Petroleum in Real Life: Anatomy of a running shoe

Comfortable, lightweight and supportive running shoes are made possible by oil and natural gas.

Petrochemical products are a part of our daily lives. For example, can you imagine life without your favourite pair of running shoes? Most people couldn’t. Yet all the features that make running shoes running shoes—lightweight, comfortable, supportive, water resistant, breathable and long-lasting—are made possible via petrochemical products like ethylene-vinyl-acetate (EVA), a durable foam material derived from oil and natural gas.