Our founder's work has been recognized by numerous media outlets. Below is a sample of organizations that have provided coverage.
“Full Circle: Glenn Barrett, founder and CEO of OrthoLite, is celebrating the components company’s 25th anniversary by launching a game-changing midsole material. The party is just getting started.” by Greg Dutter, Footwear Plus
“Barrett credits longtime friend and collaborator Rob Falken, a “genius inventor,” for creating the miracle material, one that uses nitrogen so it doesn’t need to be chemically foamed.”
“OrthoLite Introduces ESD Shield Insole Technology For Work And Service Footwear” SGB Media
“ESD Shield is the result of our pursuit to advance ESD insole technology while delivering the most comfortable, best-performing insoles on the market,” said Rob Falken, Vice President, Global Innovation, OrthoLite.”
“OrthoLite aims to solve The footwear industry’s big waste problem with its first midsole technology”
By Jennie Bell, Footwear News
According to Rob Falken, VP of innovation at OrthoLite, it is “made from responsibly sourced, GMO-free plants and other biodegradable materials, which is then formed in a chemical-free, zero-waste process with no curing.”
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“OrthoLite Says Its First-Ever Midsole Can Be Recycled ‘In Perpetuity’”. By Chuck Dobrosielski, SourcingJournal.com
“In Falken’s view, Cirql “is poised and capable to make a serious dent” in the 20 billion pairs of shoes the industry manufactures annually.”
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Danimer Scientific Receives US Patent for Biodegradable Marking Wax. Conventional crayons made with petrochemical-based paraffin wax can take decades to decompose. PlasticsToday.com
“By collaborating with Mr. Falken, we combined his knowledge of functional waxes with our expertise in polymer chemistry to create a completely new material that has the potential to bring the crayon industry to the forefront of sustainability. We believe this has potential to help the next generation see how they can reduce the environmental impact of popular consumer products,” said Danimer Chief Science and Technology Officer Phil Van Trump.
Biobased alternative to petrochemical-based paraffin wax can be used to make compostable crayons. Patent jointly awarded in partnership with environmentally focused material developer Rob Falken.
“The largest crayon manufacturers consume millions of pounds of paraffin wax every year to produce billions of crayons, and this new material offers a way to reduce the environmental impact of these beloved products,” said Falken.
“Insole Innovation: Catching Up With OrthoLite VP Rob Falken On Its Groundbreaking O-Therm Technology”
By Eugene Buchanan, SGB Media
“We have more than 20 additional technologies in various development stages in all categories, from sustainability to performance, function and value. We’re also expanding beyond insoles, which we’ll introduce in the coming months.”
“OrthoLite’s Lightweight Aerogel Insoles Protect Against Cold”
By Chuck Dobrosielski, SourcingJournal.com
“OrthoLite’s latest thermal insole technology attempts to tackle the perennial problem of cold feet. Unveiled Thursday, OrthoLite O-Therm uses an aerogel-infused, open-cell polyurethane foam to create a thermal barrier that the insole maker says “is unrivaled in any other footwear offering.”
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OrthoLite Creates World’s First and Only Aerogel-Infused Open-Cell PU Foam
“OrthoLite’s proprietary aerogel is O-Therm’s secret sauce,” explains Rob Falken, Vice President of Innovation at OrthoLite. “Our advanced aerogel traps micro-pockets of air without the need for loft, and it won’t lose its effectiveness when compressed under foot…”
“Green Dreamer”
By Footwear Plus
“I branched into footwear as a contractor, gaining experience in sourcing, supply chain optimization and product development for a handful of large global shoe brands…”
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“Shoe Co. Finds S.D. a Good Fit as Hub of U.S. Expansion”
By Sarah de Crescenzo, San Diego Business Journal
“Falken, a materials developer with an environmental bent, was until recently managing director of materials manufacturer Bloom. That business was formed in 2015 as a partnership between his Carlsbad-based company, Effekt LLC, and cleantech firm Algix LLC, a Mississippi-based company that makes bio-based products from harvested algae.”
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“Bloom’s Mission to Turn Toxic Algae Into Shoes”
By kelly Bastone, OutsideOnline.com
“He connected with Algix, a company that had developed a small-scale method for vacuuming slime out of catfish farms. Algix provided Falken with some algae, and after a month of experimentation, he developed a recipe for plant-based foam…”
“Pond Scum to Surf Gear”
Hatch: Innovation born in San Diego
“San Diegan Rob Falken is finding new use for them with Bloom Foam—the world’s first plant-based alternative to petroleum-based and synthentic foams, which also tackles the problem of an overabundance of algae in freshwater sources.”
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