We’re surrounded by plastics – from the shoes on our feet to the cars we drive. But for years, the plastic industry has been criticized for its environmental impact. Now, a new generation of sustainable plastics is emerging, and BASF, a global leader in chemicals, is leading the charge.
TPU: A Versatile Material with a Green Twist:
Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) is a versatile material known for its elasticity, wear resistance, oil resistance, and chemical resistance. It’s used in a wide range of applications, from automotive parts and footwear to medical devices and construction materials. But BASF is taking TPU to a whole new level of sustainability.
BASF’s Commitment to Sustainability:
At its Lemförde plant in Germany, BASF has taken a major step towards a greener future. They have achieved certification of their biomass-balanced TPU under the ISCC PLUS program, a rigorous sustainability standard. This means that the TPU produced at Lemförde is made with renewable resources, reducing its environmental footprint.
Beyond TPU:
BASF’s commitment to sustainability extends beyond TPU. They have also successfully completed the annual recertification of a variety of thermoplastic plastics and polyurethane systems according to REDcert2, another leading sustainability standard. This demonstrates BASF’s dedication to creating a more sustainable future for the entire plastics industry.
The Future of TPU:
The global TPU market is booming, expected to grow from $3.804 billion in 2023 to $5.83 billion in 2030. BASF is well-positioned to capitalize on this growth, leveraging its technological expertise and commitment to sustainability. The company is investing heavily in research and development to create even more sustainable and innovative TPU products, meeting the growing demand for environmentally friendly materials.
A New Era of Bio-Based TPU:
The future of TPU is looking even greener with the emergence of bio-based and degradable TPU. These materials are made from renewable resources and can break down naturally, reducing plastic waste and minimizing environmental impact. BASF is at the forefront of this exciting development, investing heavily in research and development to create high-performance bio-based TPU that meets the demands of a sustainable future.
A Greener Future for Plastics
BASF’s commitment to sustainability is a game-changer for the plastics industry. By creating sustainable and innovative TPU products, BASF is paving the way for a greener future, where performance and sustainability go hand in hand. As the world embraces sustainability, companies like BASF are leading the charge, creating a future where plastics are no longer a burden on the environment but a force for good.
December 3, 2024, BASF announced the expansion of its sustainable product portfolio at its Lemförde plant in Germany.
The plant is certified under the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) PLUS program to produce biomass-balanced thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and, in addition, BASF successfully completed the annual recertification of numerous thermoplastic and polyurethane systems according to REDcert2 .
Previously, on January 18, 2024, the second TPU unit of BASF’s Zhanjiang integrated project was successfully put into operation, which also heralded the start of production of the world’s largest single TPU production line , but BASF did not disclose the specific production capacity.
Judging from market performance, TPU, with its excellent elasticity , wear resistance, oil resistance and chemical resistance, is widely used in many fields such as automobiles, shoe materials, medical care, construction, electronic appliances, etc., and has become indispensable in modern industry. high-performance materials. According to relevant data predictions, during 2023-2030, the global TPU market size will grow from US$3.804 billion to US$5.83 billion, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.5%. China, as the world’s largest TPU consumer , will grow at 13% The rapid growth rate has become a key force driving the expansion of the global TPU market.
Facing the broad market prospects, BASF continues to consolidate its global leading position in the TPU field through continued capacity expansion, technology upgrading and unswerving implementation of sustainable development strategies. With the continuous advancement of technology, the research and development and production of bio-based TPU and degradable TPU are gradually becoming the focus of the industry. BASF has also invested a lot of resources in this emerging field and is committed to leading the development direction of the industry and meeting the market’s demand for high performance, sustainable Urgent need for materials.
The following is the layout of some large companies in bio-based TPU:
Trinseo
Product: Bio-based TPU material Apilon™52 bio, its bio-based content can be as high as 64%, has good performance, and is suitable for applications such as shoe midsoles .
Covestro
Products: Desmopan®ec, a partially bio-based thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) series, was launched in January 2021. Up to 60% of the carbon content of the product comes from biomass, and the carbon footprint is reduced by more than 20% compared with fossil-based TPU. It is made of bio-based amber. acid and bio-based propylene glycol. During the Sixth China International Import Expo, its Desmopan® cqmbc mass-balanced bio-based TPU product series was applied to the rubber brushes and main wheels of Roborock Technology’s recycling concept smart sweeper. This solution contains 10%-15.4% ISCC plus Authoritatively certified renewable biomass raw materials .
Wanhua Chemical
Product: Wanthane® TPU ECO bio-based TPU products. In 2021, a casual shoe with a bio-based TPU sole was displayed. This series of products mainly covers two categories: injection molding and blown film, with the bio-based content up to 75%. In June 2022, a TPU product made of 100% bio-based raw materials was launched, using bio-based PDI made from corn straw. Additives such as rice bran wax are also sourced from non-food chain corn, castor and other renewable resources. It has excellent performance and can Used in shoes and clothing, films, consumer electronics, food contact and other fields .
Lubrizol
Product: Biotpu™ by Lubrizol bio-based TPU series, made of renewable materials, content between 30%-70%, has the same performance and advantages as traditional petroleum-based thermoplastic polyurethane, hardness range 82 Shore A to 55 Shore D does not vary. A 100% TPU concept shoe was launched on September 23, 2021, using Estane® Eco TPU, the flagship product in the series .
Huntsman
The Field to Foot (F2F) sneakers, which will be launched in late September 2021, use a bio-based polyurethane system specially developed by Huntsman, which contains by-products of agricultural processing. The bio-content of the polyurethane system ranges from 35% to 51%. The system Developed by Huntsman’s Belgian Footwear Center and based on Huntsman’s Daltoped®S polyurethane technology platform, it is a customized sole solution specially created for Keen .
Meirui New Materials
Product: TPU G series bio-based TPU, with a bio-based content of 25%-70%, has the characteristics of green environmental protection, short molding cycle, excellent elasticity, etc., and can be used in shoe materials, electronic products, automobiles, sports and leisure, and coating modification , films and other fields .
Daedong resin
Product: TPU resin G series bio-based TPU, containing more than 25% plant synthetic raw materials, similar to petrochemical-based TPU, has excellent toughness, mechanical strength, abrasion resistance, solvent resistance, and can be used in packaging materials, shoe materials, Automobiles, garments and other fields .
Korea Dongsung Chemical Co., Ltd.
In August 2022, a strategic partnership was established with the German UPM Biochemical Company to develop bio-based polyurethane materials for footwear, with the goal of developing a renewable polyurethane product based on UPM Biopura raw materials, which is manufactured by UPM Biochemical Company of bio-based monoethylene glycol .
Huafeng
Product: Serefon®, the first bio-based brand , extracts bio-based PDO from renewable industrial corn to replace the petroleum-based route. The entire shoe can be made of bio-based polyurethane, which reduces carbon and is easier to recycle. Shoes made of Serefon® can reduce carbon emissions by up to 70% and have passed the US USDA bio-based certification .
Taiwan Gaoding
The launched bio-based TPU product series has the same characteristics as traditional petroleum-based TPU. The bio-based content of the entire series of products is about 25%-48%. It can be used in textile lamination, shoe material applications, sports and leisure products, medical fields, Automotive industry, industrial supplies , etc.
Dupont
It has joined forces with Wanhua Chemical to launch bio-based TPU products, which are environmentally friendly and have excellent performance. Wanhua Chemical is the only TPU manufacturer in mainland China authorized to use DuPont’s trademark.
Hong Kong-based ultra and long distance running footwear experts, Mount to Coast, and BASF in Ludwigshafen, Germany, have formed a strategic partnership to explore high-performance, sustainable solutions for runners.
CircleCELL™ is an innovative midsole and the first footwear technology to emerge from this collaboration. Based on BASF’s new biopolymer ecoflex® BMB, the new midsole is 90% more durable and has the same energy return as midsoles made from polyether block amide (PEBA), a widely used material for high-performance running shoes.
Better than other midsole materials for density and rebound
In ecoflex® BMB, fossil raw materials are replaced by renewable raw materials at the beginning of the production process. Renewable raw materials from organic waste and residual biomass are assigned to the ecoflex® grade by a mass balance method certified by REDcert2 and ISCC PLUS. As a result, biomass-balanced ecoflex® helps Mount to Coast to increase the use of renewable raw materials in its unique Foam™ process, while maintaining the properties required for a high performance shoe, most importantly durability. BASF’s internal tests show that ecoflex® BMB outperforms other midsole materials in terms of density and resilience.
“We are committed to making shoes with sustainable materials and innovative processes without compromising the specific performance needs of ultra runners,” said Yeti Zhang, Product Lead for Mount to Coast. “BASF has been a key partner in supporting our product development teams and helping us find ways to balance durability and sustainability. Their creativity in taking proven technology from one industry and applying it to new areas, such as footwear, is inspiring. And in line with our goal to bring new performance solutions to the running community, we are excited to continue our partnership with a world-renowned company that is driving the advancement of biopolymers.
Marcel Philipp Barth, Head of Global Business Management Biopolymers at BASF, added: “Since ecoflex® entered the plastics market in 1998, customers from many different industries have come to appreciate its consistently high quality, performance and the sustainability benefits it brings to their products. We are excited to bring BASF’s expertise in circularity and renewable resources to new applications and to inspire customers to think about new applications using our biopolymers. We look forward to it. Written with Mount to Coast To further explore this path in the footwear industry, they can rely on our local application support and our proven ability to continuously improve the footwear materials available worldwide.
Ecoflex® BMB is therefore a perfect fit with BASF’s pioneering footwear solutions and in-depth expertise across the entire value chain to cost-effectively produce lighter, more comfortable and more durable footwear.