Kris Hedstrom, the director of CHEP's Innovation Center, which adjoins the plant, is wearing earplugs, protective glasses and hard plastic shoe covers over his toes.

FORBES: Beast of Burden

One of the most innovative versions of a plastic shoe is the Imprint Therapeutic Shoe, made by Andrew Poynton, a high-tech farrier who works in Malmesbury, England.

ECONOMIST: Veterinary technology

An hour before his Emporio Armani presentation, the designer slipped on a pair of plastic shoe covers and stood on the pristine white runway to give the 70-odd models his ritual pep talk.

WSJ: The Future of Armani

Attendees in Shanghai included a production executive at Nike's close-by Suzhou Sports subsidiary, which makes the rigid plastic support of its shoe's sole using Huntsman's diphenylmethane diisocyanate, or MDI.

FORBES: Magazine Article

Attendees in Shanghai included a production executive at Nike (nyse: NKE - news - people )'s close-by Suzhou Sports subsidiary, which makes the rigid plastic support of its shoe's sole using Huntsman's diphenylmethane diisocyanate, or MDI.

FORBES: The Right Chemistry

Mr Poynton's shoe is made of mouldable plastic.

ECONOMIST: Veterinary technology