Technological watch

SABIC, a global leader in the chemical industry and POLYRAY (Xiamen Hongtai Optical Co., Ltd.,), an innovative leader in the eyewear lens industry, today announced their collaboration for the use of SABIC’s LEXAN™ polycarbonate (PC) resin based on certified renewable feedstock in the lenses of several eyewear end applications such as sunglasses, safety glasses and sports goggles.

SABIC’s certified renewable polycarbonate – an engineering thermoplastic resin – is part of the company’s TRUCIRCLE™ portfolio and services. Based on SABIC’s cradle-to-gate peer-reviewed LCA study, use of SABIC’s LEXAN polycarbonate resin can potentially result in reductions in carbon footprint of up to 61% and fossil depletion reduction of up to 35%.

“POLYRAY is the first in the lens industry to offer a renewable PC lens for our customers, in order to keep up with the trend towards more sustainability in the development of plastic lens components,” said Jessica Chen, Commercial Director at POLYRAY. By producing lenses using renewable resources we can make a significant sustainability impact. We are happy to partner with SABIC, whose polycarbonate based on certified renewable feedstock ensures that the customer does not have to compromise on design or application, as the requirements for POLYRAY’s lens products made of SABIC’s materials remain the same,” Chen continued.

“Our polycarbonate provides SABIC and our direct and ultimate customers with more sustainable solutions and associated benefits. We are delighted to have POLYRAY onboard as our first customer in the eyewear industry to use our new material in their end applications. As well as providing the sustainable solution they were looking for, we are pleased to have been able to introduce POLYRAY to the ISCC certification system,” commented Sergi Monros, Vice President of Performance Polymers & Industry Solutions for Petrochemicals at SABIC.

POLYRAY is the first ISCC PLUS certified lens supplier for the eyewear industry, giving their customers a consistent proof of a sustainable supply chain. ISCC is an independent global organization that provides the leading certification system offering solutions to address sustainability requirements for all feedstocks and markets, as well as traceability throughout the supply chain. ISCC PLUS certification can be a powerful tool for companies along the supply chain to address various environmental and social standards.

”Since the launch in February of our BioPC® lens, part of our BIO-LINE portfolio, we have had a lot of interest shown in the solution from a broad range of eyewear brands. It provides identical product specification to a fossil-based PC lens, such as outstanding impact resistance and high optical quality, but with an environmental profile. BioPC lens can be used as sunglasses lenses, demo lenses and many other lens applications such as polarized, photochromic and anti-blue light lenses – perfect for sport, lifestyle, safety glasses and also snow goggles,’’ concluded Chen.

SABIC’s TRUCIRCLE portfolio and services for circular solutions span; design for recyclability, mechanically recycled products, certified circular products from feedstock recycling of used plastics and certified renewables products from bio-based feedstock.

To learn more about SABIC’s polycarbonate based on certified renewable feedstock please see here.

Polray’s BIO-LINE portfolio and services for eco and circular solutions span; BioPC lens from ISCC certified renewable feedstock and BioRay® lens USDA certified products from bio-based feedstock, and BioHydro® an eco-friendly water repellent coating which is PFOA& PFOS free.

Source: SABIC, press release, 2021-03-24.