K 2025 Spotlights Carbon-Free, High-Performance Bike Backpack Innovation
K 2025 Spotlights Carbon-Free, High-Performance Bike Backpack Innovation
VAUDE, the outdoor apparel and equipment brand at the forefront of sustainable outdoor fashion and technology, introduces its groundbreaking partnership with BASF in creating the climate-friendly new TRAILCONTROL ZERO 20+ bike backpack. In its strategic integration of environmental responsibility and cutting-edge engineering, VAUDE uses BASF’s pioneering Ultramid ZeroPCF—a polyamide (PA) 6 with a zero Product Carbon Footprint (PCF)—to produce this next-generation bike backpack.
Ultramid ZeroPCF is not only a standard polyamide, but the very embodiment of carbon-neutral polymer science. It derives its zero-carbon status through a complete lifecycle strategy for sustainable production, wherein production runs on renewable electricity from the Hollandse Kust Zuid offshore wind farm, and biomethane and bio-based raw materials from used cooking oil displace fossil-based materials. This approach follows ISCC+ standards and is based on a certified mass balance system. The outcome is a material that has all the mechanical and visual characteristics of conventional polyamide 6 but far surpasses it in terms of environmental sustainability.
“Thanks to all these measures and the benefits we derive from the efficient production methods of our BASF Verbund, we are reducing the CO2 footprint of the polyamide to zero,” states Marcel Schmitt, Global Strategic Marketing, Polyamide 6 at BASF. The Verbund concept—BASF’s unique integrated production system—enhances resource efficiency by allowing by-products of one process to serve as raw materials in another, further minimizing waste and emissions.
This partnership between BASF and VAUDE not only represents a technological breakthrough but also illustrates the actionable steps companies can take toward climate neutrality. “With this flagship project, we want to stimulate discussions about how materials with a carbon footprint of zero can contribute to climate neutrality,” adds René Bethmann, Senior Material Innovation Manager at VAUDE. The brand has long been committed to environmentally responsible innovation and this collaboration reinforces that legacy.
The announcement follows BASF’s strategic October 2024 expansion of its polyamide portfolio to include Ultramid LowPCF and Ultramid ZeroPCF. These materials are a part of BASF Monomers division’s wider initiative to offer circular or PCF-reduced versions of all major product lines. This sustainable transition is integral to BASF’s long-term strategy for achieving net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050, aligning with global climate goals and industry expectations.
The VAUDE backpack will play a main role at the K 2025 International Trade Fair for Plastics and Rubber, scheduled from October 8 to 15, 2025, at Messe Düsseldorf. Under this event, BASF will highlight its “Choose to Reduce” strategy—showing customers and partners in industry how making the right material choice can reduce carbon emissions considerably without sacrificing on performance or product quality. The booth will feature BASF’s complete Ultramid portfolio, which now encompasses a series of climate-friendly polyamides for various applications in textiles, consumer products, automotive, and sports equipment.
This debut at K 2025 signifies a turning point for both companies—and, indeed, for the wider plastics and outdoor equipment industries—as they show that sustainability and high-performance materials need not, but should, go hand in hand. By embracing innovation, openness, and cooperation, the future is being rewritten—one carbon-neutral product at a time.
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