Outdoor apparel brand Vaude and UPM Next Generation Renewables have received the 2026 Ernst Pelz Award for their wood-based fleece jacket, which showcases the use of renewable materials in textile products.

The award recognises projects that promote the development and use of renewable raw materials. According to Vaude, the wood-based polyester used in the fleece jacket is compatible with existing manufacturing processes, making it easier to scale production without major changes to current production systems.

“With our fleece jacket made from wood-based polyester, we are demonstrating that renewable raw materials can be a genuine alternative to fossil-based materials,” said René Bethmann, Innovation Manager at Vaude. “Innovations like this are only possible through strong partnerships across the entire value chain.”