https://www.avient.com/knowledge-base/article/beginner-s-guide-tpe
Once heated, TPEs get softer and turn into a form that allows the material to flow freely, but they don’t turn into a liquid state as is the case when something is melted.
This ability to flow freely in a near-melted state is an important property because it allows TPEs to be molded into any shape you want.
Most thermoplastic elastomer products are also recyclable under Plastic Recycling Code 7.