BASF's Ultramid ZeroPCF PA6 used in VAUDE backpack

BASF’s Ultramid ZeroPCF, a polyamide (PA) 6 with zero product carbon footprint (PCF), is used in the new TRAILCONTROL ZERO 20+ bike backpack from VAUDE, a leading manufacturer of sustainable outdoor clothing and equipment.

Frank Reil, Marcel Schmitt (both from BASF) and René Bethmann (from VAUDE) with the new TRAILCONTROL ZERO 20+ bike backpack.

For the production of Ultramid ZeroPCF, BASF uses renewable electricity from the Hollandse Kust Zuid offshore wind farm in the Netherlands, and attributes biomethane and bio-based feedstock from used cooking oil instead of fossil raw materials. The methodology follows an ISCC+ certified mass balance approach.

“Thanks to all these measures and the benefits we derive from the efficient production methods of our BASF Verbund, we are reducing the CO2 footprint of the polyamide to zero,” says Marcel Schmitt, Global Strategic Marketing, Polyamide 6 at BASF.

In October 2024, BASF announced the expansion of its polyamide product portfolio to include Ultramid LowPCF and Ultramid ZeroPCF variants. The VAUDE bike backpack is the first product to use Ultramid ZeroPCF.

“With this flagship project, we want to stimulate discussions about how materials with a carbon footprint of zero can contribute to climate neutrality,” adds René Bethmann, Senior Material Innovation Manager at VAUDE.

BASF will present the VAUDE backpack and the broad polyamide product portfolio based on the “Choose to reduce” approach at K 2025.