GE Plastics receives Environmental Award for PET derived resins

02-Apr-07

Xenoy iQ resins by the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE). These grades are synthesized from post consumer polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles that get upcycled to make polybutylene terepthalate (PBT) resin, offering virgin thermoplastic properties with an extremely low carbon footprint. If all PBT plastic consumed globally used the iQ resin technology, it could result in an annual reduction of 5.2 million barrels of oil. Valox iQ and Xenoy iQ resins were developed as a result of a successful two-year initiative that examined GE Plastics' manufacturing processes to redefine how its products could be made cleaner and more environmentally responsible than traditional materials. Valox iQ PBT resins are derived from 85% post-consumer PET waste that gets upcycled to PBT resin. Xenoy iQ resin is an alloy of PBT and polycarbonate (PC) based polymers, also derived from 85% post-consumer plastic waste. The proprietary manufacturing process for these materials does not involve recycling, but rather upcycling, a novel way to regenerate and upgrade low end synthetic solid waste. The process also helps conserve non-renewable fuel resources while lowering carbon dioxide (CO2) released into the environment. The new GE products are good candidates for applications in the automotive, consumer electronics, and transportation industries. Valox iQ and Xenoy iQ resins consume less energy and yield less CO2 in their manufacturing than traditional resins. Specifically: " This approach reduces CO2 emissions by at least 1.7 kg per kg of resin and can save up to 8.5 barrels of crude oil per 1,000 kg of resin vs. a standard PBT resin. " In addition, Valox iQ PBT resin uses 80 percent less energy and CO2 emissions than standard Nylon 6/6, 64 percent less energy and 41 percent less CO2 emission than bio-PTT (poly trimethylene terepthalate), and 50 percent less energy and CO2 emission than bio-based PLA (polylactic acid). " If all PBT produced in 2005 was replaced with the Valox iQ and Xenoy iQ resins, it could have created an outlet for over 562,000 metric tons/year of PET waste. This is equivalent to 22.5 billion bottles - enough to circle the earth 120 times if aligned end-to-end.