At this year’s Lineapelle, to be held from February 20-2 in, Milan, Sympatex will launch a new line of functional materials for footwear in which PU foams are completely replaced by a fleece-like compound made from recycled clothing fibers. This innovation dovetails with several of the ecological goals set down in the Sympatex “Agenda 2020” sustainability strategy: avoiding waste while reusing valuable and scarce raw materials, replacing controversial chemicals with more sustainable alternatives, reducing CO2 emissions and significantly reducing water consumption during the production of the laminate.

By launching this new footwear line, Sympatex feeds valuable raw materials back into the textile loop while curbing CO2 emissions. The material also boasts impressive performance. Replacing the PU foam with recycled textiles has a decidedly positive impact on the breathability of the laminated material.