Across the country, researchers and manufacturers are turning soy into everything from car tires to tennis shoes, offering greener, renewable alternatives to petroleum-based products.
United Soybean Board Director Robb Ewoldt talks about one standout…Soy Foam. “We’re dealing with trying to help the firemen out. When they use their firefighting foam currently, it has a lot of those forever chemicals that are referred to as PFAS. We’ve been able to, with partnerships and investing some of our checkoff dollars, trying to figure out a safer way for our fireman to fight fire. That is using some of the protein from the soybean in to that soy foam and making it very user friendly and much safer for our fireman.”
But the innovation doesn’t stop there.
Goodyear has developed soybean oil-infused tires that stay more flexible in cold weather and require less petroleum — without compromising performance. According to the company, their soy-based tires are already rolling on tens of thousands of vehicles.
And now you can even drive your soybean tires on soybean asphalt.
Ewoldt continues, “It’s a been a big boom for the industry and for these smaller communities to be able to asphalt their roads at a lot lower price. So it’s really some great stuff coming out on the industrial side.”
In the footwear world, companies like Skechers and emerging eco-brands are introducing shoes made with soy-based materials, offering comfort and sustainability in every step.
The USDA says that the bio-based products industry supports 3.9 million American jobs a contributes $489 billion to the U.S. economy.
Experts say these products aren’t just eco-friendly — they’re also opening up new markets for soybeans, creating a win-win for consumers and American farmers alike.
From the field to the freeway to your feet — soy is stepping into the future.
