Sustainability in Soccer

The top global soccer tournaments attract more than just the best athletes. Equipment suppliers like Adidas, Nike and Puma are also very much present. And not least because it is nowadays jersey sales that move the revenue needle for sporting goods manufacturers. As for how much, it all depends how far the respective teams get in the tournament.

The direct sales effect at the Euro tournament outweighs that of the Olympics, for example, since fans buy jerseys for their favorite teams. They also buy a new one every single tournament, which does very little for sustainability credentials.

Even so, baby steps in certain areas are prompting a rethink. The English third division team Forest Green Rovers, for example, play in shirts that are partly made from coffee waste. Many Bundesliga clubs make their shirts from recycled polyester, most of which is sourced from PET bottles.

PUMA Group is adopting a novel approach with its Re:Fibre program. “Our goal is a sustainable, long-term recycling solution to diminish textile waste,“ states Howard Williams, Director of Global Innovation Apparel & Accessories.

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Using Natural Substances to Combat Microbes on Surfaces

Microbes on medical products represent a considerable health risk. Surfaces are therefore often treated with antibacterial additives. However, many of the additives used until now are subject to health concerns or should not be used for environmental reasons. An alternative is to use polymers functionalized with natural substances.

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Microsystems Rethought

Substrates for microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) are usually made of silicon, ceramic or glass. However, with the Ensinger GmbH Microsystems Technology (EMST), the tiny helpers can be produced much easier. Lithography in the cleanroom becomes obsolete. Instead, extremely fine structures are implemented during injection molding of the polymer wafer and metallically functionalized. This allows for meeting individual requirements – also in terms of system integration.

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What's new?

• STADLER Anlagenbau GmbH , Germany, has designed and built a state-of-the-art lightweight packaging sorting plant for public enterprise Vaersa in Alzira, Spain. Read more
• Flexible, disposable plastic films used in shopping or garbage bags are made mainly from petroleum-based low-density polyethylene (LDPE). These films, however, come with a large carbon footprint and contribute to environmental pollution. A team from the Fraunhofer-Institut für Angewandte Polymerforschung IAP has now developed a flexible and recyclable plastic film material based on polylactide (PLA) bioplastic. Read more
• Starlinger & Co reports positive results for the fiscal year 2023/2024: The globally active mechanical engineering company has achieved the highest turnover in the company‘s history to date at just under EUR 400 million – a doubling of turnover since 2016. Read more
• Neste and Mitsubishi Corporation have agreed on a strategic partnership focusing on developing value chains for renewable chemicals and plastics for and with Japanese brands. Read more