- Algae: The versatile organism of the future
- Hemp: The rediscovery of an ancient crop
- Walnut shells💟 and olive stones: waste becomes recyclable material
- Banana plants: fibers from plant residues
- Sugar cane: new raw material fo൲r elastane production
- Corn: raw material💫 for a new, biologically produced elasta🌠ne
- Birch😼 bark: Sustainable ruওbber alternative from forestry waste
- Wood, rapeseed and even more biological raw materials for bio-baꦬsed plastics
Materials technology is in a state of flux. In the search for plant-based alternatives to petroleum-based plastics and new circular solutions that turn waste into recyclable materials, materials research is currently showing impressive creativity. Around 25 start-ups, research institutes and established companies with innovative approaches presented their products in the Materials Lab of the Sustainability Hub at ISPO Munich. From new materials for textiles and hardware to food supplements and the aforementioned artificial turf, the range of new ideas was as diverse as the sports industry itself. "Our goal was to think broadly about the sports industry and reflect this diversity in the Materials Lab," explains Leonhard Nima, who curated the Material Lab area with his studio Nima. On display were both market-ready innovations and prototypes that are still in the laboratory stage and looking for production partners – but they all have one thing in common: they are at the forefront when it comes to sustainability.
Here are eight of the most e💙xciting new🐻 raw materials and the products made from them:
Algae are the fastest-growing orga🌠nism on Earth and require neither fertilizers nor pesticides, not even land. A whole range of exhibitors presented🦩 products based on algae. These include, for example, the fiber Algaetex, which is part of the “” research project by RWTH Aachen and Adidas. Using a prototype running shoe, the project demonstrated that thermoplastic biopolymers from algae are suitable for textile applications.
already works with over 100 well-known brand partners and offers algae-based plastics, e.g. for EVA midsoles and shoe soles. from Switzerland has deve💞loped the textile finish MiDori WA (With Algae) from microalgae oil, which wicks moisture away from the skin and accelerates evaporation. But dyes can also be extracted from algae, as can food supplements.
Hemp is considered a sustainable alternative to the traditional textile fiber cotton, because the plant requires little water and grows without the use of pesticides or﷽ chemical fertilizers. Compared to cotton, hemp consumes less land and resources and also grows very quickly in cooler climates, sꦦuch as Germany. is a German bast fiber manufacturer that has succeeded in producing a previously unrivaled fineness of hemp fibers. The fibers have a pleasant feel and are grown༒ entirely in Germany, with traceability to the farms of origin guaranteed. In order not to compete with food production, the hemp is mainly grown as a second crop, providing farmers with an additional income.
In particular, plant-based waste materials such as walnut shells and olive stones have captured the imagination of material designers. The Swiss company has developed and patented novel bio-based, biodegradable and elastic plastics. The granules can be seamlessly integrated into existing production processes in various industries, such as fashion, outdoor equipment and tools. Overall, the material has a product carbon footprint (PCF) that is potentially 60 percent lower than that of conventional🍨 plastics.
from the USA also works with vegetable waste from food production, optimizing🥂 waste recycling. The banana plant is used as a raw material, and after harvesting, the residues are converted into high performance natural fibers. These fibers are naturally strong and light, antimicrobial and fire resistant, without the use of chemicals. They can be used for a variety of nonwoven and compo🐭site applications in various industries.
Research laboratories and start-ups are not the only ones working on the sustainable transformation of the sports and textile industry. , a leading global fiber manufacturer, has developed a process for fermenting sugar from sugar cane with the company , which is to be used to produce elastane. The new Regen™ BIO Ela𝔍stane, which is to be produced in a newly built factory in Vietnam, is expected to reduce carbon emissions by up to 80 percent by 2026.
also uses sugarcane as a raw material to make foams that are used as foam cups in bras and swimwear, or as EVA foam for flip-flops and yoga mats. The patented Sugarcup™ foam technology contains up to 83 percent bio-based ingredients and reduces the carbon footprint by up to 71 percent. It also contains none of the harmful chemicals found in polyurethane foam and ca𝐆n be recycled - even with non-bio-base♓d EVA foams.
