China develops bio-based degradable footwear

(ECNS) -- Chinese researchers have developed and produced bio-based degradable shoes under composting conditions, according to China Chemical Industry News.

The shoes, with the soles made of polyester rubber and other parts made from hemp fiber, bamboo fiber and corn stalk latex, can degrade quickly, according to researchers.

The first batch of 500 biodegradable shoes has been offered to faculty members and students of the Beijing University of Chemical Technology

About one billion pairs of shoes are discarded every year, posing a huge threat to the environment, said Wang Zhao, a member of the research team.

The team, headed by Zhang Liqun, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering, has completed the 1,000-ton-scale pilot test production of the polyester rubber, which can also be used to produce bio-based degradable tires and oil-resistant seal rings.