Far Eastern New Century Corporation (FENC) has achieved a breakthrough in footwear technology, becoming the first in the world to convert rigid post-consumer PET bottles into recycled thermoplastic polyester elastomer (rTPEE).
This next-generation material combines outstanding environmental benefits with superior performance, featuring excellent elasticity, cushioning, and rebound, making it an ideal solution for footwear midsoles.
It has already been successfully commercialised and supplied to the French outdoor sports brand SALOMON for its Solamphibian amphibious shoes. Compared with petroleum-based virgin TPEE, rTPEE reduces carbon emissions by 10 to 30%, accelerating the footwear industry’s transition toward high-value and sustainable development. The material has received market recognition, with multiple international sports brands currently in discussions to adopt it.
FENC has developed polyester materials in diverse specifications through polymerization and by modifying the material properties to suit the various shoe components, hence addressing the challenge of separating shoe components for recycling. FENC has developed shoe uppers, laces, linings, insoles, shanks and toe cap adhesive made of recycled polyester (rPET), and midsoles from rTPEE which is based on rPET material, advancing the concept of “single-material, fully recyclable” design.
FENC has also developed FENC TopGreen AirTek PU technology, which uses industrially captured CO₂ as a raw material to produce high-performance elastic materials. These materials can be widely applied in footwear, stretch fabrics, waterproof-breathable membranes, and synthetic leather.
This eliminates the use of phosgene and isocyanates traditionally found in conventional polyurethane (PU) manufacturing, offering a safer and more environmentally friendly production process. Compared to traditional thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), AirTek PU achieves up to a 58% reduction in carbon emissions while maintaining both performance and functionality. It represents a breakthrough that combines eco-friendliness, non-toxicity, carbon reduction and high performance.
