New thermoformable cork material with recycled foam fosters a new generation of footwear materials
New thermoformable cork material with recycled foam fosters a new generation of footwear materials
Amorim Footcork® Evolution delivers sustainability and innovation, responding to the need of the footwear industry to use more efficient and sustainable materials in its production process.
Amorim Cork Composites believes in evolution towards an ecological world and shares this vision through the development of Evolution - a new thermoformable material of the Footcork® brand dedicated to the production of footwear components.
Evolution is produced from recycled and natural materials, combined in a specific formulation of EVA granules and cork, and aims to foster a new generation of materials available for the footwear industry, thereby helping to reduce the sector’s carbon footprint.
Cork is currently one of the world’s most sustainable materials. Combined with 100% recycled EVAs from the footwear industry and 100% recycled foams from the automotive and furniture industry, it enables Amorim Cork Composites to deliver a more sustainable product, while ensuring the necessary technical performance.
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Amorim Footcork® Evolution ensures that the shoe has an extraordinary comfort
Absorbing shock when in contact with the ground, acting as an excellent shock absorber, and with high breathability. Agglomerated cork and recycled foams as raw materials enable the material to be thermoformable, by combining the natural characteristics and lightness of cork with the high flexibility of EVA, thus guaranteeing maximum comfort.
Amorim Footcork® Evolution delivers unique characteristics
Such as easy handling and optimum adaptability in the production process and yet excellent recovery, which allows the material to be perfectly adapted to the anatomy of the foot.
Amorim Footcork® Evolution delivers unique characteristics
Such as easy handling and optimum adaptability in the production process and yet excellent recovery, which allows the material to be perfectly adapted to the anatomy of the foot.
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The Footcork® brand has proven its performance over several decades
In the development of materials with excellent comfort and ergonomics. The use of cork guarantees an optimal distribution of pressure, while at the same time allowing the foot to breathe by controlling shoe temperature.
Why does the footwear industry need Evolution?
The footwear industry has made significant efforts to improve the efficiency of the materials it uses, and eliminate use of less sustainable materials during the production process.
Why does the footwear industry need Evolution?
The footwear industry has made significant efforts to improve the efficiency of the materials it uses, and eliminate use of less sustainable materials during the production process.
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According to the 2018 edition of the World Footwear Book, published by the Portuguese Footwear Industry Components Association - APICCAPS -, the shoe industry recorded positive worldwide sales in 2017. World footwear production grew in 2017, attaining production of 23.5 billion pairs of shoes, 2% higher than in 2016. However, there are many environmental impacts in the footwear industry that cannot be ignored.
According to the online page, The Shoe Industry, in order to prevent these impacts, it is essential to select materials that comply with the model of the circular economy. The study indicates that the footwear industry hopes to increase the level of sustainability and innovation in footwear production and components as well as in the recycling process. It also notes that the footwear ecosystem (producers and consumers) is aware that the production and consumption of footwear has a negative carbon footprint.
Amorim Cork Composites and the Circular Economy
Amorim Cork Composites, a Corticeira Amorim company, was created to attribute value to cork-based sub products and other cork derivatives which due to their technical characteristics, have less interest for the production of cork stoppers. In light of the opportunity of leveraging the performance of composite materials developed and produced by Amorim Cork Composites, this business unit has been expanding its core business to include non-cork sub products, in particular foams and other polymers derived from the footwear, automotive and packaging industries. The main materials are a synthetic rubber, polyethylenes, polyurethanes or EVA foams that complement cork, by delivering new value propositions. The synergies arising from hybrid compositions of cork with other raw materials has made it possible to create new products for a wide range of applications in the most diverse segments.
Waste residues from Amorim Cork Composites’ production activity, are also incorporated in the manufacturing process. This has been a long journey, during which the company has been reinforcing its knowledge about the base raw material - cork - and means of enhancing some of its characteristics, while always focusing on the performance and technology that cork can bring to the end product and application. On the other hand, this development process has also been furthered by the company's greater knowledge of business models and critical success factors in order to benefit from characteristics associated to the circularity of materials.
This vision has enabled the company to promote several characteristics of cork, with a clear focus on the performance, technology and sustainability of the materials that it produces.
This vision has enabled the company to promote several characteristics of cork, with a clear focus on the performance, technology and sustainability of the materials that it produces.