Indorama Ventures and Polymateria to produce biodegradable wipes and masks through biotransformation technology

Indorama Ventures Public Company Limited (IVL), one of the world's leading sustainable chemical companies, and technology specialist Polymateria Limited have signed an exclusive 10-year partnership to help household brands bring biodegradable nonwoven hygiene products to the market through biotransformation technology, said the company.

This collaboration provides a new solution for dealing with essential items like facemasks and wipes once they have been used, ensuring they can return safely to nature without leaving behind any microplastics or toxic residue. It is specifically designed to tackle plastic leaking into the environment as unmanaged waste, meaning it is neither collected for landfill nor recycled. Given that most of the plastic in our oceans originates as unmanaged waste on land, addressing the unmanaged waste challenge is key. This partnership aims to do just that for essential hygiene items.

IVL's exclusive right to use Polymateria's unique biotransformation technology for nonwovens supports application in non-virgin resin recycling while providing a solution for 'fugitive' used articles, especially those items that end up in the natural environment. This biotransformation process involves the plastic transforming into a bioavailable wax in the open terrestrial environment, whereupon the wax is fully consumed by bacteria, microbes and fungi, leaving just carbon dioxide, water, and biomass. The pulp component is inherently biodegradable under similar conditions.

Nonwovens made by IVL using Polymateria's technology have been independently tested against, and meet the criteria in, the BSI PAS 9017 standard for the biodegradation of polyolefins in an open-air terrestrial environment published by the British Standards Institution in October 2020. This standard and/or its criteria - the first in the world to ensure plastic can biotransform in the open terrestrial environment without creating any microplastics - is being adopted around the world including in India, Malaysia, the Philippines and Hungary.

We remind, Indorama Ventures Public Company Limited (IVL), a global sustainable chemical producer, today outlined its business strategy at its 2023 Capital Markets Day in Bangkok, including enhancing competitiveness and applying a disciplined and sustainable approach to new opportunities as demand for the company’s products continues to grow globally.

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TotalEnergies and Paprec, leader in plastic recycling in France, have signed a long-term commercial agreement to develop a French value chain for advanced recycling of plastic film wastes, said Hydrocarbonprocessing.

The agreement will secure the supply of TotalEnergies' future advanced plastic recycling plant in Grandpuits. Following the terms of this agreement, Citeo, the main organization in charge of end-of-life household packaging in France, will provide a stream of flexible plastic waste sorted from post-consumer packaging. This stream will be delivered to the Paprec Plastiques 80 plant in Amiens (France), where a first-of-its-kind sorting and preparation line will be built. TotalEnergies will use this French-origin waste in its advanced recycling plant at the Grandpuits zero-crude platform and will produce recycled plastics which have the same properties as food-grade virgin plastics.

The advanced recycling plant, built by TotalEnergies (60%) and Plastic Energy (40%), will be able to process 15,000 tpy of waste and is scheduled to be operational in 2024.

"This long-term agreement is a major milestone for our advanced recycling plant at Grandpuits, as it guarantees a supply of waste of French-origin," said Valerie Goff, Senior Vice President Renewable Fuels & Chemicals at TotalEnergies. "It is a tangible example of TotalEnergies' commitment to developing a circular economy for plastics and fully contributes to our ambition of producing 30% circular polymers by 2030."

"Our job is to provide our customers and partners with circular packaging that makes it possible to return material to its original use and achieve carbon savings. We are taking an aggressive, innovative approach to monolayer resins such as PET, HDPE and PVC. This innovation with TotalEnergies supplements mechanical, or ‘low carbon’ recycling, which cannot offer the same circularity for plastic that’s not as eco-designed or that’s too soiled. Supporting and developing French industrial excellence is one of our missions," said Sebastien Petithuguenin, Chairman and CEO of Paprec Plastiques.

We remind, TotalEnergies is joining forces with Portuguese packaging player Intraplas to create commercial products with TotalEnergies renewable polymer – a range of the RE:clic portfolio, which uses renewable sources to lower carbon footprint. TotalEnergies’ biorefinery in La Mede, France, allows direct access to renewable feedstock for its drop-in RE: newable polymer range derived from bio-based products. The company claims these polymers retain virgin-like properties.

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With its launch of DYNACOLL eCO polyesters, Evonik is contributing to the transition from fossil to renewable resources, for which its Coating & Adhesive Resins business line is pursuing the mass balance approach, said the company.

The new line of polyesters enables cost-effective and rapid change of production on a large scale, helping to meet Evonik’s environmental and sustainability targets.

With the new product range, Evonik is addressing the increasing market demand for sustainable products. "Our customers are looked for quick and easy solutions for defossilization and decarbonization. Our DYNACOLL eCO products enabled our customers to reach their targets and strengthen the circular economy," explains Thorsten Marin, vice president of polyesters & polyolefins. "With this product launch, we are expanded our sustainable product portfolio while contributing to Evonik’s sustainability goals."

DYNACOLL eCO features identical physical and chemical properties as compared with the traditional DYNACOLL product portfolio. "Our customers did not have to carry out any additional evaluation, nor did they have to adjust their formulations. Customers who buy mass-balanced products used them in the traditional way and benefit from the same quality," says Dr. Zuhal Tuncay, global senior marketing manager for polyesters.

Since December 2022, the DYNACOLL production facilities in Marl and Witten have been certified by the ISCC organization to operate under the ISCC PLUS certification scheme based on the mass balance approach. This certification ensures full traceability of the sustainable materials used in Evonik’s production plants and confirms that the raw materials used originate from sustainable sources. In addition to strict sustainability principles, high ecological standards and social responsibility are also guaranteed.

DYNACOLL products are well established polyester polyols and copolyesters for hot-melt adhesives used, for example, in wood working, automotive, and textile applications. The brand has been well recognized for its high quality for decades.

We remind, Evonik is expanding its capacity to produce MetAMINO (DL-methionine) on Jurong Island, Singapore, by 40,000 metric tons to around 340,000 metric tons per year. The high double-digit million euro investment in this further technological development is to reach target capacity by the third quarter of 2024. The planned process optimization measures will improve the carbon footprint of MetAMINO® produced in Singapore by six percent.

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Dow announced the introduction of FINGERPRINT DFDA-7555 NT Bimodal Polyethylene Resin, an evolution of its legacy FINGERPRINT Polyethylene Resins, said the company.

Produced using Unipol II process technology, this medium-density bimodal PE resin helps to address the growing need for materials that contribute to reliable, high-performing and sustainable micro irrigation systems that can help increase water productivity, improve crop yields and conserve valuable resources.

FINGERPRINT DFDA-7555 NT offers better performance and tougher tape for thin wall micro irrigation tape applications and profile extrusion applications. Additionally, through the ability to downgauge and incorporate post-consumer resins (PCR) in tape formulation, this product offers the opportunity to make a significant sustainability impact. The tape’s higher stiffness and longevity in long-term and short-term underground tape applications, as well as physical properties enabling the incorporation of materials with reduced properties such as PCR, will play a large role in developing a more sustainable system.

“We are committed to helping our drip irrigation customers and the growers create strong solutions that will benefit their production, bottom line and sustainability efforts for the long-term,” said Stephanie Giles, Customer and Application Development Manager, Dow.

The FINGERPRINT portfolio of products has utility as a premium product line for micro irrigation applications including profile extruded tapes and tubes. This latest FINGERPRINT grade offers micro irrigation tape manufacturers who are looking to meet their customers’ increasing demands several key benefits, including downgauged wall thicknesses with better draw down characteristics for converters when producing tape with a reliable balance of extrusion ease and toughness. Furthermore, the new grade has high tensile and elongation properties, excellent burst strength and better crack resistance.

According to the USDA’s Farm Sector Income Forecast U.S., net farm income – a broad measure of farm profitability – is currently forecasted at USD113.7 B, down 4.5%, from 2021. While 2023 has the possibility for better projections, the industry must adopt innovative solutions that will allow for greater production, at a lower cost. Micro irrigation systems are a crucial component of the farming ecosystem that deliver vital water and nutrients where they’re needed most – plant root systems. This means that it is critical that the system is built to last year-over-year, even in the most extreme conditions from weather to the everyday hardships of the farm.

“Even beyond durability, there is growing worldwide demand for sustainably made irrigation systems, which is a key component for us as we continue to work with the industry to ensure our value chain partners have the solutions and products, they need to meet their customers’ expectations,” said Rachel Anderson, Research Scientist, Dow.

We remind, Dow intends to construct the sector's first net-zero carbon emissions ethylene and derivatives complex with respect to scope 1 and 2 carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, at its Fort Saskatchewan (Alberta, Canada) site. The project involves a new 'net-zero carbon emissions' ethylene cracker at the site, set for launching by 2027. It would expand Dow's ethylene and polyethylene capacity by over 200% from its Fort Saskatchewan site, while retrofitting the site's existing assets to net-zero carbon emissions.

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Polyplastics Group has announced that its newly developed long cellulose fiber reinforced polypropylene (PP) resin, PLASTRON LFT, is being targeted for automotive applications such as door module carriers, center consoles, and armrest cores, said the company.

PLASTRON LFT offers lower density and reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions than short glass-reinforced resins while delivering the same mechanical properties.

Cellulose is a non-edible biomass raw material derived from organic resources other than fossil resources, and has the following characteristics: negative carbon influence (absorbs carbon dioxide in the air when manufactured) and is sustainable (raw material that can be procured sustainably unlike resources such as natural minerals).

Newly developed PLASTRON LFT long cellulose fiber-reinforced resin incorporates regenerated cellulose fibers made using the Solvent Method which produces hardly any waste. Polyplastics uses a Solvent Method cellulose fiber that emits less greenhouse gas when manufactured compared to typical glass fiber. Since it has nearly 10% lower density than glass fiber reinforced PP resin, its greenhouse gas emissions are also even lower when compared in equal volumes.

By nature, cellulose is extraordinarily difficult to dissolve in solvents. A significant majority of typical regenerated cellulose is manufactured using a complex process which involves modification of the cellulose followed by dissolving in solvent and spinning and finally restoring the original cellulose form. This process results in significant emissions of greenhouse gases including carbon dioxide.

In comparison, the solvent method involves a closed process that recovers virtually 100% of the solvent. It generates minimal waste and produces materials that are even more eco-friendly. The company has earned multiple patents throughout the world for resins reinforced with long-regenerated cellulose fiber, including solvent method cellulose fiber.

We remind, Polyplastics Group has announced the launch of a new electrically conductive grade of DURANEX® polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) for millimeter wave radar applications for the automotive industry. DURANEX® PBT 201EB provides the benefit of electromagnetic wave shielding as an added effect of electrical conductivity. As a result, the material contributes to reduced assembly work and cuts cost.

Polyplastics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in the development and production of engineering thermoplastics. The company’s product portfolio includes POM, PBT, PPS, LCP, PET, COC, and LFT. The company has the largest global market share of POM, LCP, and COC. With more than 50 years of experience, the company is backed by a strong global network of R&D, production, and sales resources capable of creating advanced solutions for an ever-changing global marketplace.

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