Material Lab & Circular Experience exhibition at ISPO Munich 2024
ISPO Munich is the world’s largest multi-segment trade fair in the sports business, with representatives from most major brands, suppliers, retailers and more. ISPO Munich 2024 gathered around 2,300 exhibitors and 55,000 visitors from around the world to explore groundbreaking innovations, tackle key challenges, and share best practices.
Studio Nima once again curated the Material Lab & Circular Experience exhibition at the Sustainability Hub, showcasing cutting-edge innovations in circular and bio-based materials, inspiring industry players, fostering synergies and raising essential questions about the future of sustainability in the sports industry.
The Circular Experience was all about algae, showcasing its lifecycle from natural ecosystems, through its cultivation in the lab, to high-performing materials and products all the way to its end of life. We featured pioneering innovations from material designers, research projects, startups and companies available in the market. We showcased Keel Lab’s Kelsun fiber made from seaweed, revoltech’s new leather alternative material MATTR, Algaeing’s dyes and inks, Beyond Surface Technologies’ green chemicals and a running shoe made from algae-based fibers from BIOTEXFUTURE, a joint research project from adidas and RWTH Aachen. One highlight certainly was the symbiotic swimsuit with bioluminescent algae designed by Bio Crafted and inspiring design works such as Carbogem, a concrete alternative made of microalgae, shells and oysters or fabrics dyed from algae-extracted pigments by Anna Cain.
In the Material Lab, visitors could explore a diverse range of biomaterial innovations and learn about their potential for circularity. We were happy to highlight promising innovations such as Kuori’s biopolymer based on walnut shells and olive pits, Reselo’s rubber polymer made from birch bark, St3ms fiber extracted from banana plant stem, Rheom’s biopolymer resin and leather alternative based on bacterial processes, or leather alternatives based on mycelium, the root-like structure of fungi, developed by MyThings.
The Material Lab & Circular Experience provided an inspiring platform for collaborations, which, now more than ever, is key in tackling global sustainability issues. By highlighting the huge potential of circular material innovations, the exhibition successfully sparked fresh ideas and conversations about the future of sustainability in sports. Check out the full overview of exhibitors below.
Circular Experience - Exhibitor Overview
Algaeing
Algaeing is the clean color company revolutionizing textiles with algae-powered technology. Its scalable, toxic-free, high-performance palette makes Algaeing the industry’s go-to color partner. Consisting of 30+ colors, and more in constant R&D, Algaeing Algadye™ and Algaink™ are certified toxic-free, built for scale, and designed for performance (SGS tested).
ALGAETEX - BIOTEXFUTURE
ALGAETEX, as part of BIOTEXFUTURE, aimed to demonstrate the technical feasibility of producing thermoplastic biopolymers from algae for textile applications. Within the project, various polymer synthesis pathways were explored. These novel biopolymers are melt-spun and converted into high-quality sport textiles demonstrators, such as knitted shoe uppers or T-shirts.
algenial
algenial® is a food supplement with natural astaxanthin from microalgae. They are the first German manufacturer of natural astaxanthin and guarantee a sustainable product with their latest generation glass tube systems and tight supply chains.
Anna Cain - Sugar and Slime
Sugar and Slime by Anna Cain is a design studio that researches organic materials and dyes, treating clothing as an extension of our skin and a factor of holistic well-being. They explore how crafting colors from plant matter can be used as a sustainable ritual to make personalized, one-of-a-kind items.
Beyond Surface Technology
Swiss based BST, founded in 2008, replaces petroleum-based materials used in textile surface effect chemicals. miDori® WA (With Algae) is designed to move moisture away from the skin to accelerate evaporation for better comfort. It is made from microalgae oil, a renewable raw material, and contains 100% certified biobased content with up to 80% lower carbon footprint than similar performing, synthetic wicking finishes.
Bio Crafted
An award-winning biodesign studio researching how we can live more symbiotically with nature. Inspired by corals’ symbiotic relationships, Bio Crafted has developed a contemporary living material which encapsulates bioluminescent micro-algae. This novel material lives for at least 6 months, emitting light in response to touch, and needing only sunlight in return.
Bloom Sustainable Materials
The creation of BLOOM materials results in the removal of over-abundant and harmful algae from our water, resulting in clean and oxygenated water being restored to the environment. BLOOM works with over 100 brand partners across multiple industries. BLOOM materials can be found in footwear, automotive, consumer products, sporting goods, and other applications where foams and rubbers are typically used.
Carbogem
CARBOGEM algae concrete by Clara Schmelter de Escobar is a novel concrete developed in collaboration with the Fraunhofer Institute. In the glass vessels above, you can see the 100% renewable materials used in CARBOGEM’s production. CARBOGEM’s biological process can rely entirely on renewable energy and sequesters CO2, potentially transforming the concrete into a carbon sink—turning carbon into gems.
Carolyn Raff Studio
Carolyn Raff Studio is an interdisciplinary design studio with a focus on the implementation of sustainability and circularity in design. They exhibited algae based, fully compostable biopolymer sheets, handmade in Germany with 100% solar energy. The sheets were dyed with spirulina, carmine, indigo, turmeric, coal or pomegranate dye in cooperation with several natural dye experts.
Fraunhofer IGB
Fraunhofer IGB develops processes, technologies and products for sustainable chemistry as well as the environment and climate protection. For this, they combine biology and engineering in order to contribute to a sustainable economy and an intact environment.
Keel Labs
Keel Labs is a next-generation material company harnessing the power of the ocean to create textile solutions. Their flagship product is KelsunTM fiber, a biobased material made from a biopolymer found in seaweed with applications across the textile industry. KelsunTM fiber is created by pairing seaweed biopolymers with Keel Labs’ proprietary biobased formulations to create a material that easily biodegrades at its end of life.
MySpirulina
MySpirulina is an innovative startup founded by four young entrepreneurs to revolutionize algae consumption. With the first self-sufficient Spirulina farm, they combine sustainability with delicious recipes, proving healthy living can be tasty. The Smart Spirulina Kit combines innovation and sustainability for effortless at-home cultivation.
revoltech
MATTR™ is revoltech’s latest breakthrough in sustainable materials, an algae-based material designed to offer a high-performance, sustainable alternative to traditional leather, crafted from algae to be biodegradable, toxin-free, and climate-positive. Its soft, flexible nature offers a perfect balance of comfort and durability, making it an excellent choice for industries like sportswear, fashion, and interiors.
Tanguy Mélinand
Tanguy Mélinand is a French fashion designer and artist, HEAD Geneva graduate. Passionate about materials, Tanguy experiments with all kinds of things to create innovative textiles to implement in his collections. He showcased his research and development on kelp leathers and his experimentation with drying, dyeing and fading on two specific specimens: Laminaria digitata and Saccharina latissima.
Material Lab - Exhibitor Overview
BIOTEXFUTURE
BIOTEXFUTURE is an innovation space funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research on biobased textile research. The project is led by the adidas AG and RWTH Aachen University. Three BIOTEXFUTURE projects were showcased; BIOTURF, an artificial turf structure made of bio-polyethylene (PE); FUNGALFIBERS’ textiles from chitosan fibers; and LIGHTLINING, demonstrating the potential of cellulose aerogel nonwovens.
Faborg
Faborg from South India is transforming the textile industry with WEGANOOL™, a plant-based fiber derived from Calotropis. Medicinal Calotropis is a remarkable drought-resistant pioneer plant that grows abundantly on depleted soils. Moreover, the residue from the fiber extraction and natural dyeing processes is repurposed into manure and an affordable insect repellent for farmers called AARKA CONCENTRATE™.
Felde Fibers
Felde Fibres, a German bast fibre producer, sets new standards with premium elementary hemp fibres. This innovative quality offers unmatched fineness, handfeel, and appearance, unlocking new applications and reviving the overlooked hemp plant. Grown entirely in Germany with traceability to origin farms, Felde Fibres’ hemp is primarily cultivated as a secondary crop, providing farmers additional income while ensuring top-quality fibres.
Hyosung
Hyosung is a leading global fibre manufacturer, uniquely producing world-class products across Elastane, Nylon and Polyester. Geno’s process ferments sugars from sugarcane simply and effectively: sugarcane > sucrose > fermentation > Bio-BDO. The switch to sugarcane-based Bio-BDO reduces energy use, CO2 emissions, and enhances overall efficiency, aligning with Hyosung’s commitment to sustainable innovation.
Kuori
Waste turns Materials – Kuori’s materials are designed to substitute traditional plastics. They leverage food byproducts, such as olive pits and walnut shells to produce novel bio-based, biodegradable, and elastic materials that are kind to earth and high performing. Their granules are particularly suitable for industries such as outdoor equipment, footwear, and automotive, where sustainable materials are increasingly in demand.
The LYCRA Company
The LYCRA Company – known for its innovative fiber and fabric solutions – has teamed up with Qore® to enable the world’s first large-scale commercial production of bio-derived spandex. Soon nearly 70 percent of the LYCRA® fiber content by weight will be derived from dent corn, an annually renewable feedstock, helping to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions.
MY-THINGS Corp.
MY-THINGS is a biotech startup that offers mycelium-based sustainable materials for brands and manufacturers, enabling them to access eco-friendly materials at reasonable prices and reduce their carbon footprint significantly. MYTHINGS’s mycelium-based vegan leather is a sustainable, high-quality alternative to traditional leather.
Reselo
Reselo has developed a patented technology to produce Reselo Rubber, a 100 % biobased elastomer made entirely from birch bark – a waste stream of the forest industry. Reselo Rubber has potential to replace fossil-derived rubbers in various applications, such as footwear, fashion, automotive and tires.
Rheom Materials
Derived from bacterial fermentation, minerals, and plant-based matter, Rheom creates innovative materials that seamlessly replace fossil fuel plastics. Shorai™, a 92% biobased leather alternative, is perfect for outdoor bags, footwear uppers, and gloves. Benree™, a 100% biobased resin, plugs into injection molding, matching petrochemical plastic performance with low carbon impact, ideal for sustainable replacements for sunglasses and fashion trims.
sugarcup
The sugarcup™ patented foam technology is made from renewable material, contains up to 83% biobased content, reduces the CO2 footprint up to 71% and does not contain harmful chemicals found in polyurethane foam. sugarcup™ is available in many styles including swim cups, removable cups, sports bra, t-shirt bra, push up bra, and more.
St3ms
St3ms™ transforms underutilized banana plant waste into high-performance fibers, optimizing waste while producing clean drinking water as a byproduct. Naturally strong and lightweight, antimicrobial and fire resistant without the use of any chemicals. It can be tuned for a variety of non-woven and composite applications such as automotive, equipment, construction, and home goods.