Development of socks for safety shoes using washi yarn "Cu-TOP^® Ao" with antibacterial and deodorizing functions

Nippon Paper Industries Co.,Ltd.

Nippon Paper Industries Co.,Ltd. (President & CEO: Akira Sebe, Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, hereinafter referred to as "the Company") has collaborated with Sukeno Co., Ltd. (President & CEO: Goji Ono, Headquarters: Takaoka City, Toyama Prefecture, hereinafter referred to as "Sukeno" ) to use washi yarn "Cu-TOP^(R) Ao" with antibacterial and deodorizing functions. We have developed socks for safety shoes.

 

Sukeno, a major sock manufacturer, has been reflecting the opinions of fishermen and has been manufacturing and selling special socks that solve the problems of working on boats. This time, Japan Paper has focused on the high-performance washi yarn "Cu-TOP^(R)Ao" developed by Nippon Paper Industries Co.,Ltd. and has antibacterial, deodorant, and antiviral properties due to the effect of Nippon Paper Industries Co.,Ltd. ions, and is also manufacturing the material. In cooperation with the Ishinomaki Plant, we have continued to develop while incorporating the voices of employees who actually wear safety shoes at the factory. At the Ishinomaki Plant, we often work while wearing safety shoes in a hot and humid environment, so we thought that there were problems with our feet, so we thought that we could develop special socks to solve them.

Factory employees have reported that stuffiness, odor, and durability are major concerns when using safety shoes, and we have taken various measures and improvements as follows.

 

〇 Stuffy

The Ishinomaki factory often works in a hot and humid environment, and many people said that safety shoes that are not as breathable as athletic shoes will get stuffy inside. As a solution to this, the water absorption and quick-drying properties of washi yarn were effective. In a survey at the factory, more than 70% of employees felt that the stuffiness of the socks was improved compared to conventional socks, and they also said that they dry faster after washing.

 

〇 Odor

As with stuffiness, odors are prone to occur due to breathability problems, and the problem of getting stuffy inside has been solved with the antibacterial and deodorizing functions that are characteristic of "Cu-TOP^(R) Ao". More than 75% of employees feel that foot odors that are not a concern on the operation floor but are a concern in the operation room and break room have been reduced.

 

〇Durability

Many of the safety shoes have hard parts, and it is easy to get punctures in the toes. Durability was also a weakness of washi yarn, but this time, by weaving durable fibers at the same time, it was possible to improve durability and make it less likely to puncture.

 

In addition, taking advantage of Sukeno's technical skills, the soles of the feet are made of highly cushioned pile knitting, and the heel support prevents them from shifting and taking them off. At the same time, the supporters using Sukeno's independently developed knitted fabric "Easy pressure" reflect the voices of factory employees and use water-absorbing and quick-drying yarn on the entire surface, making them comfortable to wear in hot and humid environments, reducing foot fatigue.

"Cu-TOP^(R)Ao" has been used in socks for inpatients who sometimes find it difficult to bathe, but this is the first time that it has been used as a product that can withstand the harsh environment of wearing safety shoes in factories. Taking advantage of the characteristics of high durability and suppression of stuffiness and odors, which we have obtained through this development in a harsh environment, we are considering the development of disaster prevention goods such as socks and innerwear that can be used in evacuation centers in the event of a disaster, as well as the development of products in the medical, nursing care, and sports fields.

 

The socks for safety shoes will be exhibited at the booth in Sukeno at "Green Cross Exhibition 2025" (venue: Intex Osaka) on September 10~12.

After that, we aim to establish a production system and sell it around spring 2026.

 

Special site for socks for safety shoes: https://store.sukeno.co.jp/pages/anzengutsu_socks

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