[pageLogInLogOut]

#Textiles & Apparel / Garment

The Mass Balance TPU from Covestro's Changhua site advances Chaei Hsin's shoe materials to its circular goal

© 2022 Covestro
Covestro’s Changhua and Shenzhen sites have obtained ISCC Plus certification for mass balance production in the first and second half of 2022, respectively, striving to support the circular aims of their clients, and the first order came to the Changhua site from its long-term value chain partner-Chaei Hsin.

With the new CQ (Circular Intelligence) solution for TPU, Chaei Hsin has upgraded both it’s TPU film series and sport footwear Joniro® with the new recylable material without needing to change any product designs or manufacturing techniques. This solution has not only solved the pain points of Chaei Hsin but has also improved its contribition to the circular economy, and most importantly, the solution can be produced in Taiwan and Mainland China, conveniently supporting all Covestro’s clients in APAC.

  • The Changhua Site has obtained ISCC Plus certification in this April for mass balance production
  • Covestro has supported its client in Taiwan, Chaei Hsin, to reach the circular goal with a more sustainable TPU solution, maintaining the product quality while applying bio-based recycled materials to existing production lines without technical modification

Covestro is aiming to become fully circular, and also encourages its value chains to be part of the circular ecomony, one of which is Chaei Hsin. Covestro’s Changhua site produces TPU applied on footwear, bags, eletronics, medical devices, apparel, sport gears, and climbing gears. Chaei Hsin has been dedicated to the prosperous footwear industry in Taiwan for past years, and now creates its own brand, Joniro®, with the target of becoming the leading brand using recycled shoe materials in Asia. To achieve this goal, Chaei Hsin has tried many approaches to producing sustainable materials, however, those solutions all failed due to high increase in costs, emissions, and defect rates, impeding its pursuit of a circular economy. Luckily, Covestro’s ISCC Plus certified mass-balance TPU solution, made with Desmopan® CQ and Utechllan® CQ, was the answer. It can be directly integrated into current production processes without technical modifications, and delivers identical physical properties and performance quality. This solution helped Chaei Hsin raise productivity and meet the market needs efficiently.

The Desmopan® CQ and Utechllan® CQ series offer exceptional resistance to hydrolysis, radiation, oil grease, abrasion, solvents, and weathering, which provides excellent surface protection for Chaei Hsin's sports shoe brand, Joniro®, assisting Chaei Hsin to satisfy high customer demands for more personalized, comfortable, sustainable shoes, sharpening the brand's competitive edge in the consumer market, and also decreasing the environmental impact. “Covestro is our our long-term and trusted partner. We are pleased to now also use the new, more sustainable materials to protect our environment. Covestro's mass-compatible TPU solution has effectively solved our current challenges, and we can't wait to use more of Covestro's more sustainable materials to further transform our product portfolio.”

Said Wang Shuimu, General Manager of Chaei Hsin.



The mass balance approach is now widely used in many of Covestro’s sites located in Europe and the APAC region. In mass balancing, bio-based raw materials are used and this saves fossil raw materials and reduces greenhouse gas emissions, while the product quality remains the same compared to purely fossil-based ones. Dr. Carsten Wildebrand, Managing Director of Covestro Taiwan added,“Covestro’s Changhua site, which is the largest TPU production site in the APAC region, had obtained ISCC Plus certification for the mass-balance approach earlier this year, and we are expecting to introduce more sustainable raw materials to the fields of IT, electronics, shoes, films, and medicals in the innovative APAC market. “

Alec Yang, Head of TPU Sales and Market Development Taiwan & ASEAN of Covestro also added,“ Alternative and bio-based materials for fossil-based products are what Covestro is looking for and aiming to. We are happy that our solution takes clients one step closer to their ambition of joining the circular economy. By doing this we are also contributing to the zero emission in scope 3. We are looking forward to more cooperation with our clients, together making the world a brighter place.”



More News from Covestro AG

#Techtextil 2026

Covestro to exhibit solutions for a more sustainable and productive textile industry at Techtextil 2026

Covestro will present a broad portfolio of material innovations for textile coatings, adhesive films and thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPUs) at Techtextil 2026 (Hall 11.0, Booth C79). The exhibits will demonstrate how advanced solutions can enhance durability, recyclability and manufacturing efficiency across applications such as automotive, infrastructure, protective apparel and sportswear. A particular focus will be on more sustainable coating technologies, including antimicrobial systems based on INSQIN® in combination with AGXX from Heraeus Precious Metals, as well as the integration of Pontacol® thermoplastic adhesive films into Covestro’s offering.

#Technical Textiles

Covestro showcases monomaterial concept in autonomous SUE People Mover

UE | STUDIOS has unveiled the fully autonomous electric minibus “Self-driving Urban E-Shuttle” (SUE), placing strong emphasis on sustainable material design. Developed within a project funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE) and the European Union, the vehicle will begin public road testing this year. At the core of the concept is the consistent use of recyclable monomaterials to improve circularity at end of life.

#Textile chemistry

Covestro and Heraeus Precious Metals collaborate to enable safer, more sustainable antimicrobial textile coatings

Laboratory tests reveal that AGXX antimicrobial surface technology from Heraeus Precious Metals is fully compatible with Impranil® PU dispersions which are part of the waterborne INSQIN® textile coating technology from Covestro, paving the way for more sustainable antimicrobial textile coatings. This discovery comes at a key moment for the textile coatings industry. As the sharing economy continues to grow, more people are coming into regular contact with high-use surfaces, creating ideal conditions for bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms to thrive.

#Textile chemistry

Covestro celebrates decade of innovation and sustainable growth

Covestro celebrates its 10-year anniversary today. Since its carve-out from Bayer in 2015, the company has developed into a global leader in high-performance polymer materials and a pioneer in circular economy solutions. With a strong focus on innovation and sustainability, Covestro’s materials are now embedded in countless applications worldwide – from mobility and construction to electronics, healthcare, and consumer goods.

More News on Textiles & Apparel / Garment

#Sustainability

Practical toolkit to drive coordinated climate action launched

An open-access workshop toolkit enables brands, suppliers, policymakers and investors across the textile industry to apply the System Map in their own work, identifying leverage points to halve emissions and enable a just transition.

#Textiles & Apparel / Garment

YKK launches “YZiP® Light” aluminum alloy zipper for cotton pants

YKK Corporation (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Koichi Matsushima; hereafter, YKK) has launched YZiP® Light, a lightweight aluminum alloy zipper for cotton pants, with sales beginning in late March. The introduction of YZiP® Light expands YKK’s zipper portfolio—led by the flagship YZiP® copper alloy zipper—providing customers with greater flexibility to meet diverse garment needs.

#Textiles & Apparel / Garment

Coats to showcase innovative reinforcement and filler materials for leather goods and accessories at APLF 2026

Coats, a world-class Tier 2 manufacturer and trusted partner for the apparel and footwear industries, will be promoting four advanced materials from its ‘Lifestyle Solutions’ portfolio at APLF 2026 in Hong Kong in March. Each innovation has been specifically engineered to help luxury and premium brands elevate the craft, durability, sustainability and creative expression required in the manufacturing of handbags, purses, and other high-end designer accessories.

#Textiles & Apparel / Garment

Design, innovation and sustainability propel VIATT 2026’s expanding role in ASEAN textile sourcing

At its third edition, the Vietnam International Trade Fair for Apparel, Textiles, and Textile Technologies (VIATT) further reinforced its role as a key sourcing and business platform for ASEAN’s textile industry. The three-day fair welcomed over 17,000 visits from 54 countries and regions, and featured over 460 exhibitors from 21 countries and regions across 18,000 sqm. The 2026 edition was marked by the introduction of new international pavilions and zones, broadening the fair’s sourcing scope across new geographies and product categories. The fringe programme, headlined by the debut Trend Forum, further distinguished VIATT as the region’s most integrated textile trade platform – uniquely spanning the entire value chain.

Latest News

#Raw Materials

New study shows low environmental impact by Cotton made in Africa Organic Cotton from Tanzania

Today, the Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF) is announcing the results of a comprehensive life-cycle analysis (LCA) for cotton produced in Tanzania under the Cotton made in Africa Organic (CmiA Organic) standard. The study emphasises the small ecological footprint of CmiA Organic verified cotton. This can largely be traced back to the absence of synthetic pesticides, artificial fertilisers, and artificial irrigation. Consequently, CmiA Organic cotton can help the textile industry meet regulatory requirements as well as science-based targets. The results also show that the consequences of climate change threaten the livelihoods of these cotton farmers, even though the type of agriculture they practise barely contributes to climate change.

#Raw Materials

Better Cotton Initiative strengthens regenerative focus in standard update

The Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) has strengthened the regenerative focus of its field-level standard with the launch of a new version of its Principles & Criteria (P&C), which marks the next step in the organisation’s journey to becoming a regenerative standards system.

#Man-Made Fibers

Selenis and Kintra Fibers partner to scale 100% bio-based synthetic fiber technology

Selenis, a leading global specialty polyester manufacturer, today announced a strategic manufacturing partnership with materials science company Kintra Fibers to scale Kintra’s patented fiber-grade PBS resin - a 100% bio-based and biodegradable material designed for textile applications.

#Functional Fabrics

PERFORMANCE DAYS proves its relevance as the industry’s key meeting point

Held on March 18–19, 2026, PERFORMANCE DAYS once again confirmed its position as a leading international platform for functional textiles. A total of 3.366 trade visitors and around 560 exhibitors gathered in Munich, with the event already kicking off successfully on DAY 0, which received highly positive feedback for its interactive format. Despite challenging conditions caused by the public transport strike in Munich, the event saw strong attendance and a consistently high level of activity across both exhibition days.

TOP