Environmental protection without borders
At the 2025 Shanghai LUXE PACK exhibition, one Chinese eco-leather product captured global attention—Yongyufeng’s PureMax™ TPE. Made from discarded cables with 90% GRS-certified recycled content, it won the prestigious Green Revolution Award—the first time this honor went to a Chinese company—and signaled the arrival of Chinese sustainable materials on the world stage.
1. What Is PureMax™ TPE?
PureMax™ TPE is Yongyufeng’s proprietary thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) recycled leather product line. TPE combines rubber-like elasticity with plastic processability. Yongyufeng’s innovation lies in extracting and re-engineering TPE from discarded cables into premium leather that meets luxury brand standards.
Its breakthrough rests on three pillars:
- Material innovation—transforming discarded cables into luxury leather
- Formulation innovation—90% recycled content with zero hazardous additives
- Design innovation—single-material structure enabling 100% recyclability
2. Key Technical Specifications
Recycled Content
90% GRS-certified—far exceeding the typical 30-50% industry standard
Raw Material
TPE recovered from discarded cables
DMF Content
Zero—completely free of dimethylformamide
Phthalates
Zero—no phthalate plasticizers
PFAS Content
Zero—no per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances
Recyclability
100%—single-material design, no layer separation needed
Abrasion Resistance
Far exceeds industry average
Weather Resistance
Far exceeds industry average
3. Five Game-Changing Advantages
Advantage 1: Discarded Cables Transformed
Globally, tens of millions of tons of e-waste are generated annually, with discarded cables as a major component. The traditional disposal route—incineration or landfilling—causes severe environmental damage. PureMax™ TPE extracts, purifies, and re-engineers TPE from cable waste, completing a value leap from “e-waste” to “luxury material.”
Advantage 2: 90% Recycled Content, Industry-Leading
Many “recycled” materials contain only 10-30% actual recycled content. PureMax™ TPE is GRS-certified at 90%—meaning only 10% comes from virgin sources (primarily functional additives), with 90% from verified post-consumer sources.
Advantage 3: Zero Tolerance for Three Hazard Categories
PureMax™ TPE achieves zero addition of three concerning substance categories:
- DMF (dimethylformamide): A solvent commonly used in traditional PU leather with reproductive toxicity, listed on the EU REACH Substances of Very High Concern
- Phthalate plasticizers: Endocrine-disrupting plasticizers commonly used in PVC leather
- PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances): “Forever chemicals” used for water repellency, persistent in the environment
Advantage 4: Single-Material Design, 100% Recyclable
Traditional synthetic leather is a multi-layer composite (fabric backing + coating + adhesive), making layer separation for recycling nearly impossible. PureMax™ TPE uses a proprietary single-material design—the entire sheet is made from a single material family, enabling complete recycling at end of life without delamination. This achieves true “cradle-to-cradle” closed-loop circularity.
Advantage 5: Uncompromised Performance
Sustainability doesn’t mean sacrificing performance. PureMax™ TPE far exceeds industry averages in abrasion resistance and weather resistance. All physical properties are rigorously tested in Yongyufeng’s ISO-certified laboratory.
4. Performance Comparison
| Metric | PureMax™ TPE | Conventional PU | PVC | Genuine Leather |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recycled content | 90% ✅ | 0-30% | 0% | 0% (natural) |
| DMF | Zero ✅ | May contain | None | None |
| Phthalates | Zero ✅ | None | High content | None |
| PFAS | Zero ✅ | Process-dependent | Process-dependent | Tanning-dependent |
| Recyclability | 100% ✅ | Difficult (composite) | Very difficult | Very difficult |
| Abrasion resistance | Excellent ✅ | Moderate | Poor | Good |
| Alcohol resistance | 1,000 wipes no damage ✅ | Unknown | Poor | Moderate |
| Batch consistency | High ✅ | High | High | Low (natural variation) |
5. Industry Recognition
🏆 2025 Shanghai LUXE PACK Green Revolution Award
PureMax™ TPE ranked among the top 4 from nearly 200 premium packaging suppliers—the first Chinese company to win this award. Yongyufeng also received the Best Eco-Friendly Packaging Solution award and delivered a featured product presentation.
🌍 Consecutive Paris Luxe Pack Appearances
July 2025: First Chinese materials supplier invited to exhibit at Luxe Pack Paris at the Louvre. June 2026: Returned to Édition Spéciale by LUXE PACK with a full eco-leather matrix, generating dozens of in-depth discussions with international brands.
6. Applications
- Luxury packaging: Perfume boxes, cosmetic packaging, spirits packaging
- Bags & accessories: Handbags, wallets, travel cases
- Footwear: Shoe uppers and linings
- Fashion accessories: Watch straps, belts, phone cases
- Automotive interiors: Seat covers, door panels, dashboard wrapping
7. Summary
PureMax™ TPE represents the cutting edge of recycled leather development: high recycled content (90% GRS-certified), zero hazardous additives (DMF/phthalates/PFAS), closed-loop design (100% single-material recyclable), and superior performance (abrasion and weather resistance far exceeding benchmarks). It is Yongyufeng’s definitive answer to “sustainable luxury”—proving that eco-responsibility and premium quality are not opposing forces but mutual enablers.