UPM and VAUDE: First organic fleece jacket
UPM and VAUDE presented the future of textiles at ISPO Munich 2023 with the first organic fleece jacket made from wood-based polyester
The world’s first fleece jacket made from wood-based polyester was presented by UPM Biochemicals e VAUDE at ISPO Munich 2023, the world’s largest sports trade show, where the global sports business community comes together to share perspectives and shape the future of the industry sector. UPM and VAUDE have collaborated closely to produce outerwear made from organically sourced chemicals to demonstrate that the shift to renewable materials in textiles is already possible today.
“We recognize the daunting challenge faced by the fashion and footwear industries to find more sustainable solutions for the fabrics and materials used in their products. Today’s launch of the first bio-based fleece jacket represents a milestone in meeting this challenge, enabling fashion industry leaders to act now and move beyond fossil-based materials,” says Michael Duetsch, Vice President Biochemicals at UPM.
“VAUDE is a leader in developing sustainable products, addressing all aspects of sustainability, from longevity to repairability and alternative use options to truly responsible materials. This collaboration confirms the strong appeal of our new product portfolio for change players in the outdoor and sports industry, but not only. By building a unique biorefining business to offer a new generation of renewable bio-based materials, we can help global brands reduce their carbon footprint and defossilize their products.”
About 60 percent of all materials currently used by the fashion industry [1] are made of polymers of fossil origin. Although there is a need for synthetic polymers especially for high-performance materials, it is hoped that this prototype will inspire and motivate brands to move away from fossil-based materials for more sustainable bio-based solutions, accelerating the sustainable transformation of the textile industry.
The resin used to produce polyester contains 30 percent monoethylene glycol (MEG), traditionally derived from petroleum. In the UPM and VAUDE process, this ingredient will be entirely replaced with a new bio-monoethylene glycol (BioMEG). UPM BioPura is a drop-in solution that can be easily implemented in existing polyester manufacturing processes because it is identical to the currently used molecular-based MEG and can therefore be fed into corresponding recycling streams.
“We partnered with UPM because partnerships along the entire value chain are a prerequisite for promoting sustainable innovations. This initial milestone marks the first step in our journey to create a polyester derived from non-fossil ingredients,” adds RenĂ© Bethmann, Senior Innovation Director at VAUDE.
“Producing outerwear made with organically sourced chemicals is part of our shift to using renewable materials in the textile and apparel value chain: we want 90 percent of all our products to be organically sourced or have more than 50 percent recycled content.”
UPM is investing 1,180 million euros to build the world’s first industrial-scale biorefinery in Leuna, Germany. At Leuna, UPM will convert certified sustainably sourced hardwood into next-generation biochemical products that will enable the fundamental shift from fossil to renewable materials in a wide range of industries.
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