Shoes, especially their hard-to-dispose soles, pose a significant recycling challenge due to their complex and often non-circular material composition, often ending up in landfills, contributing to environmental pollution and waste. To address this challenge, Balena and ForEver provide a solution: BioCir®flex soles —a fully circular footwear breakthrough.
Based on Balena’s biopolymer technology BioCir®flex, these soles are highly bio-based and fully industrially compostable, boasting durability and flexibility set by the global footwear standards while minimizing environmental impact at the end-of-life.
BioCir®flex Rewrites
the Sole Story
Any collaboration involving these soles aligns with the "BioSneaker" design principles created by Balena, which aim for a fully circular end-of-life for footwear. By incorporating BioCir®flex soles into products, brands have the unique opportunity to create circular and compostable shoes, contributing to a more sustainable and circular business model.
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The key to the performance of BioCir®flex soles lies in the innovative use of BioCir®flex, a robust bioplastic material. This material not only meets the demands of the footwear industry but also aligns with the principles of circular design and sustainability.
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The scalability of mass production ensures that BioCir®flex soles can meet the performance needs of any shoe brand while maintaining their commitment to circular goals and planet responsibility.
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Industrially Compostable
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Recyclable
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Scalable
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Biobased in range 50-85%
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Performance optimal
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Versatility
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Durable and flexible
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Reduced carbon footprint
Paving the Way for
Circular Footwear!
BioCir®flex soles are designed to reach their end-of-life responsibly through the post-industrial and post-consumer recycling paths, as well as through biological recycling mechanism - biodegradation - in an industrial compost facility leaving no negative impact on compost quality and the environment.
Balena is working with a network of actual industrial compost facilities across the globe to ensure the full decomposition and biodegradation of soles made from BioCir®flex - back to the ground safely, and by that completing a fully circular product lifecycle.