Jack of All Trades: U.S. Soy

U.S. soy is not only abundant in supply and offers performance benefits, but it can also fit into nearly any industrial application. The following are just a few of the places you might find soy — and why the companies behind those products chose the versatile ingredient.

In Your Shoes

Okabashi®, one of only 2% of footwear companies in the world that are based in the U.S., is committed to product sustainability. Their shoes, which come with a two-year guarantee to cut down on what ends up in a landfill, are also made with bio-based materials. Including U.S. soy. The shoes are made with 45% soy by weight. 

Kim Falkenhayn, company president, says there are a few things that make U.S. soybean oil a good fit for their plasticizer. First, the addition of soybean oil helps the product meet all of their specifications — from softness to strength. On top of that, U.S. soy is grown on a large scale in the U.S. and is available any time the company requires it. Those two things fostered the switch from a petroleum-based product to bio-based U.S. soy.

In Your Hair

Shampoos and conditioners line the shelves of stores and salons across the country. Shampoos, conditioners and hair-styling aids from Soya System® contain hydrolyzed soya protein, derived from U.S. soybean oil. 

Hydrolyzed soya protein brings benefits to users’ hair. Its molecules are the exact size needed for penetration into the hair, increasing effectiveness. The soy protein is scientifically broken into its proper molecular weight by the use of enzymes, leading the seemingly small particles to have a big impact.

In Your Floor

HempWood®, a company that produces pressed hemp products that replace wood materials, introduced a line of wood products and furniture using Soyad™ adhesive from Solenis™ as the binder for the hemp-based products.

The formaldehyde-free adhesive formula is made of 70%-80% bio-based materials and adds another layer of sustainability to HempWood flooring. 

Soyad adhesives are water-based systems formulated with soy flour and a proprietary crosslinking resin. When blended together, the resin reacts with the protein in the soy flour to form a durable, water-resistant thermoset adhesive that is comparable in strength and performance to urea-formaldehyde-based adhesives.

From skin care to hair products to flooring, it’s clear U.S. soybean oil performs in nearly any application.