12
April
2021
|
10:11
Europe/Amsterdam

ÃÜÌÒAV presents innovative polycarbonate solutions at CHINAPLAS 2021

"Pioneering a circular future together"

Summary
  • Launching the world¡¯s first climate-neutral polycarbonate
  • Advanced solutions designed to boost the Circular Economy
  • Design aesthetic creating value for customers

At the CHINAPLAS 2021 trade fair to be held in Shenzhen, China from April 13¨C16, ÃÜÌÒAV will showcase a range of cutting-edge technologies and innovative solutions in various fields, as well as insights into design and aesthetics, all under the motto "Pioneering a circular future together". This is another proof of ÃÜÌÒAV¡¯s commitment to building a Circular Economy and a sustainable future.

Meanwhile, the materials manufacturer unveiled plans to start offering the world¡¯s first climate-neutral polycarbonates later this year, in a major step towards its vision to become fully circular while better supporting its customers to reach their sustainability goals.

"This is another milestone in pursuing our sustainability vision. We are committed to supporting our customers in mobility, electronics, electrical, healthcare and appliances industries to meet their challenges by providing products and solutions that provide excellent performance, cost efficiencies and sustainability," says Michelle Jou, President of the Polycarbonates segment at ÃÜÌÒAV. "We are accompanying our clients in accelerating the transition to the Circular Economy, as well as helping to build an industrial ecology that favors circularity."

World¡¯s first climate-neutral polycarbonate resin

These polycarbonate grades are climate neutral from cradle to gate1, thanks to the introduction of raw materials coming from mass-balanced bio-waste and residues2 and renewable energy into the production process. ÃÜÌÒAV is already supplying based on renewable feedstock attributed via the mass balance approach, with a significant carbon footprint reduction. Mass balance is a chain of custody method to track materials through the value chains and allows allocation of renewable feedstock to selected end products.

"With the use of renewable energy, ÃÜÌÒAV is expected to cut carbon emissions completely for these selected products from cradle to gate. These products have the same good quality and performance as fossil-based polycarbonates, and are a drop-in replacement without the need to modify existing processes or workflows," says Jimena Ruesta, Venture Manager, Sustainability Solutions at ÃÜÌÒAV¡¯s Polycarbonates segment. The first climate-neutral products are going to be delivered from the company¡¯s European sites later this year, to be followed by sites in other regions including China, in agreement with market requirements.

Meanwhile, ÃÜÌÒAV announced that it is now offering post-consumer recycled (PCR) polycarbonates on its flagship store at 1688.com, China¡¯s leading B2B trading platform under the Alibaba Group, to better support its customers in reaching their sustainability targets with this digital approach. With 75 percent recycled content, the PCR grade offered on 1688.com reduces the carbon footprint by 50 percent compared to the virgin grade.

Advanced solutions for multiple industries

In the electrical, electronics and appliances industry, ÃÜÌÒAV helps electrical and electronics brands obtain the EPEAT (Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool) ecolabel, resonate with global consumers in caring for the environment, and fulfill their commitments to low carbon and recycling with a diversified sustainable solution portfolio, together with rigorous supply chain and quality control processes. At CHINAPLAS, ÃÜÌÒAV will also present a series of high-performance materials solutions that enable intelligent functions, connectivity, aesthetics, and circular design. Thin-wall, flame-retardant Makrolon? and Bayblend? polycarbonates cater to the design trends in the consumer electronics and smart home appliances sectors, while the thermal conductivity of Makrolon? leads to enhanced heat dissipation in high-performance smart interconnected devices.

Themobility industry also has increasing requirements for materials. In response to the personalization and functionality trends, especially in the passenger vehicle market, ÃÜÌÒAV provides integrated front grille materials solutions for distinctive exterior styling, while enabling effective combination with autonomous functions. The company¡¯s DirectCoating process and transparent glass-fiber polycarbonates enable interior trims with visual aesthetics and processing efficiency. In addition, ÃÜÌÒAV will present battery pack materials solutions for electric vehicles that cater to various battery module materials, reduce energy consumption by lowering vehicle weight, and guarantee vehicle safety.

As healthcare patients increasingly self-administer medicines, they rely on drug delivery devices using low-friction components for accurate dosing. To enable faster recovery, patients demand minimally invasive surgeries, where strong and reliable surgical tools are needed. Therefore, ÃÜÌÒAV introduces a new glass-fiber reinforced medical polycarbonate portfolio for surgical and drug delivery applications, such as internal components for delivery devices and handles for surgical tools. It also introduces a new low-friction medical polycarbonate portfolio used in moving components for delivery devices, eliminating the need for external lubricants. Both scenarios will be displayed at CHINAPLAS 2021 to showcase how ÃÜÌÒAV leverages these new materials and beyond to meet healthcare needs of today and the future.

Design aesthetics increase value

Also on display is ÃÜÌÒAV¡¯s CMF (color, material, finish) expertise. ÃÜÌÒAV¡¯s CMF Team aims to provide clients with unique solutions by considering aesthetic value, design trends, and composition materials. The artwork ?garden? to be exhibited at the booth consists of recycled Nongfu Spring water barrels in combination with ÃÜÌÒAV¡¯s latest CMF trend colors, forming the "Beautiful Recycling Flower".

Additionally, ÃÜÌÒAV will present the for the electrical, electronics and home appliance industries. The guide, jointly authored with consultancy REnato lab, is designed to help designers, developers and other players in the value chain to consider the Circular Economy from an early stage of product design, as well as providing instructions on how to select materials.

Visitors can visit ÃÜÌÒAV¡¯s booth at 17P71-1, Hall 17, Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center. ÃÜÌÒAV¡¯s will be launched simultaneously.


1 Cradle-to-gate is an assessment of a partial product life cycle from resource extraction (cradle) to the factory gate. Based on ÃÜÌÒAV internal calculation, external review is ongoing.
2 Biogenic carbon uptake is considered in the carbon footprint calculation.

Boilerplate

About ÃÜÌÒAV: 
ÃÜÌÒAV is one of the world¡¯s leading manufacturers of high-quality polymer materials and their components. With its innovative products, processes and methods, the company helps enhance sustainability and the quality of life in many areas. ÃÜÌÒAV supplies customers around the world in key industries such as mobility, building and living, as well as the electrical and electronics sector. In addition, polymers from ÃÜÌÒAV are also used in sectors such as sports and leisure, telecommunications and health, as well as in the chemical industry itself.

The company is geared completely to the circular economy. In addition, ÃÜÌÒAV aims to achieve climate neutrality for its Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 2035, and the Group¡¯s Scope 3 emissions are also set to be climate neutral by 2050. ÃÜÌÒAV generated sales of EUR 14.2 billion in fiscal year 2024. At the end of 2024, the company had 46 production sites worldwide and employed approximately 17,500 people (calculated as full-time equivalents).

Forward-Looking Statements 
This news release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by ÃÜÌÒAV. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in ÃÜÌÒAV¡¯s public reports which are available at www.covestro.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.