Unlocking The Next Generation Of Footwear Material Performance

How Biomaterials Hold The Key To More Than Sustainability

How do you strike a balance between sustainability and performance when it comes to footwear materials? INSITE® Director of Research & Design Justin Ter Har recently answered this question at the FDRA Sustainability & Innovation Summit in Portland, OR in September.

Justin joined fellow industry experts for the Innovations in Performance & Comfort Technologies panel at the summit, where they discussed the latest advancements in sustainable footwear materials. We sat down with Justin before the summit to ask him questions on the benefits of biomaterials for footwear and what he thinks is holding the industry back from adopting these materials more widely.

What biomaterials does INSITE currently use, and what innovations are on the horizon?

Our bio-based open cell and poured PU foams are made with up to 70% plant-based materials including Susterra® Bio-PDO™, which is derived from U.S. industrial dent corn. The latest compounds coming out of innovation also use Nuvolve®, an enzymatic polymer made from E.U. beet sugars, as a performance additive to help enhance PU structure and durability.

There is a common notion in the industry that biomaterials can hinder performance. Do you agree?

No – in fact, we’ve found the opposite to be true! Our bio-based ingredients are actually core components of the chemical reaction that creates polyurethane. And they’ve been shown to improve the resilience, flexibility, and durability of the foam, showcasing that sustainability and high function can coexist.

What testing do the materials go through to demonstrate these sustainability and performance claims?

For sustainability benefits, we rely on our raw material suppliers. For example, Susterra® conducts rigorous life cycle assessments to determine their reduction of greenhouse gas emissions against petroleum-based BDO. This includes both the material itself, and the agricultural resources used to grow it.

For performance, we use standard ASTM tests to determine physical properties, but we go a bit further to show how materials will also provide specific foot health benefits, too. This is part of the ProvenComfort testing process we conduct at our Research & Design Lab in Los Angeles. Using test methods based in the science of biomechanics, we can show how our plant-based compounds will add to key comfort elements like shock absorption, energy return, and dispersal of plantar pressure.

But the real proof is when consumers choose these products, enjoy them, and come back to them repeatedly. That’s the ultimate demonstration of value.

If biomaterials can improve performance and cut back carbon emissions, why aren’t we seeing them used more frequently?

Like most things, it comes down to price. For sustainable materials to truly reshape the industry, the resulting footwear must be affordable. Only when consumers can buy these shoes at scale will sustainability make a lasting impact.

It also comes down to rebuilding trust in sustainable materials as viable options for high-quality footwear components. The industry is rightfully more conscious of “greenwashing” than it has been in the past, and to make sure we avoid that, we have to be diligent about testing and LCAs, so brands have the assurance that sustainable materials are walking the walk, not just talking the talk.

What do you want the industry to know about biomaterials?

Biomaterials aren’t just about checking the “green” box. We believe they’re the future of footwear performance. Our hope is that the industry will take advantage of how far sustainable innovations have come. The footwear industry has always been on the forefront of new material concepts and technologies. And we’re excited to partner with brands who are ready to change the expectations of what a sustainable material can do.

INSITE is rewriting the narrative: performance and sustainability are no longer at odds – they’re partners in innovation. Biomaterials are proving that eco-conscious design can deliver superior comfort, durability, and consumer satisfaction. But to truly unlock the next generation of footwear performance, the industry must go further than incremental change and embrace biomaterials at scale. Now is the time for brands, designers, and developers to explore, invest in, and champion biomaterials to shape a more resilient and responsible footwear future.

For more information about INSITE bio-based foams, download our whitepaper.