Our latest issue of Footwearbiz has a special focus on innovations from the shoe industry in the US. In Materials Manufacturing Innovation, articles that tie in with this include a look at how Athletic Propulsion Labs has continued to innovate since the NBA banned its first basketball shoe in 2010. We follow this with details of the new biodegradable midsole material that OrthoLite’s Cirql division has produced. This section has details of leather-cutting developments from Zünd and an update from research centre PFI on the impact that new European Union regulations could have on the footwear sector. In Athletic and Outdoor, there is US innovation in an article on New Balance’s use of data to help redefine what ‘preferred materials’ are. Materials are also the focus of a feature on Puma’s efforts to address the requirements of Gen Z consumers. We end with Business of Footwear and an assessment of how changes to the Higg Materials Sustainability Index can benefit shoe brands.
