A consortium around Zhang Liqun at Beijing University of Chemical Technology (BUCT) has launched a first batch of 500 “biodegradable shoes” whose soles are made from biodegradable polyester rubber, while the uppers and insoles are made of hemp, bamboo fiber and corn cobs. The polyester rubber is prepared from an all bio-based polyester elastomer (BPE) synthesized from five bio-based monomers. The shoes are claimed to be stable in daily environments and rapidly degrade under composting conditions.