Performance Polymers
Uncover the unconventional:
When plastics meet sustainability
Throughout history, innovators have dared to think outside the box, experimenting with new ideas, pushing forward against the frontiers of science and technology, imagining design differently. For over a century, countless innovations in plastics have allowed the consumer goods space to thrive. From the development of magnetic tape in 1934, to disrupting a tableware design contest in 1963, to leveraging plastic to reduce automobile weight and improve efficiency, plastics have transformed everyday life everywhere.
The ideas that emerged during that time were truly disruptive, immutably shaping how we live. However, this unprecedented surge in creativity came with significant trade-offs. Even though plastics enable almost endless solutions, they also play a role in climate change through their manufacturing and in their environmental impact, such as plastics waste.
#ourplasticsjourney
Nevertheless, history continues to unfold in front of us, and it is imperative that newly developed plastics are met with an equal commitment to sustainability. This is what inspired BASF and #ourplasticsjourney, an initiative that speaks to every step of the product lifecycle: MAKE, USE and RECYCLE.
Through the three-fold #ourplasticsjourney prism, BASF collaborates with customers to explore new design pathways. From asking designers and students alike to combine their wildest ideas in a footwear design contest, or to develop a minimalist car, moving in the opposite direction of the modern-day trend toward more for more’s sake.
Footwear Design Contest
Our annual Footwear Design Contest, organized in partnership with Politecnico Calzaturiero in Padua, Italy, is an opportunity to see plastics meet sustainability. In 2020, participants were asked to create a shoe based on the theme, Fashion design in the sign of sustainability. All materials used in submissions were created with 100% renewable resources. During 2021’s competition, Reuse and Recycle, students and designers took things one step further: all submissions were required to use all recycled, non-new materials.
2022’s Footwear Design Contest highlighted the interaction between humans and machines. Cyber gave birth to futuristic shoe designs made of polyurethanes. Among the innovative entrants, the shoe sole made by designer Roberto Guzzonato recalls an infinite wheel, empowering movement. On top of the sole, students were asked to think out-of-the-box and submit creative designs. The winners got to see their unconventional ideas become reality: these selected designs were produced through BASF’s expertise and know-how in polyurethanes.
Citroen Oli
2022 was also the year for new sustainable vehicle concepts, with the unveiling of Citroen Oli. This unconventional all-electric prototype is a statement of what can be achieved when plastics meet sustainability. The result is a vehicle entirely made of recycled plastics and powered by a renewable energy source. The Oli’s minimalist aesthetic and approach is paving the way for refreshing and innovative designs throughout the industry.
Various automotive components have been radically reinterpreted, and it works: The vehicle’s exterior weight was considerably reduced, while at the same time seeing increased stability and durability. Combined with speed limited to 110 km/h (68 mph) and acceleration close to the classic 2CV model, this concept car gains a wider range than its predecessor through a significantly improved battery lifespan, demonstrating again that plastics can be a future-proof solution.
These are examples among many more. Along the journey, unconventional showcases are required to explore what can be done and go beyond the boundaries. They feed creativity into the longer endeavor to make plastics sustainable. Together, we can co-create innovative solutions and inspire others to join us on #ourplasticsjourney.