A recyclable Kipsta soccer shoe made in France
The upcoming cleat, molded in a single piece in a high-end plastics specialized factory, represents a revolution in the sports world. But what do a soccer player and a car manufacturer have in common? Both seek lighter equipment to optimize their performance. That's why Decathlon and Demgy have teamed up to create a new line of soccer shoes made from thermoplastic composites.
A Technical Challenge Successfully Met
For the past three years, the retail giant from Lille and Normandy has been working tirelessly to produce an innovative soccer shoe. "For a new product, we usually make two or three prototypes. For these shoes, we've made forty," says Frédéric Boistard, director of Kipsta, Decathlon's soccer brand. The latest prototypes were presented yesterday at Demgy in Gétigné, near Nantes.
Durable and High-Performance Shoes
These "sock-like" laceless shoes, hard at the tip and flexible at the ankles, align with current trends on soccer fields. Unlike the stars' shoes, which are frequently replaced, these are designed to last. "They will be guaranteed for ten years against sole separation," announces Frédéric Boistard. Ophélie Westphal, a plastics expert at Demgy, explains: "The shoe is 'netshape,' a finished product straight out of the mold. No gluing, no stitching between the sole and the upper."
Local and Eco-Friendly Production
This sports shoe will not be manufactured in Asia, like most of its competitors, but here in Gétigné, while respecting Decathlon's desired retail price. A return to the roots for this factory, which once supplied the neighboring Cholet area with flexible soles. Moreover, the future Decathlon cleats will be recyclable. Used shoes can be ground down, transformed into plastic granules, and re-injected into molds, thus validating a circular economy.
A Promising Future for Sustainable Sports Equipment
Pierre-Jean Leduc, CEO of the Demgy group, emphasizes: "Our business is durable plastics." Frédéric Boistard adds: "These long-lasting shoes open up new opportunities for repair and equipment rental." Production is expected to start at the end of the year with a few thousand pairs to test the market, then reach 15,000 to 30,000 pairs per year if all goes well.
Source : Ouest-France