Technological watch
Sabic launches certified circular polymers made from mixed plastic waste
Chemicals giant Sabic (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia) and three of its strategic customers—Unilever, Vinventions and Walki Group—have announced the launch of certified polymers manufactured by Sabic for use in a variety of consumer products that will be introduced into the market this year. The announcement took place at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, last week.
According to Sabic, the certified circular polymers will be produced from a feedstock known as Tacoil, a patented product from UK-based Plastic Energy Ltd. that is derived from low-quality, mixed plastic waste that would otherwise be incinerated or sent to a landfill. Sabic will process the feedstock at its production site in Geleen, Netherlands.
The finished certified circular polymers will then be supplied to the three key customers to develop consumer packaging for food, beverage, personal and home-care products, said Sabic’s announcement.
“Sustainability and re-use have been part of Sabic’s mission since its inception,” said Yousef Al-Benyan, Vice Chairman and CEO. “Today, more than ever, sustainability is a core value that drives our advanced scientific and technological expertise and our pioneering spirit. Along with our eminent customers, we are proud to launch our certified circular polymers, which is further testament to our leadership in advancing the circular economy.”
Described as disruptive innovation, the certified circular polymers will create a new value chain, whereby Sabic, its upstream supplier and key downstream customers work side-by-side to upcycle mixed plastic waste back to the original polymer for packaging applications.
As global brand leaders or frontrunners in their respective areas, Unilever, Vinventions and Walki recognize the importance of sustainability and their role in the circular economy, said the press release. They also recognize the critical role purity, quality and safety play in consumer product packaging, requirements that are met by Sabic’s certified circular polymers as drop-in alternatives to traditional materials.
Sabic’s strategic customers cover a spectrum of consumer packaging needs from Unilever’s packaging for food, personal and home-care products; synthetic wine closures at Vinventions; and Walki Group’s protective packaging materials for consumer products. The common unifier among these companies is the need to deliver the highest quality packaging solutions, with consumer safety being paramount, and to meet the environmental sustainability goals demanded by today’s society, said Sabic.
According to Sabic, the certified circular polymers will be produced from a feedstock known as Tacoil, a patented product from UK-based Plastic Energy Ltd. that is derived from low-quality, mixed plastic waste that would otherwise be incinerated or sent to a landfill. Sabic will process the feedstock at its production site in Geleen, Netherlands.
The finished certified circular polymers will then be supplied to the three key customers to develop consumer packaging for food, beverage, personal and home-care products, said Sabic’s announcement.
“Sustainability and re-use have been part of Sabic’s mission since its inception,” said Yousef Al-Benyan, Vice Chairman and CEO. “Today, more than ever, sustainability is a core value that drives our advanced scientific and technological expertise and our pioneering spirit. Along with our eminent customers, we are proud to launch our certified circular polymers, which is further testament to our leadership in advancing the circular economy.”
Described as disruptive innovation, the certified circular polymers will create a new value chain, whereby Sabic, its upstream supplier and key downstream customers work side-by-side to upcycle mixed plastic waste back to the original polymer for packaging applications.
As global brand leaders or frontrunners in their respective areas, Unilever, Vinventions and Walki recognize the importance of sustainability and their role in the circular economy, said the press release. They also recognize the critical role purity, quality and safety play in consumer product packaging, requirements that are met by Sabic’s certified circular polymers as drop-in alternatives to traditional materials.
Sabic’s strategic customers cover a spectrum of consumer packaging needs from Unilever’s packaging for food, personal and home-care products; synthetic wine closures at Vinventions; and Walki Group’s protective packaging materials for consumer products. The common unifier among these companies is the need to deliver the highest quality packaging solutions, with consumer safety being paramount, and to meet the environmental sustainability goals demanded by today’s society, said Sabic.
This project has been co-funded with the support of the LIFE financial instrument of the European Union [LIFE17 ENV/ES/000438] Life programme
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