Corncob rain boots! Hangzhou's green gift to the world
On September 22nd, a distinctive "Chinese green" became the hottest color at the exhibition area during the first day of the 5th World Congress of Biosphere Reserves. At the Hangzhou Kunpeng Rubber Company booth, 3,000 pairs of bio-based rain boots made from corncobs were distributed to attendees.
At first glance, these "corncob boots" look just like ordinary rain boots, with a soft feel and virtually no odor. "This is pure nature's magic!" a UNESCO staff member exclaimed enthusiastically after learning about the production process.
Next to a row of rain boots and sneakers, a few golden corn stalks vividly revealed the product's environmentally friendly origins. Nguyen Thi Hoang, Deputy Governor of Dong Nai Province, Vietnam, was having an in-depth discussion with Wang Zhou, the company's General Manager. "This is the first time I've seen corncobs used to make rubber," Hoang said, amazed by this new "green technology." Wang Zhou explained, "This is an original Chinese technology. It converts corn cobs into rubber through bio-fermentation, and the entire process is very environmentally friendly."
A week ago, the first batch of 3,000 pairs of bio-based rain boots officially rolled off the production line at the foot of Tianmu Mountain in Lin'an. Wang Zhou still remembers that exciting moment: "When the first pair of finished products passed quality inspection, the entire workshop applauded. This is more than just a pair of shoes; it's a green gift from China to the world."
The core of this green technology lies in the "bio-based itaconate rubber" developed by the team of Zhang Liqun, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering. Made with an innovative molecular structure, it has wide-ranging applications in tires, footwear, and other fields. Agricultural waste, such as corn cobs, has been given new life-every ton of this "green rubber" produced reduces carbon emissions by 1.4 tons. "What began as an idea in a laboratory 20 years ago has finally reached the world," said a team leader. "We've invested over 80 million yuan, faced countless failures, but we've always believed in the future of bio-based materials."
It was this persistence that attracted Wang Zhou's attention. "From the moment I saw this technology, I knew it needed to be industrialized." Over the past two years, from small-scale laboratory trials to industrialized mass production, this "technology + industry" partnership has overcome countless technical challenges. The rain boots were chosen as the first product precisely because they use a large amount of material and demonstrate environmental protection.
Wang Zhou firmly believes that green environmental protection is a global trend: "The conference advocates 'development through protection.' Our company is located at the foot of Tianmu Mountain. I am honored to be able to promote my hometown's lush mountains and green waters and innovative technologies to the world."
On the first day of the exhibition, Wang Zhou's phone was filled with nearly 100 new contacts, with representatives from countries like Denmark, Vietnam, and Canada directly extending offers of cooperation. Wang Zhou's most unforgettable experience was the invitation from a South African expert: "Can you bring your technology to Africa? We have abundant corn cob resources there." The European expert immediately stated that he would display the rain boots in his office to showcase China's advanced environmental protection technology to his students.
