UPM and VAUDE present first fleece jacket made of lignin-based polyester

UPM
Biochemicals and outdoor apparel company VAUDE present the world’s first fleece jacket made of lignin-based polyester at the ISPO Munich 2023 sports trade show. The partnership between the two companies is part of an effort to find more sustainable solutions for textiles, as the fashion and footwear industries work to reduce their reliance on fossil materials.

The jacket is made from bio-based chemicals, with around 60% of all materials currently used in the fashion industry coming from fossil polymers.

René, Senior Innovation Manager at VAUDE
Bethmann said: “Producing outerwear made from bio-based chemicals is part of our shift towards the use of renewable materials in the textile and clothing value chain. We hope that 90% of all our products will be bio-based or have more than 90% recycled content.
50%. ”

UPM’s bio-based solution UPM BioPura™ replaces traditional petroleum-derived monoethylene glycol (MEG) with new bio-based monoethylene glycol (BioMEG).

UPM’s €1.18 billion Leuna biorefinery in Germany will convert sustainably sourced certified hardwood into next-generation bio-based chemicals to facilitate the shift from fossil-based materials to renewable materials in various industries. René
Bethmann added in a press release: “We partnered with UPM because partnerships along the entire value chain are a prerequisite for strengthening sustainable innovation. This initial milestone marks our progress in creating polyesters with non-fossil-based ingredients. The first step in the journey.”

Michael, Vice President of UPM
Duetsch added: “We recognize that the fashion and footwear industries face serious challenges and need to find more sustainable solutions for the textiles and materials used in their products. The first bio-based fleece jacket now launched is a response to this A milestone in the challenge that we hope will encourage brands to switch to more sustainable bio-based alternatives and accelerate the sustainable transformation of the textile industry.”