Low odour, high quality finish

Ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA for short) is, curiously enough, the copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate. It is a polymer which is soft and warm to the touch, and has a slightly sweet "new shoes" smell. It's very flexible and very light, as well as being tough as boots.

It cuts cleanly and quickly and has a number of industrial uses apart from probably being in your shoes, including in electrical components and toy making.