On 22 and 23 June 2026, the cads Information Day, themed ‘The environmental impact of shoe sole materials’, took place at the Prüf- und Forschungsinstitut Pirmasens e.V. (PFI). As the venue and technical partner, the PFI supported the two-day event and contributed key insights to the programme.
Interactive kick-off: World Café on sole materials
The information day began with an interactive World Café, during which participants engaged in an in-depth discussion of five key materials used in shoe soles: rubber, PU, TPU, TPR and EVA. In moderated small groups, the focus was on manufacturing processes, requirements, innovations, and recycling and circular economy approaches.
Experts from the PFI also played an active role in the discussions. For example, Dr Stefan Dröge led the round-table discussion on polyurethane (PU), whilst Johannes Menges facilitated the discussion on thermoplastic elastomers (TPR). The direct dialogue between industry, research and other stakeholders provided a valuable platform for knowledge transfer and new perspectives on sustainable material solutions.
Insights from the PFI at the cads general meeting
On the second day of the event, the cads general meeting was on the agenda, supplemented by a number of specialist presentations.
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Günter Schell, Director of the PFI, presented the institute and its key areas of focus: testing, research and development.
Dr Ines Anderie, Head of the Chemistry Department at PFI, then provided an update on the work of the former cads working group and its future direction as the Compliance Working Group against the backdrop of increasing regulatory requirements. She also announced an update to the cads Restricted Substances List (RSL), which will include, amongst other things, the parameter Total Fluor to take account of current legislative developments – for example, in relation to PFAS.
The presentations provided an insight into the PFI’s ongoing expert support on current standardisation and regulatory issues.
Focus on sustainability and eco-design
Another key focus was on the environmental assessment of products and materials.
In the session on Product Environmental Footprint (PEF), Johannes Menges (PFI) presented the latest developments and put the EU’s proposed methodology for the environmental assessment of products into context for the footwear industry. Current approaches and challenges were discussed together with partners from industry and the certification sector.
You can find out more about Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) in our blog posts:
PEF and Carbon Footprint in the Footwear Industry: Methods, Challenges and Potential
PEF shoe production: Making sustainability visible and comparable
In addition, Dr Tatjana Hubel (PFI) presented findings from the EU projects ISOV and Meta4Skills, which focus on integrating sustainability aspects into training and industrial practice.
Other current industry topics
The programme was complemented by presentations on current regulatory developments and research projects. These included, amongst others, the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) and the AUTOLOOP project, which focuses on innovative recycling approaches.
The cads Information Day 2026 highlighted the importance of professional dialogue across the entire value chain – from materials development and regulatory requirements to issues relating to the circular economy.
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