U.S. chemical company Huntsman has developed a liquid thermoplastic polyurethane (LTPU) that enables the rapid production of high-performance midsoles and aligns with the ambitions of brand-name manufacturers of athletic and casual footwear. The Smartlite® O LTPU system is easier to process than expanded forms of TPU, which require complex processes such as supercritical foaming and steam box injection. It can be processed in a single step that uses significantly less water and energy and produces less waste and carbon emissions. Crucially, Huntsman’s Smartlite O LTPU system can also be converted and reused in new materials, either in its post-industrial or post-consumer form.
Huntsman’s Smartlite O LTPU system was officially launched on Sept. 19, 2023, at SIMAC in Milan and at FDRA’s Shoe Sustainability Summit in Portland, Oregon. To bring the new lightweight product to market, Huntsman partnered with Framas Group. Framas is ready to work with brands on sampling and fulfillment and has the capacity to produce up to two million sole constructions per year from the material.
