Chimica Mediterranea), a key player in footwear and leather goods, announced a joint development for innovative and sustainable technical fabrics in June 2018. The partnership facilitates the design, manufacture, and marketing of high-performance and environmentally sustainable textile solutions for the fashion and footwear industries. The development’s textile products are produced in a solvent-free and plasticizer-free manufacturing process.

For more information on our commitment to sustainability, please visit Trinseo.com/Sustainability where you can download the full 2019 Sustainability & Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Report.

Footwear Diagram