{"id":12902,"date":"2026-04-08T12:20:35","date_gmt":"2026-04-08T12:20:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/plasticseurope.org\/pl\/?post_type=pe_case_study&#038;p=12902"},"modified":"2026-04-08T12:20:35","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T12:20:35","slug":"covestro-and-vaude-join-forces-to-create-a-non-gmo-bio-based-foam-midsole-for-new-eco-trail-shoe","status":"publish","type":"pe_case_study","link":"https:\/\/plasticseurope.org\/pl\/case-studies\/covestro-and-vaude-join-forces-to-create-a-non-gmo-bio-based-foam-midsole-for-new-eco-trail-shoe\/","title":{"rendered":"Covestro and VAUDE join forces to create a non-GMO bio-based foam midsole for new eco trail shoe"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-large-font-size\">VAUDE\u2019s vision is to have 90% of products made from 50% bio-based or recycled materials by 2024.&nbsp;They plan to achieve this by finding eco-friendly alternatives to petroleum-based materials, increasing the use of recycled and natural fibres such as hemp and organic cotton, and using bio-based plastics from fully non-GMO (genetically modified organism) sources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer is-style-small\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>A previous successful collaboration between Covestro and VAUDE (the German outdoor gear and footwear manufacturer) resulted in the use of bio-based thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU) on TRK Skarvan hiking boots. Covestor\u2019s Desmopan\u00ae EC bioplastic TPU solution provided toe cap protection against rocks on the forefoot and added rear stability through the heel counter.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/plasticseurope.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/VAUDE-2-2-1024x456.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4008 size-full\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-satsuma-color has-text-color\">From hiking boots to outdoor trail shoes \u2013 the new challenge<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Although TPU is often found in the midsoles of active footwear, it was a challenge for VAUDE to find a non-GMO sourced feedstock for TPU which could retain the functionality required for that part of the shoe. A midsole requires a range of hardness and softness as well as abrasion protection.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">From Theory to Practice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Together with Vaude, Covestro identified and tested a start-up raw material supplier, Metabolic Explorer, which is able to supply bio-based 1,3 PDO (propanediol), a building block in the production of polymers derived from palm oil. With the non-GMO raw materials from Metabolic Explorer, the entire bio-based feedstock in the Desmopan\u00ae EC 33000 series is now sourced from a non-GMO stream. This provides the same status to the VAUDE midsole component, which features a 53% bio-based plastics foam blend.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">No compromise on quality and design<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-sky-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><strong>\u2022 Non-GMO bio-based:<\/strong>&nbsp;Desmopan\u00ae EC 33000 TPU offers non-GMO bio-based chemical feedstock.<br><strong>\u2022 Low-carbon:<\/strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;EC range reduces the carbon footprint by more than 20% compared to fossil TPU.<br><strong>\u2022 Highly durable:<\/strong>&nbsp;Desmopan\u00ae EC TPUs resist abrasion, oils, solvents and weathering.<br><strong>\u2022 Drop-in:&nbsp;<\/strong>&nbsp;Bio-based feedstocks work in existing processing systems with no new investment.<br><strong>\u2022 Collaborative:<\/strong>&nbsp;New bio-based chemical feedstock grades can be created with value chain partners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"explore-block_7f44ed6c67161dda530b9eb106bc3497\" class=\"explore-further\">\n  <div class=\"flex flex-col bg-mist-900 rounded-md mt-8 md:mt-28 md:w-1\/2 md:mr-auto\">\n    <div class=\"flex-1 relative p-6 md:px-10 md:py-8\">\n      <div class=\"absolute top-0 left-0 p-5 inline-block transform -translate-x-1\/2 -translate-y-1\/2\">\n      <\/div>\n      \n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Read more<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/solutions.covestro.com\/en\/highlights\/articles\/cases\/2021\/bio-based-midsole-vaude-hiking-shoes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">VAUDE bio-based midsole | Covestro AG<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer is-style-large\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About Covestro<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">With 2020 sales of EUR 10.7&nbsp;billion, Covestro is among the world\u2019s leading polymer companies. Business activities are focused on the manufacture of high-tech polymer materials and the development of innovative, sustainable solutions for products used in many areas of daily life. In doing so, Covestro is fully committed to the circular economy. The main industries served are the automotive and transportation industries, construction, furniture and wood processing, as well as electrical, electronics, and household appliances industries. Other sectors include sports and leisure, cosmetics, health and the chemical industry itself. At the end of 2020, Covestro has 33 production sites worldwide and employs approximately 16,500&nbsp;people (calculated as full-time equivalents).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>VAUDE\u2019s vision is to have 90% of products made from 50% bio-based or recycled materials by 2024.&nbsp;They plan to achieve this by finding eco-friendly alternatives to petroleum-based materials, increasing the use of recycled and natural fibres such as hemp and organic cotton, and using bio-based plastics from fully non-GMO (genetically modified organism) sources. A previous [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":12903,"template":"","case-topic":[57,60],"class_list":["post-12902","pe_case_study","type-pe_case_study","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","case-topic-obieg","case-topic-zrownowazone-uzytkowanie"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Covestro and VAUDE join forces to create a non-GMO bio-based foam midsole for new eco trail shoe - Plastics Europe PL<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/plasticseurope.org\/pl\/case-studies\/covestro-and-vaude-join-forces-to-create-a-non-gmo-bio-based-foam-midsole-for-new-eco-trail-shoe\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"pl_PL\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Covestro and VAUDE join forces to create a non-GMO bio-based foam midsole for new eco trail shoe - Plastics Europe PL\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"VAUDE\u2019s vision is to have 90% of products made from 50% bio-based or recycled materials by 2024.&nbsp;They plan to achieve this by finding eco-friendly alternatives to petroleum-based materials, increasing the use of recycled and natural fibres such as hemp and organic cotton, and using bio-based plastics from fully non-GMO (genetically modified organism) sources. 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