Eco-friendly Recycled PVC Innovation: Transforming Medical Solution Bags into Fashion Footwear – the First of its Kind in Asia

From Overlooked Waste to Sustainable Footwear Innovation

Thailand has a growing number of kidney patients with chronic kidney disease. This results in a large volume of used dialysis solution bags-a form of medical waste that requires careful management to prevent contamination and environmental concerns.

SCGC, a leader in polymer and comprehensive sustainable solutions, recognized an opportunity to turn this waste into new value. The company initiated a recycling project to transform used medical dialysis bags into high-quality materials for new products, creating lasting benefits for both society and the environment.

Rubber Soul: Where Fashion Meets Sustainability

As the fashion world evolves, Rubber Soul — manufacturer of popular shoe brands “Monobo” — believes that style and comfort can coexist with environmental responsibility. The company is committed to becoming a leader in sustainable and high-quality footwear production by using eco-friendly materials. Choosing recycled plastic reflects its firm stance on sustainability and resonates with new-generation consumers who value the impact of their purchases.

Overcoming Challenges: Turning Medical PVC Waste into High Quality Recycled Plastic

Turning post-use PVC medical solution bags into a new product is highly complex. To achieve high-quality, safe recycled plastic, used medical solution bags must undergo strict sorting, standardized cleaning, and sterilization before being processed for recycling. SCGC applies its advanced material science expertise to develop a specialized PVC compound formula that meets product safety and quality standards, ensuring that the recycled plastic can be used in fashion and general consumer products without compromise.

Shared Vision: Making Sustainability Possible Together

Combining SCGC’s expertise in advanced materials and internationally certified recycling standards under the SCGC GREEN POLYMER™ brand with Rubber Soul’s fashionable design and footwear craftsmanship, the two companies co-created eco-friendly shoes that blend comfort, style, and sustainability.

The result is the Monobo Charlotte Collection — models Charlotte 2, Charlotte 3, and Charlotte Gritter — each incorporating up to 58% recycled PVC certified by the Global Recycled Standard (GRS), fully traceable from source to finished product.

By 2025, Rubber Soul aims to produce and distribute 10,000 pairs of these sustainable shoes, helping to recycle 4.7 tons of medical PVC waste and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 4,700 kilograms, equivalent to planting 490 trees. This collaboration proves that “Even used medical-grade PVC, with the right hands and the right vision, can be reborn to create new value for people and the planet.”

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For more information, please contact pvc_resin@scg.com