Ready for a Circular Future: PU and TPU can be mechanically recycled. Together!
BASF and Ergon are lifting the recycling game on a higher level together!
SR Allroad Core Circular is the name of Ergon's latest bicycle saddle - which is completely out of BASF polyurethane (PU) materials (besides the saddle rail). Therefore, it can be recycled as one piece and used again for thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU)!
BASF made it possible: by developing a PU foam with thermoplastic properties - so it can be recycled together with TPU.
One bicycle saddle - one material family!
Have a look on the used polyurethanes
Designed for recycling: thermoplastic PU foam
BASF made it possible: a bicycle saddle which can be recycled as one - although it's only made out of PU materials!
The saddle is built like this: First comes the shell, which is made out of Elastollan® (TPU). The heart of the saddle is manufactured from Infinergy®, the world's first expanded thermoplastic polyurethane (E-TPU). Last but most revolutionary: the seat foam.
The seat foam is built from the PU foam Elastopan®. It has thermoplastic properties and processability, which enables a joint-recycling with TPU and E-TPU!
Although it isn't necessarily needed, the PU foam is covered with NovaCoat-D® to ensure a higher abrasion and therefore an even longer lifecycle. To guarantee a higher quality of the recyclate, the saddle goes completely without color pigments and covering. As soon as it is time to recycle, the saddle rail can be easily taken off by hand and the saddle could be recycled as one. The PU waste can then be used for manufacturing TPU again!
Elastollan®
- high stability and robustness
- takes the cyclist's weight
- reinforced by glass fibre
Infinergy®
- damping effect
- impact absorption
- light weight
- great durability
- high comfort
Elastopan®
- great damping effect
- additional cover not necessarily needed
- high comfort
- low abrasion
Have a look at the SR Allroad Core Circular from all sides:
The SR Allroad Core Circular was launched at the EuroBike 2023 in Frankfurt!
For those who weren't there: Our marketing manager and his colleague show and explain you the new saddle at Ergon's booth! Let's have a closer look at the separate parts:
