Recently, leading British footwear brand VivoBarefoot and materials technology company Balena announced a partnership to tackle the environmental impact of the footwear industry. Representing B Corp™ certified companies and sustainable startups, VivoBarefoot and Balena have joined forces with the aim of developing recyclable or compostable footwear products to drive sustainability in the industry. Utilizing Balena's innovative BioCir®flex material and VivoBarefoot's scan-to-print digital footwear system, VivoBiome, they are committed to reducing the negative impact on the environment and allowing mankind to live in greater harmony with nature.
The BioCir®flex material is a high-performance, durable and flexible thermoplastic elastomer with a bio-based content of more than 50%. Not only is the material fully industrially compostable and recyclable, but it is also designed to replace unsustainable materials commonly used in the footwear industry, such as TPU, PVC and LDPE.Through a biorecycling mechanism, products made from BioCir®flex are safe to break down and biodegrade in controlled industrial composting environments, allowing for a fully circular life cycle.
The partnership between VivoBarefoot and Balena opens the door to the future of on-demand biodegradable footwear. This collaboration allows customers to reconnect with nature, allowing them to move through it and return the footwear to nature when they are done using it, leaving no waste behind.
Balena's 3D printing-specific material, BioCir3D, maintains a high degree of flexibility similar to TPU, providing reliable and long-lasting 3D printed products. This bio-based material can be industrially composted, thus reducing the environmental impact of discarded prints. It makes 3D printing flexible and durable and gives it unique biodegradable properties. In contrast, traditional TPU is non-biodegradable, leading to the creation of plastic waste.
The collaboration sets a benchmark of excellence in the convergence of bionic design and biomaterials science, harmonizing the relationship between nature and technology. VivoBiome is currently in the testing phase in the UK, working with VivoBiome Pioneers' wearable testing team. The two companies plan to test Biome footwear made from Balena's BioCir over the next six months and launch it to customers over the next 18 months. This collaboration is not just a business opportunity, but a transformative journey, driven by a shared commitment to mitigating the negative impacts of the footwear industry.
