The Vietnam-based subsidiary of US insole manufacturer OrthoLite, Cirql, announced Cirql Zero, an innovative foam material intended to be biodegradable and industrially compostable, in response to the demand for sustainable midsole components in the footwear sector.
It is the first midsole foam capable of scaling up manufacturing to meet worldwide demand, which is anticipated to be hundreds of millions of shoes each year. Cirql provides sustainable solutions to footwear brands and manufacturing partners who want to improve supply chain sustainability and eliminate negative environmental impacts from production processes. Cirql’s two end-of-life solutions include: fully recyclable with rTPU30, which contains 30% post-consumer recycled content, and biodegradable/industrially compostable with Cirql Zero.
Cirql Zero stands out for its production adaptability and this midsole foam can be created utilizing supercritical foaming (SCF) technology in an autoclave. This adaptability guarantees that Cirql Zero is available to a wide range of manufacturers, facilitating its integration into existing manufacturing processes and paving the path for quick adoption throughout the global footwear industry. Cirql provides solutions for footwear brands and their factory partners to advance their own sustainability goals, ensure a more ecologically responsible supply chain, and reduce the negative end-of-life consequences connected with footwear manufacturing.
