German shoe firm Vaude takes first step with TPU

Reverdia has supplied Biosuccinium, a 100 per cent biobased succinic acid, as raw material for the TPU used in a new range of sustainable footwear.

The material was used by German footwear brand, Vaude, for a new trekking shoe with a high end design,  which was unveiled at the OutDoor 2017 show in Friedrichshafen, Germany.

Oliver Korden, Vaude’s Head of Footwear, said: “With the Spring Summer 2018 Collection, we have taken a big step toward becoming the most sustainable provider of functional outdoor and bike shoes.”

This is the first time the German outdoor brand has used a bio-based thermoplastic polyurethane for toe caps and heel counters. Vaude was the first outdoor company to receive certification under the EU's Eco-management and Audit Scheme (EMAS). It now seeks to reduce dependency on oil by replacing conventional materials with sustainable bio-based alternatives.

Marcel Lubben, President of Reverdia, said: “Consumers can now find high-performance footwear which contains Reverdia’s bio-succinic acid on store shelves. This is a very exciting step for us, as it clearly demonstrates how Biosuccinium-based polyurethanes can support brands in these markets to meet customer demand for truly sustainable products.”