Bio-Based TPU Used in YKK’s 3D Composite Zipper Pull, Awarded 2026 Red Dot Design Award

YKK won the prestigious 2026 Red Dot Design Award in the product design category for its 3D composite zipper pull developed in collaboration with Variloom. Variloom is a company specializing in on-demand 3D printing and forming systems.

The Red Dot Design Award is annually judged by an international jury comprising approximately 40 experts, covering the three categories of Product Design, Brand and Communication Design, and Design Concepts.

3D composite zipper puller combines YKK's zipper manufacturing technology and Variloom'sBio-basedThermoplastic PolyurethaneTPUMaterials and digital manufacturing technologies, with core technologies including the recyclable materials and their ability to be directly 3D printed.

Variloom's approach bypasses traditional injection molding processes, eliminating the need for expensive mold investments and the high minimum order quantity requirements typically associated with them.

YKK stated that the solution allows brands to specify the shape, texture, installation method, color, and logo of the product without having to compromise as with traditional injection-molded components. The solution also supports small batch production, even for a single component. Both companies said that this small batch production method can be used for limited edition products, prototyping, and projects with special material selection requirements.

Raw material brands—that is, suppliers whose materials and technologies are applied to finished consumer products—typically focus more on competing in terms of performance and cost. Therefore, it is relatively rare for this level of the supply chain to win significant design awards.

Mr. Yasuhiro Sato, Vice President of the Product Strategy Division at YKK Global Sales Headquarters, stated: “This award recognizes YKK’s ongoing efforts to create new value—a commitment that is now highly acclaimed by the design community. Going forward, YKK will continue to combine technological expertise with innovative thinking to unlock new possibilities for people’s lives and contribute to the sustainable development of the textile industry.”

YKK also noted that the 3D composite zipper puller uses recyclable, bio-based TPU material, which aligns with its strategic direction towards a circular economy, especially in the context of increasing attention from regulatory bodies and brand owners on material inputs at every stage of the supply chain.