Breaking News! BASF's Two New Collaborations Let Diapers and Shoe Materials "Turn Waste into Treasure"?

On December 11, BASF signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Taiwan with Samyang Chemical Co., Ltd. (referred to as "Samyang Chemical") and Lichia Advanced Materials Co., Ltd. (referred to as "Lichia Advanced Materials"). The three parties will collaborate to develop sustainable solutions for the footwear industry, focusing on thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) products, to support the shared goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

The first milestone of this collaboration is the launch of a TPU film certified by the Global Recycled Standard (GRS). This product combines excellent performance with eco-friendly attributes, allowing footwear brands to use recycled materials without compromising quality and durability. It helps partners expand their product offerings and launch GRS-certified products that meet international recycling standards, bringing innovative solutions to global brands and consumers. It is reported that GRS is an internationally recognized certification system used to verify the use of recycled content in products. It provides a reliable framework for tracking the recycled material content throughout the supply chain, ensuring transparency and integrity in the entire process.

This collaboration fully leverages the professional strengths of all parties involved: BASF, as one of the world's leading chemical companies, has a profound expertise in sustainable materials, specialty materials, and applications; Sanfang Chemical, since its establishment in 1973, has been deeply engaged in the research and development of key raw materials and innovative application technologies, focusing on promoting environmentally friendly products in the circular economy field (such as recycled polyester polyols); and Liji Advanced Materials specializes in high-performance soft films, possessing advanced manufacturing capabilities and deep insights into the footwear market.

In the future, the three parties will rely on technological innovation, resource integration, and strict quality control to jointly promote the large-scale application of recycled materials in the footwear materials and related application fields, thereby laying a solid foundation for the sustainable development of the footwear industry.

Breakthrough in Medical Waste Recycling: Gasification Technology Achieves Resource Utilization of Diaper Waste

On the same day, BASF announced in Ludwigshafen, Germany, that it is partnering with Essity, a global leader in hygiene and health, and the Vienna University of Technology (TU Wien) to undertake an innovative recycling project for absorbent hygiene products (AHP). This groundbreaking gasification pilot project demonstrates that used diapers and other absorbent hygiene products can be converted into valuable raw materials for new chemical products, without the need for complex pretreatment processes.

This achievement is the result of the innovative gasification technology jointly developed by BASF and Vienna University of Technology. Gasification is a process that converts solid waste, such as diapers, into gas at high temperatures above 600°C. Through this process, diaper waste can be treated harmlessly and transformed into high-quality raw materials that meet the standards of primary resources. The resulting mixed gas contains carbon monoxide and hydrogen, which can be used as raw materials for chemical production, achieving carbon recycling.

This breakthrough not only addresses a major category of waste treatment challenges but also opens up new possibilities for a circular economy in the chemical and sanitation fields. This scalable solution is expected to reshape urban waste management models, helping clients achieve ambitious sustainability goals and providing a new pathway for the disposal of diaper waste. BASF's unique production network can support the use of recycled materials, offering clients products that combine sustainability with high performance.