[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

#Smart Textiles

Covestro, FILK Freiberg, and OUT e.V. develop flexible, conductive polymer smart textile system

As the smart textiles market continues to grow across healthcare, personal protection, sportswear, and automotive applications, developers are seeking new ways to integrate electronic functionality directly into textiles, without the rigidity and complexity of conventional wiring. To address this challenge, FILK Freiberg Institute, an independent research institution with expertise in polymer coatings for textile applications, collaborated with Optotransmitter-Umweltschutz-Technologie (OUT) e.V. The joint project, funded under the German Industrielle Gemeinschaftsforschung (IGF) program of the Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie (BMWE), focused on developing flexible, conductive polymer surfaces for next-generation smart textiles.

#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.

More News on Textiles & Apparel / Garment

#Recycling / Circular Economy

Arc'teryx introduces System 0™, a new framework for the future of product design and circularity

Arc'teryx Equipment, the global design company specializing in technical high-performance apparel and equipment, today introduced System 0™, a new framework that reimagines how products can be designed, manufactured, used, repaired, and ultimately regenerated. System 0 represents the next evolution for sustainability in the outdoor industry, as it embeds circular thinking across an entire product lifecycle while maintaining the uncompromising performance standards that define the Arc’teryx brand.

#Textiles & Apparel / Garment

Texworld Apparel Sourcing Paris reflects shift towards more diversified sourcing

The latest edition of Texworld Apparel Sourcing Paris confirms the global reshaping of sourcing strategies. The offer is evolving to satisfy more selective buyers, looking for responsiveness, innovation and diversification in their sourcing options.

#Textiles & Apparel / Garment

YDC 2026 names winners in Hong Kong

The Hong Kong Young Fashion Designers’ Contest 2026 (YDC) has named its winners at the conclusion of CENTRESTAGE in Hong Kong. Ten emerging local designers presented collections inspired by personal experiences and emotions, translating their ideas through distinctive tailoring, materials and craftsmanship.

#Fabrics

Texhibition Istanbul to bring together more than 500 exhibitors for 10th edition

The 10th edition of Texhibition Istanbul Fabric and Textile Accessories Fair will take place from 9 to 11 September 2026 at Istanbul Expo Center. More than 500 exhibiting companies across five halls and 42,850 square metres will present new-season collections, materials and technologies, bringing together Türkiye’s textile production strength with an increasingly international sourcing community.

Latest News

#Nonwovens

25 years in the room: EDANA’s OUTLOOK™ returns to Cascais to shape a changing industry

The market does not wait, and it does not grant easy answers. Across the absorbent hygiene, personal care, and wipes sectors, business is undergoing a period of intense, necessary adjustment. New European rules on packaging, single-use items, product safety, and end-of-life are forcing companies to drop old assumptions about materials and performance. At the same time, producers must keep their goods safe, reliable, and affordable for the babies and aging adults, who rely on them every day.

#Recycling / Circular Economy

Recover™ names Enes Adak and Fehmi Yüksel as Co-CEOs to accelerate its next growth phase

Recover™, a leading materials science company and global producer of consistent high-quality, recycled cotton fibers and circular material solutions at scale, today announced the appointment of Enes Adak and Fehmi Yüksel as Co-Chief Executive Officers. This leadership transition marks an important step in Recover’s evolution as the company enters its next stage of development.

#Research & Development

ADD-ITC 2026 highlights strong industry participation

The Aachen-Dresden-Denkendorf International Textile Conference (ADD-ITC) 2026 will place a strong focus on the exchange between textile research and industry when it takes place on November 26–27, 2026, at the International Congress Center Dresden. According to the preliminary conference program, more than two-thirds of all presentations will be contributed by companies or jointly presented by industry and research institutions.

#Recycling / Circular Economy

2. RETRAKT EU Conference - „Join the Circle“: Turning challenges of the textile sector into chances

On 19 November 2026, the second RETRAKT EU Conference – “Join the Circle” will take place in Brussels. The event, which focuses on the transformation of the textile sector towards a circular economy, will be held under the motto: “Turning Challenges in the Textile Sector into Chances.”

TOP