Borouge International enables On's Launch of the World's First Commercially Scaled EVA Sports Shoe Midsole Made From Captured Carbon Emissions

Traditional sports footwear midsoles are manufactured using EVA or polyurethane foams derived from fossil-based feedstocks. Through this new collaboration, captured carbon emissions are converted into e-Naphtha, creating an alternative carbon source while maintaining the same performance, quality and specifications required for premium athletic footwear. Together, we have shown that CO₂, one of the main contributors to climate change, can be transformed from a waste emission into a valuable feedstock for producing chemicals and materials at commercial scale.

Because Infinium's e-Naphtha is chemically identical to conventional naphtha, it can be processed through existing steam crackers and downstream manufacturing assets without modification. This enables rapid commercialization and scalability across the chemicals value chain.

Through the partnership, Infinium supplies Borouge International with renewable e-Naphtha produced from captured CO₂ and renewable hydrogen. Borouge International converts the feedstock into e-ethylene which is transformed into e-EVA, the material that enables On's breakthrough CleanCloud™ midsole technology used in the new Cloud X 5.

The resulting EVA is molecularly identical to conventional EVA, ensuring the same high performance.

Every stage of the supply chain, from Infinium's renewable e-Naphtha production through Borouge International's conversion processes and On's manufacturing partners, is ISCC PLUS certified, providing verified chain-of-custody tracking and ensuring the traceability of low environmental impact feedstocks throughout production.

The project aligns with Borouge International's strategy of delivering innovative material solutions that advance circularity, improve resource efficiency and support customers in developing products with a reduced environmental footprint across a wide range of industries.

As demand for high performance materials with a lower carbon footprint continues to grow, the collaboration establishes a blueprint for how captured carbon can be integrated into everyday products through scalable industrial partnerships, helping accelerate the transition toward a more sustainable future.

"At Borouge International, we are committed to advancing innovative material solutions that help our customers achieve their sustainability ambitions without compromising performance," said Thomas van de Velde, Senior Vice President Base Chemicals at Borouge International. "This collaboration with On and Infinium demonstrates the power of partnerships across the value chain to accelerate the commercialization of materials with a lower environmental footprint.”

Together, the companies have created a scalable pathway for replacing fossil-based feedstocks in footwear production without compromising performance or requiring new manufacturing infrastructure.

See On’s recent media release on the collaboration.