The famous Japanese brand specializing in technical footwear and clothing has launched a new version of its iconic "Wave Rider" shoe range, the Mizuno Wave Rider 24. This shoe features Mizuno’s new “Enerzy midsole technology” with their classical "Wave Plate" embedded in the foam. This wave plate is made with Arkema's Pebax® Rnew® polymer, a bio-based thermoplastic derived from castor beans.
The result is an exceptional energy return and a very comfortable running experience.
The castor beans are harvested in Gujarat region and then crushed to produce castor oil, which is refined and transformed into Pebax® polymer. This material has a unique mix of strength, flexibility and elasticity properties. It is finally molded into the innovative Mizuno Wave Plate, offering excellent properties of resistance, flexibility and elasticity.
Arkema is the world's leading producer of high-performance bio-sourced polymers derived from castor oil, and is one of the four founding members of the "Pragati" project, an initiative designed to educate farmers in India on how to cultivate castor beans more effectively and ecologically. Since its launch in 2016, this project has certified more than 2,700 Indian farmers.