Portuguese footwear sector advances through enzyme research and 100M euro investment

Researchers at the University of Porto (FCUP), in collaboration with Aarhus University in Denmark, have developed a new enzyme capable of degrading polyurethane. The enzyme, named CCPUR1 and derived from the bacterium Chelatococcus composti, can “devour” the polyurethane material found in foams used in footwear, mattresses, and sponges.

This research is part of the En’Zync project, a consortium funded by approximately ten million euros from the Novo Nordisk Foundation. The project aims to identify fungal or bacterial enzymes that can effectively degrade plastics. Co-author Pedro Paiva noted that this initial demonstration shows polyurethane can be degraded with enzymes without the need for prior processing.

In a related move toward industry modernization, the Portuguese footwear sector is undergoing a major investment cycle. Through the BioShoes4All and FAIST projects, the industry has mobilized 100 million euros to invest in sustainability, new materials, automation, robotics, and artificial intelligence. APICCAPS describes these investments as an unprecedented effort to prepare the sector for a new international competitive reality.