Mevaldi: Making Plastic Soles from Sawdust for Adidas Sneakers

Mevaldi produces plastic from sugars derived from plant waste, referred to as residual streams. In this case, the Limburg-based biotech company utilizes wood waste—specifically, sawdust.

A supplier extracts sugars from the sawdust and supplies them to Mevaldi, which then ferments the sugars—similar to brewing beer—and subsequently creates 3MPD, branded as Pentonext: a raw material for plastic that can be reused multiple times. Thus, it can be described as doubly sustainable. If there isn't enough wood sugar available, those sugars can also be sourced from sugar beet, corn, or other grains. Therefore, Mevaldi aims to work with multiple suppliers.

Worldwide with Adidas

The applications for 3MPD are numerous, says Mevaldi's Chief Commercial Officer Kristel de Ridder. "We don’t yet know all the potential uses. Therefore, we are continuously seeking new ideas."

It is already used in paint, adhesives, and shoe soles. The raw material is found in more expensive coatings and adhesives for industrial use. "So it’s not in the paint you apply to your walls at home, nor in craft glue," explains De Ridder.

3MPD can also be used to make elastomers for shoe soles. Mevaldi will collaborate with sports brand Adidas, which plans to manufacture the soles of its sneakers from it. De Ridder states, "We will grow together in this area. Producing shoe soles involves larger quantities and immediately addresses a significant international market."

Furthermore, the raw material is used for insulation material in residential construction and for recyclable foam in mattresses.

Mevaldi: An Exception Amidst Malaise

The startup is a proponent of green chemistry, which aims to create biobased raw materials for plastics without oil and with reduced CO2 emissions. However, this sector is currently struggling in the Netherlands. Green chemistry companies are facing the same setbacks as plastic recycling firms: cheap fossil plastics from China and the U.S. make them uncompetitive on price. As a result, investors are hesitant to invest, new innovations cannot be scaled, and some companies are even going bankrupt.

Amidst this malaise, Mevaldi stands out as a positive exception. The Dutch biotech company successfully completed a funding round in September, allowing it to scale up.

On the Path to Price Parity

Starting next year, Mevaldi aims to produce large quantities of 3MPD. The significant difference from recycled plastic and other biobased raw materials is that Mevaldi plans to offer this material at the same price as the fossil variant, thus being competitive in the market.