Cirql, a provider of sustainable materials for the international footwear industry, has introduced Cirql rTPU50, the newest addition to its recyclable midsole collection.
This patented material is produced using a chemical-free, supercritical foaming process and is made with 50% GRS-certified post-industrial recycled TPU.
According to the company, Cirql rTPU50 offers a scalable, fully recyclable midsole solution designed to help footwear brands meet their climate and sustainability goals in an increasingly stringent regulatory environment.
Cirql uses its patented manufacturing process to directly incorporate the 50% GRS-certified, post-industrial recycled TPU into the foam.
Matt Thwaites, Vice President and General Manager of Cirql, said “Our mission is to keep shoes out of landfills, first and foremost, and with Cirql’s rTPU50 we add another solution for footwear designers, brands and product creators committed to building circular footwear.”
He continued “We are proud to offer footwear brands yet another trusted midsole material that will empower developers to build products that are aligned with climate goals.”
Cirql rTPU50 is best suited for lifestyle, casual, recovery, safety, and golf footwear. It will be available to footwear brands in Q3 2025.
The material is third-party tested and available as a finished component or as polymer.
The company offers the option of a co-moulded TPU outsole, which removes the current bonding process to deliver a glueless, single material bottom unit. Cirql’s midsole foams can also be conventionally bonded to all outsoles currently on the market.
Cirql currently has 25 patents granted for its sustainable solutions for foams, with dozens more pending worldwide. Its Vietnam factory obtained GRS certification in November 2024.
Thwaites added “We’re committed to authentic circularity by shrinking carbon emissions, offering next-generation sustainable material solutions, and eliminating hazardous substances from manufacturing, with traceability and trust.”
