Keel Labs’ Post

We are beyond excited to see such engagement and excitement as we showcased innovative circular and bio-based materials in our Material Lab and Circular Experience at ISPO Munich 2024.   The Circular Experience was all about algae, showcasing its lifecycle from natural ecosystems, through its cultivation in the lab, to high-performing materials and products all the way to its end of life. We featured pioneering innovations from material designers, research projects, startups and companies available in the market. We showcased Keel Labs' Kelsun fiber made from seaweed, revoltech's new leather alternative material MATTR, Algaeing's dyes and inks, and a running shoe made from algae-based fibers from BIOTEXFUTURE, a joint research project from adidas and RWTH Aachen. One highlight certainly was the symbiotic swimsuit with bioluminescent algae designed by Bio Crafted and inspiring design works such as Carbogem, a concrete alternative made of microalgae, shells and oysters or fabrics dyed from algae-extracted pigments by Anna Cain.  In the Material Lab, visitors could explore a diverse range of biomaterial innovations and learn about their potential for circularity. We were happy to highlight promising innovations such as KUORI ’s biopolymer based on walnut shells and olive pits, Reselo's rubber polymer made from birch bark, St3ms fiber extracted from banana plant stem, Rheom Materials biopolymer resin and leather alternative based on bacterial processes, or leather alternatives based on mycelium, the root-like structure of fungi, developed by MYThings. And many more! We will compile more infos about all exhibitors and share them with you soon! Other highlights included several sessions on the Green Stage in the Sustainability Hub that Leonhard was moderating. He was speaking with Sarah Harbarth, Co-Founder of Kuori and François Delaunoy, CEO of Gecko Components, a spin-off of Decathlon Pulse, about their collaborative approach to bring bio-based materials into the sports industry. He was discussing the complexities of Supply Chain Transparency with Nick Allen, Director of Transparency at Patagonia, Bettina Roth, Head of Quality Management at VAUDE, Barbara Oswald Bader, bluesign technologies ag and Philipp G. Mayer, Co-Founder of Retraced, and finally with Josefin Larsson, Co-Founder at Reselo, Fred Dennis, Co-Founder at ESG Brands and Nicole Espey, Project Management at BIOTEXFUTURE, about current challenges and breakthroughs of circular materials in sports. A big thanks to the ISPO Team, Alexandra Denker, Anna Bachem, Lena Haushofer, Veronika Gstoettl, Christoph Rapp, Tobias Gröber; Anna Rodewald and Cira Riedel from GreenroomVoice; Tim Hempel from meplan GmbH, and to our exhibitors who were on site with us, we are excited about the great vibe that you all contributed to. And of course, a big thanks to the Studio Nima team for the exceptional work the last couple of weeks Jana Maria Pichler, Elisabeth Harwardt and Szimona Zaharieva 🙌