Vapesol, a Portuguese leader in footwear sole manufacturing, has announced a landmark achievement in sustainability and efficiency: becoming the first company globally to reach 100% reuse and zero waste in its EVA sole production. This significant milestone, achieved through the introduction of the innovative “Eva Powder” brand, sets a new sustainability benchmark for the footwear industry. The breakthrough will be officially unveiled at Lineapelle in Milan this February, the world’s premier international trade fair for footwear components.

Décio Pereira, CEO of Vapesol, shared, “Our process involves not only recycling misshapen soles but also redesigning processes to eliminate unnecessary waste entirely.” This initiative has successfully tackled the challenge of reducing the environmental footprint associated with sole production, transforming what was once considered waste into a valuable resource.

Producing approximately 4,500 pairs of EVA soles daily, Vapesol previously faced a waste output that constituted about 10 to 11 percent of its total production. “This resulted in around 50 tonnes of waste annually, which had a significant environmental impact as it decomposed slowly in landfills over many years,” Pereira explained. However, with the implementation of the Eva Powder process, these 50 tonnes of waste can now be fully reintegrated into the production cycle without any loss of the soles’ physical or mechanical properties.

Eva Powder has earned the RCS (Recycled Claim Standard) Certification in EVA by Intertek, marking Vapesol as the first company to achieve this certification for EVA soles. This certification underscores the company’s commitment to sustainable practices and innovation within the industry.

By transforming deformed soles into valuable resources and eliminating waste, Vapesol is spearheading a revolution that not only redefines EVA sole production but also contributes to a more sustainable and innovative world. In an era where sustainable footwear production is not just a trend but a necessity, Vapesol’s efforts resonate with the growing consumer demand for eco-friendly and ethical options. These consumers, increasingly knowledgeable and concerned about sustainability, seek products that minimize environmental damage and reduce ecological footprints.

Vapesol is poised to introduce the groundbreaking EVA POWDER at the upcoming Lineapelle event in Milan from February 20-22. This launch positions Vapesol as the world’s first company to achieve zero waste in the EVA material injection sector for soles, marking a significant step forward in sustainable footwear manufacturing.

About Vapesol
Vapesol is a leading Portuguese company specializing in the manufacture of footwear soles. With a commitment to innovation, sustainability, and quality, Vapesol has been at the forefront of developing eco-friendly solutions that meet the demands of the modern consumer while reducing environmental impact.

Sungrow announced that it supplied its inverter solutions to an 800kW solar project which was carried out with the Spanish public transport operator Metro Ligero Oeste.

Metro Ligero Oeste serves more than 200,000 inhabitants, adding 28 stations and covering 22.4 km of tracks between the towns of Pozuelo de Alarcón, Boadilla del Monte, Alcorcón, and Madrid.

The project, located in Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain, consists of the installation of six units of Sungrow’s string inverters, the SG110CX and two units of the SG50CX, thanks to the dedicated team of SICA installers and with the valuable support of Saltoki, whose commitment, as its Head of PV division says, lies in extending the scope of renewable energies to more customers such as Metro Ligero Oeste.

This project is not only an advance for Metro Ligero Oeste, but also marks a significant milestone towards the environmental sustainability of the transportation company. Its environmental improvement will result in the self-generation of approximately 13% of the energy it consumes and the annual clean energy generation of 1.2 GWh.

“This measure maximizes the company’s positive contribution to sustainability while mitigating our environmental footprint and reducing the negative impact of climate change,” said Pablo Escoda, General Manager of Metro Ligero Oeste. “This initiative is part of our commitment to the environment and the efficient use of energy and takes us a step further by now committing to self-consumption and producing part of the 100% clean energy we already consume through the installation of solar plants,” he added.

“Our mission is to drive change towards a society that benefits from renewable energy. This project is a clear demonstration of our commitment. It not only strengthens the energy autonomy of the facilities, but also enhances the passenger experience,” states Guillermo Donézar, Head of Distribution Southern Europe at Sungrow.

The pilot project is critical to advancing a cleaner and more sustainable future. It also symbolizes the joint commitment of Sungrow and Metro Ligero Oeste towards renewable energy and environmentally friendly transportation.

About Sungrow

Sungrow Power Supply Co., Ltd. (“Sungrow”) is the world’s most bankable inverter brand with over 405 GW installed worldwide as of June 2023. Founded in 1997 by University Professor Cao Renxian, Sungrow is a leader in the research and development of solar inverters with the largest dedicated R&D team in the industry and a broad product portfolio offering PV inverter solutions and energy storage systems for utility-scale, commercial & industrial, and residential applications, as well as internationally recognized floating PV plant solutions, NEV driving solutions, EV charging solutions and renewable hydrogen production systems. With a strong 27-year track record in the PV space, Sungrow products power over 150 countries worldwide.

The N+ Exhibition, globally recognized for showcasing the cutting edge of renewable energy technology and solutions, provides the perfect platform for StarCharge to share the significant potential of its wide range of charger and energy products and technologies.

At the exhibition booth, StarCharge will present its full lineup of products, including AC chargers, DC chargers, Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) chargers, and energy management and cloud services. There will be opportunities to directly inspect these solutions, understand their functionality, and imagine their potential in various application scenarios.

StarCharge’s Chief Officer said, “StarCharge’s technologies are designed to revolutionize how we use energy. From daily electric vehicle owners to businesses looking to transition their energy usage to a more sustainable model, our solutions are designed for everyone.”

In addition to product presentations, StarCharge’s booth will also host expert-led talks and interactive sessions to further enlighten attendees about the potential of sustainable energy. Visitors are encouraged to join these discussions, contribute ideas, and share their own experiences.

Through its presence at the N+ Exhibition, StarCharge continues to strengthen its position as a leader in green energy solutions, demonstrating its unwavering commitment to a greener, more sustainable future. We invite everyone to visit our booth to discover how we can collectively evolve towards a future powered by renewable, efficient energy.

About StarCharge:

StarCharge is a world-leading provider of charging solutions and energy management systems, dedicated to driving the transition to sustainable energy. With a diverse range of innovative, high-quality products, StarCharge is pushing boundaries and evolving the energy landscape for a greener future.