Final Report Summary - NANOFOOT (Materials, Components and Footwear with enhanced comfort properties based on nanotechnologies)
Executive Summary:
NANOFOOT project pursued the development of advanced and innovative nanotechnology based solutions for leathers and polymers components for footwear products, aiming the sustainable and customer-driven production of consumer goods; where the health, environment, high quality of components, fair marketing communication sales price are combined to promote the competitiveness of the companies.
NANOFOOT partner’s work in order to develop a technological shoe able to combine comfort with environment care. NANOFOOT wants change the concept of the shoe and make it functional, from the production to final disposal, using high performance materials. NANOFOOT explored the potentialities and the benefits of nanoparticles (NPs) available in the market to develop new functional materials & products.
The final objective being to get differentiated, high added value and marketable materials and footwear consumer goods that satisfy the needs and expectations of the final consumer.
NANOFOOT project developed new leather and microfiber materials for upper and lining; new polymer materials for insoles and soles and innovative footwear – leather and vegan footwear.
The consortium is constituted by 9 members (5 SMEs and 4 RTD institutions):
1) CURTUMES AVENAEDA (PT) – project coordinator, dedicated to the production of leather articles of middle and high quality for footwear and leatherwork.
2) INDINOR (PT) – produces and commercialises chemical products for leather and footwear industries.
3) EVATHINK (ES) – is a young company formed by a highly skilled and technical team with extensive experience in ethyl-vinyl-acetate (EVA) processing.
4) TPSP (ES) – is a technology-based company specializing in the production of customized footwear and insoles through an innovative approach, mainly for diseased feet (above all for diabetics).
5) CAMMINA LEGGERO (IT) – is a small company that designs and produces shoes and accessories made out of eco-compatible materials. The company produces and crafts in Italy products which are cruelty free and designed to ensure the best quality with the least environmental impacts.
6) CTCP (PT) – the Portuguese Footwear Technological Centre (CTCP) has experience in preparation, characterization, modification and development of applications of NPs on materials (leather, processing chemical and coatings) and on the development of advanced production technologies and supporting systems.
7) UPORTO (PT) – UPORTO FCUP has a powerful legacy of research and teaching success in Physical and Natural Sciences, with a focus on an interdisciplinary approach within its areas of expertise. UPORTO FCUP research groups can provide to the community their scientific knowledge and facilities on synthesis and characterization of nanoparticles, assessment of ecotoxicological properties of nanomaterials and analytical survey of nanoparticles release.
8) INESCOP (ES) – it is a non-profit-making organization that develops scientific and technical activities of interest to the Spanish footwear and related industries. It has experience in synthesis, functionalisation and applications of nanomaterials on footwear materials, mainly polymeric materials. Among others, INESCOP has demonstrate expertise on the development of advanced technologies for personalised footwear.
9) CNR-ITIA – the Institute of Industrial Technologies and Automation of the National Council of Research (CNR-ITIA), as a promoter of industrial innovation, performs strategic activities of scientific research and technological development to enhance the competitiveness and sustainability of Italian and European manufacturing industries.
Project Context and Objectives:
According to APICCAPS (1) estimates, the worldwide production of footwear in 2013 crossed 22 billion pairs. Asia continues to be the principal producer of footwear with an overall share 63.3%. On the whole, Asia is the source of the footwear of 87% of footwear produced worldwide. However, Europe and Asia are specialized in different segments of products. Europe is dedicated to high quality added value products and Asia to massive production and lower price products.
European Footwear Industry is highly globalised and competition from countries with low labour cost and less-regulations has forced EU production into serious restructuring strategies and policies based on high added value production to target middle class population. Therefore, in Europe, footwear and allied trade (materials and components) are traditional industrial sectors that involve a large majority of perseverant SMEs that in the last two decades reinvented their business models and are today modern companies that need to innovate continuously to offer to their clients and consumers adequate goods.
In the last years, footwear industry usually recognized as a traditional sector, showed its innovative and development capability by making a strong bet in Research & Development of advanced and high quality products and processes. Nowadays, footwear industry is a user of sophisticated technologies and automated production processes that allows the production of specialized and high quality products. The quality and specialisation of the footwear products also depends on the materials, components and type of constructions used in the development of the final product.
The SMEs proposing this project are strongly pulled by a rapidly changing demand, due to fashion-related and seasonal fluctuations, as well as emerging consumer needs in terms of well-being, health and sustainability. With the NANOFOOT project companies have the ambition of exploring the potentialities and the benefits of nanoparticles (NPs) available in the market, used in sectors like aerospace and health, in their footwear and associated components, where they aren’t used; with the goal of creating new functional, differentiated, high added value and marketable footwear consumer goods; that satisfy the needs and expectations of the final consumers.
The main goal of NANOFOOT project was to develop advanced and innovative nanotechnology based solutions for leathers and polymers components for footwear applications, aiming a new sustainable and customer-driven production of goods; where the health, environment, high quality of components, fair marketing communication and competitive sales price are combined to promote the competitiveness of the companies.
The main objectives specified are based on the screening, evaluation, selection and investigation of application of functional affordable NPs to develop:
NEW MATERIALS:
1) Natural leathers and microfibers with antimicrobial properties and breathability.
2) Polymers, applicable in footbeds, insoles and soles, with thermal conductivity and electrical conductivity for the more demanding applications;
3) Processing and coatings materials incorporating NPs for natural and artificial leather functionalization.
NEW PRODUCTS to improve the comfort, health and citizen’s quality of life, specifically:
1) Leather made footwear for special orthopedic segments;
2) Vegan footwear for comfort fashion segments.
COMPETITIVE PRODUCTION PROCESSES:
1) Economically interesting processes for producing materials and goods with an acceptable cost.
2) Workers, workplace and environment friendly processes, established taking into account the NPs specificities and these topics during all the phases of the project development. Additionally, a contribution to decrease the environmental impact of industrial processes is expected by replacing bulk materials by NPs and improving nanoparticle based formulations and their manufacturing procedures.
To achieve these objectives, the companies outsourced the following research activities to the RTD performers (RTDs) selected:
1) Screening, selecting and when necessary modifying NPs to solve stability and dispersion limitations;
2) Investigate the application of the selected NPs to develop the results specified:
2.1) new formulations of functional processing products and coatings based on NPs;
2.2) leather and 2.3) microfiber similar to leather and their making processes;
2.4) polymeric composite materials and components and their making processes;
3) Develop footwear products by designing and engineering suitable architectures and constructions to maximize namely the antimicrobial and thermal properties.
The achievement of these results will enable the SME companies to improve their competitive position in the market. NANOFOOT project took an integrated approach develop advanced functionalities and to evaluate the human safety and environmental impact (Integrated Environmental Approach) along the life cycle of the new nanomaterials, making use of the existing expertise among the partners and published information.
(1) World Footwear, 2014, APICCAPS (Portuguese Footwear Association).
Project Results:
Footwear is designed to provide comfort, pleasure and protect the feet from hard and rough surfaces, as well as climate environmental exposure and in the specific cases (e.g. protective footwear) from aggressive and health threatening conditions. Presently, consumers expectations and needs demand the development of footwear that integrates fashion, emotional desires and real multifunctional performance. Consumers are becoming more enlightened and demanding and search for differentiated products which promote their comfort, health and welfare is significantly increasing. To keep competitiveness, the footwear companies need to put their efforts in the development of differentiated and advanced products to meet the needs of the actual market.
Currently, despite, the vast amount of footwear available in the market and the evident increase
of products quality, there are several properties that need to be improved, namely:
• Antibacterial and antifungal properties that are linked with feet malodours, skin problems and degradation of leather during storage;
• Thermal properties to solve temperature and humidity problems inside the shoe;
• Electrical conductive properties to allow the dissipation of charges.
Furthermore, these properties are not isolated, they are interconnected and it’s necessary to find optimum balance between them to develop adequate footwear. For example, the antibacterial and antifungal properties of footwear are not achieved by simply use of anti-fungal and anti-bacterial products. The temperature and the humidity of feet and materials have a great contribution. Again, the material will not solve the problems by itself it is necessary to develop new constructions of footwear to potentiate synergies between all these parameters.
Actually, thanks to the fundamental research work done in the last two decades, the development of nano-functionalized materials for a variety of applications (e.g. health, automotive, consumer goods, etc.) where mechanical, thermal, electrical, barrier, chemical, antibacterial, antifungal or other functional properties as well as aesthetic properties, are required, is pursued worldwide.
The use of nanoparticles or nano-sized objects is now being explored because even a small amount, compared to the needed amount of bulk material, is necessary to achieve higher, enhanced or new properties and functionalities.
NANOFOOT main innovations on materials & products are:
• Nanoparticles & functional coatings suitable for footwear and allied industrial applications;
• Leather and microfiber with antibacterial and antifungal properties for footwear upper part;
• Polymers and components to improve thermal and electrical properties for footwear bottom part;
• Functional, high performance and comfort footwear (orthopaedic and vegan) having: antibacterial, antifungal activity; higher breathability; thermal and electrical management; water resistance properties.
NANOFOOT main innovations related with the production processes are:
• Optimization of stabilization and dispersion of nanoparticles to get homogeneous and functional coatings and nanocomposites;
• Optimization of the use of nanoparticles & functional coatings on materials, components and footwear to get advanced and functional products;
• Development of optimized and controlled production processes of new materials and products minimizing the risks and assuring the workers and environmental safety during the handling of nanoparticles and nanomaterials;
• Establishment of good practices to use nanoparticles at industrial level and for footwear.
The principal SCIENTIFIC studies can be briefly described as follow:
1. FOOTWEAR INDUSTRY: USE OF NANOPARTICLES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF MATERIALS WITH ANTIMICROBIAL PROPERTIES
The footwear industry has been exploring the benefits of remarkable properties of nanoparticles on the development of new products with high performance.
This route was initiated at CTCP in collaboration with FCUP with a more fundamental study to prepare stable Ag NPs with antimicrobial properties. Ag NPs antimicrobial properties were confirmed against E. coli, S. epidermis and B. subtilis. Ag NPS were also used on leather surface modifications to confer antimicrobial properties.
Cu, CuO and ZnO nanoparticles were also studied as alternatives to Ag NPs. Cu, CuO and ZnO NPs were prepared using different methods allowing to obtain NPs with different shapes, sizes and properties. Furthermore, the nanoparticles were characterized by TEM/SEM images and UV-Vis and their stability and antimicrobial properties were accessed. The antimicrobial properties were tested against E. coli and S. epidermis using methods developed by CTCP.
Although some NPs revealed good antimicrobial properties their low stability render them difficult to be used in industrial applications. By contrast the selected NPs showed good stability and also displayed antimicrobial properties.
Different procedures were used to prepare reproductively spherical selected NPs and the following step is scale-up the use of nanoparticles to develop advanced and innovative nanotechnology based solutions for leathers and polymers components for footwear products, aiming a new sustainable and customer-driven production of consumer goods; where the health, environment, high quality of components, fair marketing communication and competitive sales price are combined to promote the competitiveness of the companies.
2. ASSESSMENT OF NANOPARTICLES ECO-TOXICITY: AN APPLICATION FOR THE FOOTWEAR CONTEXT
Comparative studies of the ecotoxicity of silver (Ag), zinc oxide (ZnO) and copper (Cu) nanoparticles (NPs) that are among those nanoparticles used in consumer products, suggest that may present high eco-toxicity in luminescence bacteria and in culture of algae P. subcapitata. Further studies are being carried out to decrease the environmental impact of these NPs.
3. ANTIMICROBIAL PROPERTIES OF SELECTED SUBMICROMETER NANOPARTICLES
Study of the antibacterial properties of selected NPs in aqueous suspensions of E. coli bacteria indicate that for concentrations higher than 50 ppm an inhibition of the growth rate of bacteria higher than 95 % is achieved.
4. DYNAMIC LIGHT SCATTERING AS A TOOL FOR EVALUATING THE STABILITY OF NANOPARTICLES SUSPENSIONS
Evaluation of the use of Dynamic light Scattering (DLS) as a tool for a rapid diagnostic of the stability of NPs dispersions on different media. Different commercial and home produced NPS were tested, namely ZnO NPS, Cu NPs, SiO2NPs and TiO2. NPs were suspended in different media (algae culture medium–MBL- and other aqueous solutions).
NPs are highly sensitive to the environment and they may form aggregates or change their morphology due to the interaction with entities existing in NPs surroundings. All NPs form aggregates upon contact with the solvents tested, except for PVA. The used of PVA as solvent assisted by US led to a drastic decrease of NPS probably due to the steric repulsion created by PVA and the input energy offered by US.
In the case of NPs dispersed in MBL, the stability of NPs could be affected due to the high ionic strength, fixed pH, and proteins present into this culture medium.
5. FORMULATION OF NANOCOMPOSITES FOR FOOTWEAR WITH ENHANCED COMFORT AND SAFETY PROPERTIES
(1) Study of nanofillers incorporation in a polymeric matrix
(2) Preparation of nanocomposites:
(2.1) Base formulation: Standard EVA from EVATHINK, according to technical requirements provided by Todo Para Sus Pies related to the final material application (insole, sole, etc.).
(2.2) Mixing procedure: According to conventional EVATHINK manufacturing: Melt mixing.
(2.3) Further processing: According to conventional EVATHINK manufacturing.
6. ANTIMICROBIAL NANOPARTICLES: HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS
General aim
Comparative study of the ecotoxicity and cytotoxicity of silver (Ag), zinc oxide (ZnO), copper (Cu) and titanium oxide (TiO2) nanomaterials (NMs) that are widely used in consumer products.
Specific aim
(1) Evaluation of NMs toxicity to human cell lines;
(2) Evaluation of NMs physical stability in different solvents;
(3) Evaluation of NMs toxicity to the freshwater microalgae Raphidocelis subcapitata;
(4) Evaluation of NMs toxicity to Vibrio fischeri.
Methods
(1) NMs dispersion and characterization;
(2) Toxicity test with microalgae R. subcapitata (OECD 2006);
(3) Toxicity test with the Vibrio fischeri (AZUR, 1998);
(4) Toxicity test with human cell culture lines (Andreani, 2014);
(5) Toxicity test with human cell culture lines.
Conclusions
(1) Correlation between the toxicity results obtained from in vito and in vivo tests;
(2) Toxicity tests with V. fischeri and algae R. subcapitata indicated that the most NMs tested was toxic to these organisms;
(3) Concerning the solvents, PVA and PEG 200 showed high toxicity on microalgae R. subcapitata and V. fischeri;
(4) The toxicity can be related to small particles or to ions release that can be internalized by cells;
(5) Caco-2 cell line demonstrated to be less susceptible to NMs than HepG2 and SV-80 cell lines;
(6) The presence of PVA decreased the toxicity of Ag nanoparticles to HepG2 and SV-80 cell lines. However PVA increased the toxicity of ZnO 25 nm;
(7) The interaction between PVA and Ag nanoparticles can be different than that between PVA and ZnO nanoparticles;
(8) Cell type and mechanism of interaction may play an important role in cell toxicity assessments.
7. THE IMPLEMENTATION OF LIFE-CYCLE PERSPECTIVE IN THE TEST FOR IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF NANOMATERIALS: THE NANOFOOT CASE.
A. Integration of different scales: The laboratory tests have to be implemented in an inventory framework which follows the product life cycle. Furthermore they should provide also mass information in order to be linked with other assessments
B. Impact assessment variance together with the goal and scopes: In order to provide a useful result the assessment should be focused on useful information at each decisional level. Reliability of information depend also on the extent of information provided to the final user. More the variance of results is guaranteed more a result can be reused.
C. Coverage of the full product life cycle: Such focused assessment should be included each time a modification occur in the life cycle (A. The release from friction assessment in the use phase and B. The release in the landfilling phase)
D. Extension of the common Impact categories to «nano» specific categories: In order to be compliant with recent developments in toxicity criteria Eco-toxicity can be added to common impact categories. The Ecotoxicity expression should follow the Use-tox model in order to emphasize the result reuse. Such assessment require specific test campains ranging from diffusion test up to toxicity and fate rate. At the end of the test a characterization factor is calculated by fixing a certain diffusion model in specific conditions.
E. Environmental drivers from comparative assessments
The principal TECHNOLOGICAL studies can be briefly described as follows:
1. Selection of suitable NPs for the processing/coatings, leather and microfiber developments, as well as for EVA nanocomposites formulations, considering the functionalities, price, industrial avaiability and final applications to confer antimicrobial; thermal and electrical properties to footwear products;
2. Characterization of nanopartilces: physical, chemical, antimicrobial and functional properties.
3. Studies of modifications and functionalization of NPs surface;
4. Studies of NPs dispersion in polymeric matrix for nanocoatings and EVA polymers;
5. development of nano-coating processing products for leather and microfibre;
6. Development of EVA nanocomposites;
7. development of functional footwear for Vegan and Orthopaedic applications;
8. LCA of nanomaterials;
9. Human safety and environmental impact of the use of NPS.
The main results of NANOFOOT project are:
1. New Leathers and microfibers: Microbes resistant leathers and microfibers based on nanoparticles/nanofillers; Water resistant leathers; Materials usable in shoes as upper, lining and insocks.
2. New Composites: Polymers and composites with thermal & electrical management properties based on nanoparticles/nanofillers; antistatic nanocomposites implementation in footwear industry would improve both comfort and safety as they will reduce the electrostatic charges accumulation.
3. Innovative Footwear: Footwear thermal comfort; Antistatic and electrical conductive footwear; Vegan footwear for comfort fashion segments; Leather made footwear for special orthopaedic segments; Shoe benefit from the functional characteristics of materials such as: bacterial & fungal activity reduction; water resistant; breathability, thermal comfort.
4. User and Environment friend processes: Economically interesting processes for producing materials and goods with an acceptable cost, similar or up to 5% higher that their actual production cost; Workers, workplace and environment friendly processes, established taking into account the NPs specifications and these topics during all the phases of the project development; a decrease of environmental impact of industrial processes by replacing bulk materials by NPs and improving nanoparticles based formulations and their manufacturing procedures.
NANOFOOT project results was designed, for SMEs companies, to develop footwear materials and products solutions driven by the clients/consumers wishes and demands, based in emerging solutions not yet used in the consumers goods manufacturing sectors, which present promising results at scientific level and in sectors like health and cosmetics. This project was dedicated to the development of solutions to promote the comfort, wellbeing and indirectly the health of footwear consumers. Without forget the human safety and environmental impact of use of nanomaterials to achieve the proposed properties.
NANOFOOT will contribute to enhance the participant SMEs’ competitive strength by supporting the creation of innovative nano-based marketable added value materials, products and truly sustainable industrial processes. Within this project, two main factors were considered for improving participating SMEs competitiveness: innovation and knowledge-based development
Furthermore, the nano-based solutions that will be marketed by the companies have real added functionalities, meaning have real higher performance than the actual existing ones. Therefore this “increase in product functionality and quality” will allow to target to market groups where price is relevant but not the more important variable, this resulting in an economic benefit that may be estimated in an added value of 10 % to 20 % higher than similar products without the improved or new functions. Given the multi-level objectives of the project, performance indicators and impacts are influenced all along the materials and products lifecycle.
Potential Impact:
POTENTIAL IMPACT
NANOFOOT will contribute to enhance the participant SMEs’ competitive strength by supporting the creation of innovative nanobased marketable added value materials, products and truly sustainable industrial processes. Within this project, two main factors were considered for improving participating SMEs competitiveness: innovation and knowledge-based development.
Participant companies covering the whole value chain of the footwear sector ensure the availability of all the results needed to fully exploit the project outcome. The chemical products manufacturing company (INDINOR), the leather company (CURTUMES AVENEDA), the polymeric materials compounder and shoes components maker (EVATHINK) and the shoe companies (TPSP and CAMMINA) participating to the project, will explore the results in their respective actual business area. To support the developments, a group of RTD partners with specific technological knowledge and corresponding valences was foreseen. CTCP, UPORTO, INESCOP and CNR-ITIA were the selected centres due to scientific and technological background, previous positive experience of working together and proximity with the SMEs and footwear and allied trade industry in the major European footwear producing countries: Italy, Spain and Portugal.
The companies will have economic benefits short after the project termination thanks to the competitive advantage of having:
1. Prepared the dissemination, exploitation, marketing and IPR protection plans during the project execution;
2. Received from the RTD performers all the information created in the project, training and implementation of all the results at small pilot scale;
3. Prepared the first demonstrators and presented them publically in workshops done in Portugal, Spain and Italy, the more relevant EU shoe manufacturers;
4. Done dissemination of the project and specific results in relevant sector newspaper in the three countries and in the main sectorial fairs done in Europe; and
5. Prepared specific communication to inform their agents in EU and abroad and the consumers on the contents of the products there are buying and safe use.
The following benefits are foreseen for the consortium SME´s:
AVENEDA as a leather manufacturer, specialized in the manufacture of differentiated leathers, with higher add value and improved properties, will explore the nanoleathers developed, to make available to their clients and market, a new line of innovative leather products with antibacterial, antifungal, breathability and water resistance properties by using NPs;
INDINOR as a producer and supplier of chemical products for leather making and leather and footwear coating/finishing, will explore the portfolio of processing products and coatings developed, supported in nanotechnology, in the footwear allied trade and in new business opportunities;
EVATHINK as a compounder and with extensive experience in EVA manufacturing for orthopaedic footwear applications, will offer a range of nanocomposites with advanced thermal and electrical conductive properties, to their orthopaedic applications clients and others (e.g. safety shoes, technical floors).
TPSP is a customized footwear manufacturer that wants to explore the potentiality of nanotechnology by manufacturing customized and orthopaedic footwear. They will be able to provide shoe and custom-made orthopaedic insoles, with different materials and assembling processes, covering the range of processes and applications more usual in this sector in Europe.
CAMMINA is a small company that designs and produces shoes and accessories made out of eco-compatible materials that will be able to produce shoes with different nanofunctionalized animal free vegan materials and constructions (assembling processes) dedicated to its market segment.
Furthermore, the nanobased solutions that will be marketed by the companies have real added functionalities, meaning have real higher performance than the actual existing ones therefore this “increase in product functionality and quality” will allow to target to market groups where price is relevant but not the more important variable, this resulting in an economic benefit that may be estimated in an added value of 10 to 20 % higher than similar products without the improved or new functions.
The SMEs are the owners of all the results and have the capability and intention to exploit them immediately after the project. The results will complement the products they offer to the market, and the areas in which they intervene in their main business.
Recent advances in nanotechnology have contributed for a growing confidence and appetence among consumers for end-use products applying this technology. Additionally, European industries are experiencing a strong competition from “low-cost” countries outside the European Union (mainly from Asia) which business core are based in the production of cheaper products. On the other hand, Europe has also to compete with “high-technology” countries such as Japan and USA, for a leading position in high-technology advanced materials.
Departing from their average past experience the initial hypothesis on the direct economic benefit for each individual SME participant is based on the advantage to implement solutions which at the end of the project will be easily exploitable without the need of significant investments.
Estimation of the benefits has been calculated for the first three years after end of project, based on a conservative increase of 5 to 15% of current values.
The data presented indicates the potential impact of the project impact at EU level even though the companies promoting the project are small due to the fact that the project promoting companies both the materials and components providers and the footwear manufacturers are strong exporters to the EU market. Additionally, they work in a net of formal physical agents or using the on-line shop virtual facility thus accessing a much higher potential market than that the number of direct employees could anticipate.
DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES
The project dissemination involved namely the image creation; preparing and lunching the project site, board, flyer and brochure; preparing and attending technical, scientific and fair events; preparing news/articles for specialized journal, newsletters and magazines.
Deliverable 5.7 (Public document) presents the final version of the project dissemination plan including the type and number of actions planned, the month in which will be developed, the number of actions planned per country (PT, ES, IT) and the actual status per country.
In the following subchapters the work planned is presented in more detail:
1.1 Written & web dissemination
Regarding written and web dissemination the following was done:
(1) Project web site.
(2) Project flyers to be mailed or/and distributed in the events participated or organised by project participants.
(3) Project brochures to be mailed or/and distributed in the events participated or organised by project participants.
(4) Scientific dissemination of the project was be done through participation in conferences and /or publications in conference proceedings, research journals or specialized magazines.
(5) News or technical articles will be prepared for sectorial magazines.
(6) Web dissemination and distribution of materials:
(i) Mailing
Communication and dissemination of project flyer, brochure, developments and results to clients and consumers was done through email and personal contacts.
(ii) Twitter #NANOFOOT
For some partners, concretely for Cammina, it's important and necessary to convey the message of the project on social networks. Twitter discussion around the theme of nanofoot research could also be of the interest of different universities and researchers.
(iii) Video and youtube
Cammina is evaluating the possibility to have a nanofoot profile on youtube to exploit the viral effects of videos. This can be based on the creating of videos for each product and put them inside a special youtube channel. Learning to communicate research through the images of a video, the project becomes more emotional. It is not necessary to have high quality and professional video, but it would be okay that the videos are filmed by occasional film makers through smartphones or camera, and after that assembled by experts. The right alternation between professional videos to communicate the most important moments of research and those made out of internal network generates success for the results of the research.
(iv) Others actions
Link building is really important for most partners of the project that did so linking the project within their own sites and if relevant social pages e.g facebook. Also personal social network pages can be used to increases the possibility that the project is communicated to the mass.
(7) Technical Fairs Dissemination
Sectorial fairs will be considered for dissemination: SMEs usually participate along the year to important international sectorial fairs. These fairs will be a good occasion for mainstreaming the results of the project towards suppliers and customers and to promote a new way of working.
1.2 Demonstration workshops
The project included the scale-up of results, transfer or knowledge to the companies and workshops to demonstrate the results in room or at industrial sites.
- Knowledge transfer, scale-up, industrial validation and demonstration of results was a key activity in the project (WP6) and was structured to let SMEs learn, assimilate and test the technologies and project results having the possibility to interact with the RTD performers for improvements. The work done in WP 6 will ensure the RTD performers transfer all the necessary knowledge to the SMEs and teach the SMEs to use the project results.
- Training and validation for new materials (leathers and polymer composites components) and chemical processing products and coatings were organized so that all the necessary knowledge regarding NPs, formulations, additives and processes, is transferred from the RTDs to the respective SMEs.
These SMEs had time to test the results at small pilot scale solving the first pre-industrialisation problems. The RTDs supported these tests in the companies’ site.
1.3 Impact of the dissemination estimative
a) Project image and 1 site: Email addresses/views: 1500 PT; 1500 ES; 2000 IT
b) Partners links: Expected 32000 views/year
c) 1 Project flyer: Flyers to email addresses: 1500 PT; 1500 ES; 2000 IT; Flyers paper distribution 250 per partner
d) 1 Project communication : Email addresses: 1500 PT; 1500 ES; 2000 IT
e) 5 SMEs communication: Email: 600 PT; 600 ES; 300 IT
f) 1 Project brochure: Email addresses: 1500 PT; 1500 ES; 2000 IT
g) Disseminations in sectorial newspapers, newsletters: 1500 PT; 2500 ES; 2000 IT
h) Stand in International or national fairs: Viewed 300 – 500 persons
i) Project workshops: 50 to 100 attends PT; 70 to 120 ES; 50 to 100 IT
j) Final portfolio of NPs, materials and products: Prepare & present 3 workshops and remaining in exposition in PT, ES and IT for 2 years
k) Scientific events or papers: Prepare and present. Viewed 1000 persons
l) Disseminations per SME: To 100 to 300 clients
m) Project power point presentation: 1500 PT; 1500 ES; 2000 IT
n) Short vídeo
o) International and national fairs to disseminate the concept and results: Contact 1000 persons
The NANOFOOT dissemination activities were performed intensively to ensure the establishment of a high level of awareness and cooperation with industrial world as well as final customer. The efficient and successful realisation of such dissemination relies on the huge experience in European and National research projects of the involved partners, the broad networking activity in the footwear sector, the deep knowledge of the scientific and technological needs of the sector of consortium partners, many of which are deeply involved in ETP activities.
Most of the planned actions for dissemination of project goals have already been implemented. Some of these actions have been held co-jointly by all the partners while others have been specifically held by the single partner.
List of Websites:
http://nanofoot.ctcp.pt/index.asp
NANOFOOT project pursued the development of advanced and innovative nanotechnology based solutions for leathers and polymers components for footwear products, aiming the sustainable and customer-driven production of consumer goods; where the health, environment, high quality of components, fair marketing communication sales price are combined to promote the competitiveness of the companies.
NANOFOOT partner’s work in order to develop a technological shoe able to combine comfort with environment care. NANOFOOT wants change the concept of the shoe and make it functional, from the production to final disposal, using high performance materials. NANOFOOT explored the potentialities and the benefits of nanoparticles (NPs) available in the market to develop new functional materials & products.
The final objective being to get differentiated, high added value and marketable materials and footwear consumer goods that satisfy the needs and expectations of the final consumer.
NANOFOOT project developed new leather and microfiber materials for upper and lining; new polymer materials for insoles and soles and innovative footwear – leather and vegan footwear.
The consortium is constituted by 9 members (5 SMEs and 4 RTD institutions):
1) CURTUMES AVENAEDA (PT) – project coordinator, dedicated to the production of leather articles of middle and high quality for footwear and leatherwork.
2) INDINOR (PT) – produces and commercialises chemical products for leather and footwear industries.
3) EVATHINK (ES) – is a young company formed by a highly skilled and technical team with extensive experience in ethyl-vinyl-acetate (EVA) processing.
4) TPSP (ES) – is a technology-based company specializing in the production of customized footwear and insoles through an innovative approach, mainly for diseased feet (above all for diabetics).
5) CAMMINA LEGGERO (IT) – is a small company that designs and produces shoes and accessories made out of eco-compatible materials. The company produces and crafts in Italy products which are cruelty free and designed to ensure the best quality with the least environmental impacts.
6) CTCP (PT) – the Portuguese Footwear Technological Centre (CTCP) has experience in preparation, characterization, modification and development of applications of NPs on materials (leather, processing chemical and coatings) and on the development of advanced production technologies and supporting systems.
7) UPORTO (PT) – UPORTO FCUP has a powerful legacy of research and teaching success in Physical and Natural Sciences, with a focus on an interdisciplinary approach within its areas of expertise. UPORTO FCUP research groups can provide to the community their scientific knowledge and facilities on synthesis and characterization of nanoparticles, assessment of ecotoxicological properties of nanomaterials and analytical survey of nanoparticles release.
8) INESCOP (ES) – it is a non-profit-making organization that develops scientific and technical activities of interest to the Spanish footwear and related industries. It has experience in synthesis, functionalisation and applications of nanomaterials on footwear materials, mainly polymeric materials. Among others, INESCOP has demonstrate expertise on the development of advanced technologies for personalised footwear.
9) CNR-ITIA – the Institute of Industrial Technologies and Automation of the National Council of Research (CNR-ITIA), as a promoter of industrial innovation, performs strategic activities of scientific research and technological development to enhance the competitiveness and sustainability of Italian and European manufacturing industries.
Project Context and Objectives:
According to APICCAPS (1) estimates, the worldwide production of footwear in 2013 crossed 22 billion pairs. Asia continues to be the principal producer of footwear with an overall share 63.3%. On the whole, Asia is the source of the footwear of 87% of footwear produced worldwide. However, Europe and Asia are specialized in different segments of products. Europe is dedicated to high quality added value products and Asia to massive production and lower price products.
European Footwear Industry is highly globalised and competition from countries with low labour cost and less-regulations has forced EU production into serious restructuring strategies and policies based on high added value production to target middle class population. Therefore, in Europe, footwear and allied trade (materials and components) are traditional industrial sectors that involve a large majority of perseverant SMEs that in the last two decades reinvented their business models and are today modern companies that need to innovate continuously to offer to their clients and consumers adequate goods.
In the last years, footwear industry usually recognized as a traditional sector, showed its innovative and development capability by making a strong bet in Research & Development of advanced and high quality products and processes. Nowadays, footwear industry is a user of sophisticated technologies and automated production processes that allows the production of specialized and high quality products. The quality and specialisation of the footwear products also depends on the materials, components and type of constructions used in the development of the final product.
The SMEs proposing this project are strongly pulled by a rapidly changing demand, due to fashion-related and seasonal fluctuations, as well as emerging consumer needs in terms of well-being, health and sustainability. With the NANOFOOT project companies have the ambition of exploring the potentialities and the benefits of nanoparticles (NPs) available in the market, used in sectors like aerospace and health, in their footwear and associated components, where they aren’t used; with the goal of creating new functional, differentiated, high added value and marketable footwear consumer goods; that satisfy the needs and expectations of the final consumers.
The main goal of NANOFOOT project was to develop advanced and innovative nanotechnology based solutions for leathers and polymers components for footwear applications, aiming a new sustainable and customer-driven production of goods; where the health, environment, high quality of components, fair marketing communication and competitive sales price are combined to promote the competitiveness of the companies.
The main objectives specified are based on the screening, evaluation, selection and investigation of application of functional affordable NPs to develop:
NEW MATERIALS:
1) Natural leathers and microfibers with antimicrobial properties and breathability.
2) Polymers, applicable in footbeds, insoles and soles, with thermal conductivity and electrical conductivity for the more demanding applications;
3) Processing and coatings materials incorporating NPs for natural and artificial leather functionalization.
NEW PRODUCTS to improve the comfort, health and citizen’s quality of life, specifically:
1) Leather made footwear for special orthopedic segments;
2) Vegan footwear for comfort fashion segments.
COMPETITIVE PRODUCTION PROCESSES:
1) Economically interesting processes for producing materials and goods with an acceptable cost.
2) Workers, workplace and environment friendly processes, established taking into account the NPs specificities and these topics during all the phases of the project development. Additionally, a contribution to decrease the environmental impact of industrial processes is expected by replacing bulk materials by NPs and improving nanoparticle based formulations and their manufacturing procedures.
To achieve these objectives, the companies outsourced the following research activities to the RTD performers (RTDs) selected:
1) Screening, selecting and when necessary modifying NPs to solve stability and dispersion limitations;
2) Investigate the application of the selected NPs to develop the results specified:
2.1) new formulations of functional processing products and coatings based on NPs;
2.2) leather and 2.3) microfiber similar to leather and their making processes;
2.4) polymeric composite materials and components and their making processes;
3) Develop footwear products by designing and engineering suitable architectures and constructions to maximize namely the antimicrobial and thermal properties.
The achievement of these results will enable the SME companies to improve their competitive position in the market. NANOFOOT project took an integrated approach develop advanced functionalities and to evaluate the human safety and environmental impact (Integrated Environmental Approach) along the life cycle of the new nanomaterials, making use of the existing expertise among the partners and published information.
(1) World Footwear, 2014, APICCAPS (Portuguese Footwear Association).
Project Results:
Footwear is designed to provide comfort, pleasure and protect the feet from hard and rough surfaces, as well as climate environmental exposure and in the specific cases (e.g. protective footwear) from aggressive and health threatening conditions. Presently, consumers expectations and needs demand the development of footwear that integrates fashion, emotional desires and real multifunctional performance. Consumers are becoming more enlightened and demanding and search for differentiated products which promote their comfort, health and welfare is significantly increasing. To keep competitiveness, the footwear companies need to put their efforts in the development of differentiated and advanced products to meet the needs of the actual market.
Currently, despite, the vast amount of footwear available in the market and the evident increase
of products quality, there are several properties that need to be improved, namely:
• Antibacterial and antifungal properties that are linked with feet malodours, skin problems and degradation of leather during storage;
• Thermal properties to solve temperature and humidity problems inside the shoe;
• Electrical conductive properties to allow the dissipation of charges.
Furthermore, these properties are not isolated, they are interconnected and it’s necessary to find optimum balance between them to develop adequate footwear. For example, the antibacterial and antifungal properties of footwear are not achieved by simply use of anti-fungal and anti-bacterial products. The temperature and the humidity of feet and materials have a great contribution. Again, the material will not solve the problems by itself it is necessary to develop new constructions of footwear to potentiate synergies between all these parameters.
Actually, thanks to the fundamental research work done in the last two decades, the development of nano-functionalized materials for a variety of applications (e.g. health, automotive, consumer goods, etc.) where mechanical, thermal, electrical, barrier, chemical, antibacterial, antifungal or other functional properties as well as aesthetic properties, are required, is pursued worldwide.
The use of nanoparticles or nano-sized objects is now being explored because even a small amount, compared to the needed amount of bulk material, is necessary to achieve higher, enhanced or new properties and functionalities.
NANOFOOT main innovations on materials & products are:
• Nanoparticles & functional coatings suitable for footwear and allied industrial applications;
• Leather and microfiber with antibacterial and antifungal properties for footwear upper part;
• Polymers and components to improve thermal and electrical properties for footwear bottom part;
• Functional, high performance and comfort footwear (orthopaedic and vegan) having: antibacterial, antifungal activity; higher breathability; thermal and electrical management; water resistance properties.
NANOFOOT main innovations related with the production processes are:
• Optimization of stabilization and dispersion of nanoparticles to get homogeneous and functional coatings and nanocomposites;
• Optimization of the use of nanoparticles & functional coatings on materials, components and footwear to get advanced and functional products;
• Development of optimized and controlled production processes of new materials and products minimizing the risks and assuring the workers and environmental safety during the handling of nanoparticles and nanomaterials;
• Establishment of good practices to use nanoparticles at industrial level and for footwear.
The principal SCIENTIFIC studies can be briefly described as follow:
1. FOOTWEAR INDUSTRY: USE OF NANOPARTICLES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF MATERIALS WITH ANTIMICROBIAL PROPERTIES
The footwear industry has been exploring the benefits of remarkable properties of nanoparticles on the development of new products with high performance.
This route was initiated at CTCP in collaboration with FCUP with a more fundamental study to prepare stable Ag NPs with antimicrobial properties. Ag NPs antimicrobial properties were confirmed against E. coli, S. epidermis and B. subtilis. Ag NPS were also used on leather surface modifications to confer antimicrobial properties.
Cu, CuO and ZnO nanoparticles were also studied as alternatives to Ag NPs. Cu, CuO and ZnO NPs were prepared using different methods allowing to obtain NPs with different shapes, sizes and properties. Furthermore, the nanoparticles were characterized by TEM/SEM images and UV-Vis and their stability and antimicrobial properties were accessed. The antimicrobial properties were tested against E. coli and S. epidermis using methods developed by CTCP.
Although some NPs revealed good antimicrobial properties their low stability render them difficult to be used in industrial applications. By contrast the selected NPs showed good stability and also displayed antimicrobial properties.
Different procedures were used to prepare reproductively spherical selected NPs and the following step is scale-up the use of nanoparticles to develop advanced and innovative nanotechnology based solutions for leathers and polymers components for footwear products, aiming a new sustainable and customer-driven production of consumer goods; where the health, environment, high quality of components, fair marketing communication and competitive sales price are combined to promote the competitiveness of the companies.
2. ASSESSMENT OF NANOPARTICLES ECO-TOXICITY: AN APPLICATION FOR THE FOOTWEAR CONTEXT
Comparative studies of the ecotoxicity of silver (Ag), zinc oxide (ZnO) and copper (Cu) nanoparticles (NPs) that are among those nanoparticles used in consumer products, suggest that may present high eco-toxicity in luminescence bacteria and in culture of algae P. subcapitata. Further studies are being carried out to decrease the environmental impact of these NPs.
3. ANTIMICROBIAL PROPERTIES OF SELECTED SUBMICROMETER NANOPARTICLES
Study of the antibacterial properties of selected NPs in aqueous suspensions of E. coli bacteria indicate that for concentrations higher than 50 ppm an inhibition of the growth rate of bacteria higher than 95 % is achieved.
4. DYNAMIC LIGHT SCATTERING AS A TOOL FOR EVALUATING THE STABILITY OF NANOPARTICLES SUSPENSIONS
Evaluation of the use of Dynamic light Scattering (DLS) as a tool for a rapid diagnostic of the stability of NPs dispersions on different media. Different commercial and home produced NPS were tested, namely ZnO NPS, Cu NPs, SiO2NPs and TiO2. NPs were suspended in different media (algae culture medium–MBL- and other aqueous solutions).
NPs are highly sensitive to the environment and they may form aggregates or change their morphology due to the interaction with entities existing in NPs surroundings. All NPs form aggregates upon contact with the solvents tested, except for PVA. The used of PVA as solvent assisted by US led to a drastic decrease of NPS probably due to the steric repulsion created by PVA and the input energy offered by US.
In the case of NPs dispersed in MBL, the stability of NPs could be affected due to the high ionic strength, fixed pH, and proteins present into this culture medium.
5. FORMULATION OF NANOCOMPOSITES FOR FOOTWEAR WITH ENHANCED COMFORT AND SAFETY PROPERTIES
(1) Study of nanofillers incorporation in a polymeric matrix
(2) Preparation of nanocomposites:
(2.1) Base formulation: Standard EVA from EVATHINK, according to technical requirements provided by Todo Para Sus Pies related to the final material application (insole, sole, etc.).
(2.2) Mixing procedure: According to conventional EVATHINK manufacturing: Melt mixing.
(2.3) Further processing: According to conventional EVATHINK manufacturing.
6. ANTIMICROBIAL NANOPARTICLES: HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS
General aim
Comparative study of the ecotoxicity and cytotoxicity of silver (Ag), zinc oxide (ZnO), copper (Cu) and titanium oxide (TiO2) nanomaterials (NMs) that are widely used in consumer products.
Specific aim
(1) Evaluation of NMs toxicity to human cell lines;
(2) Evaluation of NMs physical stability in different solvents;
(3) Evaluation of NMs toxicity to the freshwater microalgae Raphidocelis subcapitata;
(4) Evaluation of NMs toxicity to Vibrio fischeri.
Methods
(1) NMs dispersion and characterization;
(2) Toxicity test with microalgae R. subcapitata (OECD 2006);
(3) Toxicity test with the Vibrio fischeri (AZUR, 1998);
(4) Toxicity test with human cell culture lines (Andreani, 2014);
(5) Toxicity test with human cell culture lines.
Conclusions
(1) Correlation between the toxicity results obtained from in vito and in vivo tests;
(2) Toxicity tests with V. fischeri and algae R. subcapitata indicated that the most NMs tested was toxic to these organisms;
(3) Concerning the solvents, PVA and PEG 200 showed high toxicity on microalgae R. subcapitata and V. fischeri;
(4) The toxicity can be related to small particles or to ions release that can be internalized by cells;
(5) Caco-2 cell line demonstrated to be less susceptible to NMs than HepG2 and SV-80 cell lines;
(6) The presence of PVA decreased the toxicity of Ag nanoparticles to HepG2 and SV-80 cell lines. However PVA increased the toxicity of ZnO 25 nm;
(7) The interaction between PVA and Ag nanoparticles can be different than that between PVA and ZnO nanoparticles;
(8) Cell type and mechanism of interaction may play an important role in cell toxicity assessments.
7. THE IMPLEMENTATION OF LIFE-CYCLE PERSPECTIVE IN THE TEST FOR IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF NANOMATERIALS: THE NANOFOOT CASE.
A. Integration of different scales: The laboratory tests have to be implemented in an inventory framework which follows the product life cycle. Furthermore they should provide also mass information in order to be linked with other assessments
B. Impact assessment variance together with the goal and scopes: In order to provide a useful result the assessment should be focused on useful information at each decisional level. Reliability of information depend also on the extent of information provided to the final user. More the variance of results is guaranteed more a result can be reused.
C. Coverage of the full product life cycle: Such focused assessment should be included each time a modification occur in the life cycle (A. The release from friction assessment in the use phase and B. The release in the landfilling phase)
D. Extension of the common Impact categories to «nano» specific categories: In order to be compliant with recent developments in toxicity criteria Eco-toxicity can be added to common impact categories. The Ecotoxicity expression should follow the Use-tox model in order to emphasize the result reuse. Such assessment require specific test campains ranging from diffusion test up to toxicity and fate rate. At the end of the test a characterization factor is calculated by fixing a certain diffusion model in specific conditions.
E. Environmental drivers from comparative assessments
The principal TECHNOLOGICAL studies can be briefly described as follows:
1. Selection of suitable NPs for the processing/coatings, leather and microfiber developments, as well as for EVA nanocomposites formulations, considering the functionalities, price, industrial avaiability and final applications to confer antimicrobial; thermal and electrical properties to footwear products;
2. Characterization of nanopartilces: physical, chemical, antimicrobial and functional properties.
3. Studies of modifications and functionalization of NPs surface;
4. Studies of NPs dispersion in polymeric matrix for nanocoatings and EVA polymers;
5. development of nano-coating processing products for leather and microfibre;
6. Development of EVA nanocomposites;
7. development of functional footwear for Vegan and Orthopaedic applications;
8. LCA of nanomaterials;
9. Human safety and environmental impact of the use of NPS.
The main results of NANOFOOT project are:
1. New Leathers and microfibers: Microbes resistant leathers and microfibers based on nanoparticles/nanofillers; Water resistant leathers; Materials usable in shoes as upper, lining and insocks.
2. New Composites: Polymers and composites with thermal & electrical management properties based on nanoparticles/nanofillers; antistatic nanocomposites implementation in footwear industry would improve both comfort and safety as they will reduce the electrostatic charges accumulation.
3. Innovative Footwear: Footwear thermal comfort; Antistatic and electrical conductive footwear; Vegan footwear for comfort fashion segments; Leather made footwear for special orthopaedic segments; Shoe benefit from the functional characteristics of materials such as: bacterial & fungal activity reduction; water resistant; breathability, thermal comfort.
4. User and Environment friend processes: Economically interesting processes for producing materials and goods with an acceptable cost, similar or up to 5% higher that their actual production cost; Workers, workplace and environment friendly processes, established taking into account the NPs specifications and these topics during all the phases of the project development; a decrease of environmental impact of industrial processes by replacing bulk materials by NPs and improving nanoparticles based formulations and their manufacturing procedures.
NANOFOOT project results was designed, for SMEs companies, to develop footwear materials and products solutions driven by the clients/consumers wishes and demands, based in emerging solutions not yet used in the consumers goods manufacturing sectors, which present promising results at scientific level and in sectors like health and cosmetics. This project was dedicated to the development of solutions to promote the comfort, wellbeing and indirectly the health of footwear consumers. Without forget the human safety and environmental impact of use of nanomaterials to achieve the proposed properties.
NANOFOOT will contribute to enhance the participant SMEs’ competitive strength by supporting the creation of innovative nano-based marketable added value materials, products and truly sustainable industrial processes. Within this project, two main factors were considered for improving participating SMEs competitiveness: innovation and knowledge-based development
Furthermore, the nano-based solutions that will be marketed by the companies have real added functionalities, meaning have real higher performance than the actual existing ones. Therefore this “increase in product functionality and quality” will allow to target to market groups where price is relevant but not the more important variable, this resulting in an economic benefit that may be estimated in an added value of 10 % to 20 % higher than similar products without the improved or new functions. Given the multi-level objectives of the project, performance indicators and impacts are influenced all along the materials and products lifecycle.
Potential Impact:
POTENTIAL IMPACT
NANOFOOT will contribute to enhance the participant SMEs’ competitive strength by supporting the creation of innovative nanobased marketable added value materials, products and truly sustainable industrial processes. Within this project, two main factors were considered for improving participating SMEs competitiveness: innovation and knowledge-based development.
Participant companies covering the whole value chain of the footwear sector ensure the availability of all the results needed to fully exploit the project outcome. The chemical products manufacturing company (INDINOR), the leather company (CURTUMES AVENEDA), the polymeric materials compounder and shoes components maker (EVATHINK) and the shoe companies (TPSP and CAMMINA) participating to the project, will explore the results in their respective actual business area. To support the developments, a group of RTD partners with specific technological knowledge and corresponding valences was foreseen. CTCP, UPORTO, INESCOP and CNR-ITIA were the selected centres due to scientific and technological background, previous positive experience of working together and proximity with the SMEs and footwear and allied trade industry in the major European footwear producing countries: Italy, Spain and Portugal.
The companies will have economic benefits short after the project termination thanks to the competitive advantage of having:
1. Prepared the dissemination, exploitation, marketing and IPR protection plans during the project execution;
2. Received from the RTD performers all the information created in the project, training and implementation of all the results at small pilot scale;
3. Prepared the first demonstrators and presented them publically in workshops done in Portugal, Spain and Italy, the more relevant EU shoe manufacturers;
4. Done dissemination of the project and specific results in relevant sector newspaper in the three countries and in the main sectorial fairs done in Europe; and
5. Prepared specific communication to inform their agents in EU and abroad and the consumers on the contents of the products there are buying and safe use.
The following benefits are foreseen for the consortium SME´s:
AVENEDA as a leather manufacturer, specialized in the manufacture of differentiated leathers, with higher add value and improved properties, will explore the nanoleathers developed, to make available to their clients and market, a new line of innovative leather products with antibacterial, antifungal, breathability and water resistance properties by using NPs;
INDINOR as a producer and supplier of chemical products for leather making and leather and footwear coating/finishing, will explore the portfolio of processing products and coatings developed, supported in nanotechnology, in the footwear allied trade and in new business opportunities;
EVATHINK as a compounder and with extensive experience in EVA manufacturing for orthopaedic footwear applications, will offer a range of nanocomposites with advanced thermal and electrical conductive properties, to their orthopaedic applications clients and others (e.g. safety shoes, technical floors).
TPSP is a customized footwear manufacturer that wants to explore the potentiality of nanotechnology by manufacturing customized and orthopaedic footwear. They will be able to provide shoe and custom-made orthopaedic insoles, with different materials and assembling processes, covering the range of processes and applications more usual in this sector in Europe.
CAMMINA is a small company that designs and produces shoes and accessories made out of eco-compatible materials that will be able to produce shoes with different nanofunctionalized animal free vegan materials and constructions (assembling processes) dedicated to its market segment.
Furthermore, the nanobased solutions that will be marketed by the companies have real added functionalities, meaning have real higher performance than the actual existing ones therefore this “increase in product functionality and quality” will allow to target to market groups where price is relevant but not the more important variable, this resulting in an economic benefit that may be estimated in an added value of 10 to 20 % higher than similar products without the improved or new functions.
The SMEs are the owners of all the results and have the capability and intention to exploit them immediately after the project. The results will complement the products they offer to the market, and the areas in which they intervene in their main business.
Recent advances in nanotechnology have contributed for a growing confidence and appetence among consumers for end-use products applying this technology. Additionally, European industries are experiencing a strong competition from “low-cost” countries outside the European Union (mainly from Asia) which business core are based in the production of cheaper products. On the other hand, Europe has also to compete with “high-technology” countries such as Japan and USA, for a leading position in high-technology advanced materials.
Departing from their average past experience the initial hypothesis on the direct economic benefit for each individual SME participant is based on the advantage to implement solutions which at the end of the project will be easily exploitable without the need of significant investments.
Estimation of the benefits has been calculated for the first three years after end of project, based on a conservative increase of 5 to 15% of current values.
The data presented indicates the potential impact of the project impact at EU level even though the companies promoting the project are small due to the fact that the project promoting companies both the materials and components providers and the footwear manufacturers are strong exporters to the EU market. Additionally, they work in a net of formal physical agents or using the on-line shop virtual facility thus accessing a much higher potential market than that the number of direct employees could anticipate.
DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES
The project dissemination involved namely the image creation; preparing and lunching the project site, board, flyer and brochure; preparing and attending technical, scientific and fair events; preparing news/articles for specialized journal, newsletters and magazines.
Deliverable 5.7 (Public document) presents the final version of the project dissemination plan including the type and number of actions planned, the month in which will be developed, the number of actions planned per country (PT, ES, IT) and the actual status per country.
In the following subchapters the work planned is presented in more detail:
1.1 Written & web dissemination
Regarding written and web dissemination the following was done:
(1) Project web site.
(2) Project flyers to be mailed or/and distributed in the events participated or organised by project participants.
(3) Project brochures to be mailed or/and distributed in the events participated or organised by project participants.
(4) Scientific dissemination of the project was be done through participation in conferences and /or publications in conference proceedings, research journals or specialized magazines.
(5) News or technical articles will be prepared for sectorial magazines.
(6) Web dissemination and distribution of materials:
(i) Mailing
Communication and dissemination of project flyer, brochure, developments and results to clients and consumers was done through email and personal contacts.
(ii) Twitter #NANOFOOT
For some partners, concretely for Cammina, it's important and necessary to convey the message of the project on social networks. Twitter discussion around the theme of nanofoot research could also be of the interest of different universities and researchers.
(iii) Video and youtube
Cammina is evaluating the possibility to have a nanofoot profile on youtube to exploit the viral effects of videos. This can be based on the creating of videos for each product and put them inside a special youtube channel. Learning to communicate research through the images of a video, the project becomes more emotional. It is not necessary to have high quality and professional video, but it would be okay that the videos are filmed by occasional film makers through smartphones or camera, and after that assembled by experts. The right alternation between professional videos to communicate the most important moments of research and those made out of internal network generates success for the results of the research.
(iv) Others actions
Link building is really important for most partners of the project that did so linking the project within their own sites and if relevant social pages e.g facebook. Also personal social network pages can be used to increases the possibility that the project is communicated to the mass.
(7) Technical Fairs Dissemination
Sectorial fairs will be considered for dissemination: SMEs usually participate along the year to important international sectorial fairs. These fairs will be a good occasion for mainstreaming the results of the project towards suppliers and customers and to promote a new way of working.
1.2 Demonstration workshops
The project included the scale-up of results, transfer or knowledge to the companies and workshops to demonstrate the results in room or at industrial sites.
- Knowledge transfer, scale-up, industrial validation and demonstration of results was a key activity in the project (WP6) and was structured to let SMEs learn, assimilate and test the technologies and project results having the possibility to interact with the RTD performers for improvements. The work done in WP 6 will ensure the RTD performers transfer all the necessary knowledge to the SMEs and teach the SMEs to use the project results.
- Training and validation for new materials (leathers and polymer composites components) and chemical processing products and coatings were organized so that all the necessary knowledge regarding NPs, formulations, additives and processes, is transferred from the RTDs to the respective SMEs.
These SMEs had time to test the results at small pilot scale solving the first pre-industrialisation problems. The RTDs supported these tests in the companies’ site.
1.3 Impact of the dissemination estimative
a) Project image and 1 site: Email addresses/views: 1500 PT; 1500 ES; 2000 IT
b) Partners links: Expected 32000 views/year
c) 1 Project flyer: Flyers to email addresses: 1500 PT; 1500 ES; 2000 IT; Flyers paper distribution 250 per partner
d) 1 Project communication : Email addresses: 1500 PT; 1500 ES; 2000 IT
e) 5 SMEs communication: Email: 600 PT; 600 ES; 300 IT
f) 1 Project brochure: Email addresses: 1500 PT; 1500 ES; 2000 IT
g) Disseminations in sectorial newspapers, newsletters: 1500 PT; 2500 ES; 2000 IT
h) Stand in International or national fairs: Viewed 300 – 500 persons
i) Project workshops: 50 to 100 attends PT; 70 to 120 ES; 50 to 100 IT
j) Final portfolio of NPs, materials and products: Prepare & present 3 workshops and remaining in exposition in PT, ES and IT for 2 years
k) Scientific events or papers: Prepare and present. Viewed 1000 persons
l) Disseminations per SME: To 100 to 300 clients
m) Project power point presentation: 1500 PT; 1500 ES; 2000 IT
n) Short vídeo
o) International and national fairs to disseminate the concept and results: Contact 1000 persons
The NANOFOOT dissemination activities were performed intensively to ensure the establishment of a high level of awareness and cooperation with industrial world as well as final customer. The efficient and successful realisation of such dissemination relies on the huge experience in European and National research projects of the involved partners, the broad networking activity in the footwear sector, the deep knowledge of the scientific and technological needs of the sector of consortium partners, many of which are deeply involved in ETP activities.
Most of the planned actions for dissemination of project goals have already been implemented. Some of these actions have been held co-jointly by all the partners while others have been specifically held by the single partner.
List of Websites:
http://nanofoot.ctcp.pt/index.asp
