International compounding group HEXPOL TPE has developed a customised bio-based TPE from the Dryflex Green series for VAUDE.
VAUDE
Bicycle bottle from VAUDE runs on Dryflex Green TPE
The soft valve on the ‘Bike Bottle Organic’ from VAUDE uses biobased Dryflex Green Thermoplastic Elastomer from HEXPOL TPE.
The material is used on the bicycle bottle mouthpiece by the outdoor equipment manufacturer based in Baden-Württemberg, Germany.
With the ‘Bike Bottle Organic’, VAUDE has produced its first bicycle bottle developed from bio-based plastics.
Materials Manager at VAUDE Clément Affholder said: "For VAUDE, the idea behind the bicycle bottle was to shift reliance from fossil to renewable resources. We want to support a bio-based circular economy and improve the ecological footprint of an article that all frequent bikers need to have. Thanks to Dryflex Green TPEs, VAUDE was able to manufacture a technical component.”
The main challenge for HEXPOL TPE was to develop a suitable compound that meets the mechanical properties and processability requirements.
HEXPOL TPE’s Kathrin Heilmann said: “The Dryflex Green TPE compound, developed individually for VAUDE, is based on more than 34 per cent bio-based materials, it can be processed using conventional production methods, as a drop-in solution without the need for tool modification. The raw materials used meet requirements for food contact according to EU 10/2011 and FDA.”
These material properties in combination with the co-operation with HEXPOL TPE were the decisive factors for VAUDE.
Affholder added: “It is an important step forward that helps minimise the environmental impact of consumer goods and at the same time shows that renewable resources can be used in high-performance products.”