Soleic PU creates low-density and mid-density foams for applications including footwear and furniture components. We work with partners to develop formulations to specification.
Soleic is affordably priced for the markets and applications that are currently using them. While this price is currently higher than traditional systems, the broader adoption of Soleic material by more producers and customers will allow us to scale its production and thus lower its price to reduce this gap. In the coming years there will be additional burdens placed on users of petroleum based materials – the total cost of traditional materials will therefore rise and ours will reduce.
In terms of applications for product design, there is very little difference between Soleic and similar petrochemical materials. We work directly with partners to develop formulations that adapt precisely to their needs. Because Soleic biodegrades, our materials give designers an opportunity to design not only for the use of the product, but also for an environmentally-friendly end of life.
Biodegradation and durability are two separate properties. We design our materials to meet or exceed the performance metrics of their petroleum counterparts. That means Soleic products are high quality and durable during their typical product lifetime and will only biodegrade under specific conditions. To biodegrade, our materials must be constantly exposed to a microorganism-rich environment containing water. Responsible disposal means being buried in soil or compost, though Soleic materials will also degrade if they end up in the ocean. However, if your Soleic products get dirty from mud or walks on the beach, washing and drying them like you would with your petroleum-based products will prevent biodegradation.
The rate of biodegradation varies depending upon the environment that the material is placed in at the end of its use. Generally our materials fully biodegrade in 6 months to 2 years under home composting conditions.
Soleic has proven to reduce GHG emissions and carbon footprint for material production compared to petrochemical materials. Based on calculations from publicly available LCAs from Argonne National Laboratory, our materials result in 56% - 81% GHG emissions reductions. We contribute to both upstream and downstream Scope 3 reductions due to the plant-based, non-petroleum origins of our material technology, as well as its fully biodegradable end of life that reduces the Scope 3 impacts of plastic pollution and persistent microplastics.
The bio-content of Soleic products today is in excess of 50%, and our scientists can achieve >90% with technology currently in development. We have multiple proprietary suppliers of plant oils, and take care to source as sustainably as possible. This means not competing with food sources or contributing to deforestation.
Soleic’s biocontent is certified under USDA Biopreferred, while its biodegradation has been verified under ASTM D5338 performed by Eden Research Labs. We also have published 12 peer-reviewed scientific publications validating our technology claims. We have certified one of our exemplar foams, 57F, under USDA Biopreferred and will continue to seek USDA Biopreferred certification for new foam formulations.
Soleic materials are biodegradable – we have demonstrated that they don’t persist in environments such as soil, compost, or ocean waters. Nevertheless, Soleic does not condone littering! We recommend home composting your Soleic product when you are done with it.
We continue to add strategic manufacturing and distribution partners in all regions to support our customers wherever they need to do business with Soleic materials.
We are an agile organization and can tailor our support to meet the needs of the customer and opportunity in question. Our formulations and science team works directly with partners to adjust and adapt as needed throughout the transition process.
Soleic’s team of industry veterans and scientists will work closely with you to fit our chemical systems to your product. We commit to showing up honestly for our partners throughout the process.
Soleic is affordably priced for the markets and applications that are currently using them. While this price is currently higher than traditional systems, the broader adoption of Soleic material by more producers and customers will allow us to scale its production and thus lower its price to reduce this gap. In the coming years there will be additional burdens placed on users of petroleum based materials – the total cost of traditional materials will therefore rise and ours will reduce.
In terms of applications for product design, there is very little difference between Soleic and similar petrochemical materials. We work directly with partners to develop formulations that adapt precisely to their needs. Because Soleic biodegrades, our materials give designers an opportunity to design not only for the use of the product, but also for an environmentally-friendly end of life.
Biodegradation and durability are two separate properties. We design our materials to meet or exceed the performance metrics of their petroleum counterparts. That means Soleic products are high quality and durable during their typical product lifetime and will only biodegrade under specific conditions. To biodegrade, our materials must be constantly exposed to a microorganism-rich environment containing water. Responsible disposal means being buried in soil or compost, though Soleic materials will also degrade if they end up in the ocean. However, if your Soleic products get dirty from mud or walks on the beach, washing and drying them like you would with your petroleum-based products will prevent biodegradation.
The rate of biodegradation varies depending upon the environment that the material is placed in at the end of its use. Generally our materials fully biodegrade in 6 months to 2 years under home composting conditions.
Soleic has proven to reduce GHG emissions and carbon footprint for material production compared to petrochemical materials. Based on calculations from publicly available LCAs from Argonne National Laboratory, our materials result in 56% - 81% GHG emissions reductions. We contribute to both upstream and downstream Scope 3 reductions due to the plant-based, non-petroleum origins of our material technology, as well as its fully biodegradable end of life that reduces the Scope 3 impacts of plastic pollution and persistent microplastics.
The bio-content of Soleic products today is in excess of 50%, and our scientists can achieve >90% with technology currently in development. We have multiple proprietary suppliers of plant oils, and take care to source as sustainably as possible. This means not competing with food sources or contributing to deforestation.
Soleic’s biocontent is certified under USDA Biopreferred, while its biodegradation has been verified under ASTM D5338 performed by Eden Research Labs. We also have published 12 peer-reviewed scientific publications validating our technology claims. We have certified one of our exemplar foams, 57F, under USDA Biopreferred and will continue to seek USDA Biopreferred certification for new foam formulations.
Soleic materials are biodegradable – we have demonstrated that they don’t persist in environments such as soil, compost, or ocean waters. Nevertheless, Soleic does not condone littering! We recommend home composting your Soleic product when you are done with it.
We continue to add strategic manufacturing and distribution partners in all regions to support our customers wherever they need to do business with Soleic materials.
We are an agile organization and can tailor our support to meet the needs of the customer and opportunity in question. Our formulations and science team works directly with partners to adjust and adapt as needed throughout the transition process.
Soleic’s team of industry veterans and scientists will work closely with you to fit our chemical systems to your product. We commit to showing up honestly for our partners throughout the process.