SABIC to launch first portfolio of certified renewable polyolefins

16-May-14

SABIC is to launch its first portfolio of certified renewable polyolefins, certified under the ISCC Plus certification scheme. The portfolio responds to the increasing demand for sustainable materials from SABIC’s customers and is applicable for all its polyolefin grades. SABIC is the first company to be able to produce renewable second generation polyethylenes (PE) and polypropylenes (PP). The ISCC Plus certified PP and PE materials will initially be produced at SABIC’s production facilities at Geleen in the Netherlands. Mosaed Al-Ohali, EVP Polymers, SABIC, commented: “SABIC’s market leading move into the certified renewable polyolefins area is linked to the needs of our customers who increasingly require sustainable packaging solutions in response to both consumer and regulatory demands. “It is a winning solution for our customers, as these materials can be converted readily on their existing equipment with no investment needed, and can contribute to an improvement of sustainability of their products”. Mark Vester, Business Leader LL-LDPE, SABIC, said: “We have optimized our technology to allow the production of renewable PP and PE using renewable feedstocks, which are made from waste fats and oils and are not in direct competition with the food chain, with equal performance to those produced with fossil fuels. “This technology has the potential to revolutionise both the plastics and packaging industry across Europe and around the world. The validity of SABIC’s concept is confirmed by an internal Life Cycle Assessment”. SABIC worked closely with the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) organisation to prove the sustainability of new feedstock. Third party auditors checked and ensured the reliable use of the mass balance system within SABIC. In addition, SABIC worked with the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs under the Green Deal, on the concept of ‘sustainability certificated’, with the ultimate objective to encourage production and use of bio-based polyolefins within the industry.