Certifications and third-party validations

We understand the critical importance of validating claims and providing transparency through third-party validation. We are proud to have attained or are in the process of attaining and conducting the following third-party tests, certifications, and validations.

Life-Cycle Analysis

A life-cycle analysis or assessment (LCA) is a method to understand the full environmental impact of a product—encompassing the entire eco-footprint from raw material to final product—including but not limited to: production, manufacturing, energy usage, water consumption, transportation, and distribution.

Certified Industrially Compostable

Cirql foam has been certified by Din Certco as industrially compostable under ASTM D6400 and EN13432.Third-party testing confirms compostability of varied foams. Testing is done under aerobic conditions, which is the typical procedure in industrial composting facilities, and therefore, the most comparable to real-world operations.

Reach Compliant

Cirql is third-party certified as REACH compliant by Intertek. REACH is a specific list of chemicals that are either banned in Europe, or are only allowed in infinitesimal amounts. In combination with RSL-compliance, REACH compliance guarantees supply chain purity for brand partners and safe products for consumers.

Restricted Substances List (RSL) Compliant

Cirql foam received GMO-Free certification in September 2021, as verified by CertiQuality.
Third-party, GMO-Free certification confirms that no ingredients come from genetically-modified crops.

Certified Bio-Preferred

At 43% bio-based content, Cirql exceeds the bio-based content requirement (25%) for this program and earned USDA Biopreferred certification in March 2021.USDA BioPreferred is a program established to increase the use and purchase of bio-based products in an effort to reduce reliance on petroleum, increase the use of renewable agricultural resources, and reduce adverse environmental and health impacts.

Certified GMO-Free

Cirql worked with Intertek to identify and adhere to the Restricted Substances List for footwear.*In the ongoing effort to protect consumer and environmental health, manufacturers develop a restricted substances list (RSL) with third-party experts. An RSL ensures compliance with governmental regulations, and manages current and future chemical concerns for the supply chain and end of life.
*Cirql cannot control or prevent the addition of other chemicals by brand partners/shoe manufacturers.

Certified Vegan

Cirql is vegan certified, via testing and third party validation by Intertek.*For non-edible products, a third-party verifier conducts a chemical analysis to certify it is completely free of animal by-products, does not use animal-based testing, and that materials and components used in production are from sources with no animal-based derivatives.*While we can advise on vegan best practices for our brand partners, we cannot control their processes.

Patented Worldwide

OrthoLite® Cirql™ is patented and patent-pending worldwide.OrthoLite® Cirql™ has multiple worldwide patents granted with an extensive range of additional patents pending.

Sustainability glossary of terms

With the ever-expanding lexicon related to sustainability, we hold ourselves responsible for providing a clear and simple way to understand what it all means and how revolutionary Cirql truly is.

  • Biodegradation

    A naturally-occurring chemical process in which microorganisms convert organic material into water, carbon dioxide, and biomass or compost. In order for a processed or manmade product to be considered biodegradable, it must thoroughly break down in a specified environment within a reasonable amount of time. For plastics, this must be verified through controlled laboratory testing

  • bioplastics

    A family of materials with the properties of plastics that are bio-based, biodegradable, or both. To be called a bioplastic, the polymer must be made from a minimum of 20% renewable materials.

  • chemical-free foaming

    Also known as supercritical foaming or physical foaming, this process combines CO2 or Nitrogen with polymers to create a foam, eliminating toxic or hazardous chemicals typically used in the foaming process. This minimizes environmental risks during production and results in a non-toxic end product.

  • chemical structure

    All plastics are polymers, and polymers have either linear or cross-linked chemical structures. The structure indicates how the individual monomers are joined in a chain to create the polymer, and determines whether or not it can be deconstructed (a.k.a. depolymerized). Only linear polymers can be recycled. Further, only some linear polymers can compost/biodegrade completely.

  • circular economy

    An economy that “builds and rebuilds overall system health.” Circular economies and circular solutions are defined by three tenets: (1) Designing waste and pollution out of the process, not just mitigating them; (2) Keeping products and materials in use; and (3) Regenerating natural systems.

  • Depolymerization

    A process in which a polymer is converted into its component monomers. For practical purposes and in real-life (i.e. non-lab) applications, only polymers with a linear chemical structure can be depolymerized.

  • end-of-life solution

    A product or material for which there is a clear path for disposal at the end of its useful lifespan that not only mitigates negative environmental impacts, but also regenerates natural systems. This is central to the concept of a circular economy.

  • INDUSTRIALLY (COMMERCIALLY) COMPOSTABLE

    A form of composting at an industrial facility that involves the precise control of air/oxygen, water, microorganisms, and occasionally pressure. Some facilities may also introduce carbon and nitrogen-rich materials to facilitate the biodegradation of certain materials.

  • marine biodegradable

    Ability of a solution to be intentionally disposed (through composting, industrial composting, recycling, etc.) without creating unintentional disposal in marine environments. EVA plastics, and therefore microplastics, will never biodegrade in marine (or soil) environments.

  • Microplastics

    Microplastics are the extremely small pieces of plastic debris in the environment resulting from the disposal and breakdown of consumer products and industrial waste. Nearly every plastic product shares responsibility for adding microplastics to our environment.

  • NON-PERSISTENT CHEMICALS

    Non-persistent chemicals that linger in the environment for only short periods of time. They can be harmless or they can be toxic. Unlike persistent chemicals, which demonstrate long-term threat, once a non-persistent chemical—even if toxic—degenerates, the threat is eliminated.

  • Plastics

    The properties of materials that are moldable when soft and retain their shape when hardened. “Plastics” also represents the entire group of materials with those qualities. Conventional petroleum plastics include PET, PS, PVC, PP, PE and EVA. A plant-based conventional plastic (such as plant-based PE or Bio-EVA) has the same chemical structure as a petroleum-based PE or EVA, and can not be recycled or composted.

Our Glossary of Terms

Learn more about these words and others that are shaping the conversation on footwear sustainability by downloading the full Glossary of Terms.

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