Felix Willenbrink

Felix has 25 years’ experience in project management, management consulting as well as marketing management. In his role as Marketing Manager Felix is leading the business of BASF Performance Materials in the Footwear/Sports/Leisure industry. Felix’ focus is to foster BASF’s role as a leading supplier of tailor-made high-performance footwear materials for all type of shoes and soles. Felix is based in Lemfoerde/Germany at one of the global hubs for R&D and production of polyurethanes in BASF.

Abstract

The family of polyurethanes (TPU, E-TPU, PU systems) offers a wide portfolio of materials with utmost flexibility and versatility for footwear - both for soles and upper applications. This versatility is also reflected in sustainable attributes: For example, excellent mechanical properties support product’s lifetime and alternative feedstocks allow essential product carbon footprint reduction and recycled content. 

This presentation will show the contribution of polyurethanes for sustainable footwear based on relevant examples. Particular focus is made on increasing requirements towards circularity of footwear and how polyurethanes may contribute to relevant solutions.   

Latest research activities reveal essential progress in applying recycling processes to polyurethanes. Definitively, there is still a way to go for circularity in footwear (including but not limited to sustainable footwear designs, efficient collection of shoes, sorting and disassembling). With regard to recyclability of materials this presentation will show the status for polyurethanes and demonstrate the readiness for both chemical and mechanical recycling processes as part of circular concepts. 

Let's discuss how to shape the circular future of footwear!