Von Holzhausen Launches Plant-Based Performance Foam
Material firm von Holzhausen unveils a performance foam made entirely from plants, targeting petroleum-based midsoles in footwear.
Material innovation company von Holzhausen has introduced a performance foam made entirely from plant inputs. The new material, an extension of its Liquidplant platform, is being shown this week at the NW Materials Show in Portland, Oregon, a key sourcing event for the US footwear supply chain.
According to the company, this is the first performance foam made wholly from plants. The foam is designed to meet the cushioning, energy return, and durability standards required for footwear midsoles, an application long dominated by petroleum-derived materials.
Material Specifications and Manufacturing
The Liquidplant material starts as a plant-based polymer pellet. It can be processed using established foam manufacturing methods, including supercritical foaming. The company reports the material has achieved what it calls exceptionally low densities in testing.
Von Holzhausen states the foam is designed as a direct replacement for several petroleum-based performance plastics. The material is now available in both foam and resin forms and is engineered to work within existing manufacturing lines without requiring new equipment.
Plant-Based Inputs and Development
The foam's inputs include corn sugar, castor oil, and flaxseed oil. Von Holzhausen obtains the necessary biomolecules primarily through biofermentation. This new foam builds on a plant-based topcoat material the company first introduced in 2023, which was intended to replace polyurethane finishes on various surfaces.
The company first used Liquidplant as a structural component in the Ripple Shoe, a petroleum-free sneaker released in 2025. That shoe served as the initial case study for the material's structural applications.
Company Background and Market Position
Von Holzhausen was founded in 2015 by former automotive designer Vicki von Holzhausen. The company develops its materials at a laboratory in Los Angeles. Its previous product lines include Banbū, made from bamboo, and Technik, made from recycled consumer plastic.
CEO Vicki von Holzhausen identified performance as the historical barrier to replacing petroleum-based materials. She stated, “With Liquidplant®, we’re proving that plant-based solutions can deliver the performance, comfort, and durability required by today’s most demanding applications while eliminating the harmful chemistry associated with traditional foam processing.”
The company positions Liquidplant for applications extending beyond footwear to wearable technology and injection-moulded components. The material's debut at the NW Materials Show targets the footwear supply chain specifically for midsoles.
