Orthex Group Moves Toward More Sustainable Raw Materials in Cooperation With Ineos Styrolution and BASF

• Orthex Houseware storage products made from Ineos Styrolution’s Luran ECO materials
• Biomass balanced styrene as plastic feedstock supplied by BASF
• Certified production processes and materials

Orthex, a leading Nordic producer of household products, has selected a range of Ineos Styrolution’s sustainable Luran ECO raw materials for its range of Smart Store TM Compact storage products. Luran ECO is a styrene acrylonitrile copolymer (SAN) resulting from a cooperation between Ineos Styrolution and BASF. It is built on BASF’s production of styrene monomer derived from renewable feedstock based on a mass balance approach. INEOS Styrolution uses the material as feedstock in its production of new sustainable styrenics solutions. According to an independent third-party assessment, the carbon footprint of the new material is 93% lower compared to the fossil-based Luran version.

Orthex Group is a leading Nordic houseware producer that strives to make consumers’ everyday lives easier with its products. The company has long championed sustainability with a focus on long-lasting products and increasing the use of recycled and bio-based materials to replace fossilbased plastic.

As a next step, Orthex’s storage solutions brand SmartStore will start using new biomass balance based Luran ECO raw material for the entire SmartStore Compact storage range. Orthex Group’s main criteria for selecting this material by INEOS Styrolution are easy processability, compliance with food contact regulations, and a reduced carbon footprint.

Alexander Rosenlew, CEO of Orthex Group, comments: “This new raw material solution will support our long-term carbon neutrality target. Ineos Styrolution and BASF make it possible for us to offer consumers more sustainable products. This supports our target to increase the share of sustainable raw materials in our production to 80% by 2030.”

Luran ECO with significantly reduced CO2 footprint

BASF’s biomass balance (BMB) based styrene is used by Ineos Styrolution in the production of bio-attributed styrenics specialties, mainly transparent styrenics materials such as the company’s NAS family of styrene methyl methacrylate (SMMA) products and the Luran family of SAN products.

The BASF and Ineos Styrolution processes within the end-to-end mass balance based production of the new solution portfolio are certified by ISCC+.

Artur Sokolowski, Director Sales Electronics & Household EMEA at Ineos Styrolution, comments: “Orthex is an innovative and fast-moving company. I am pleased to see that we have been able to provide a solution to Orthex that helps them to reach their ambitious sustainability target.”

Biomass balanced styrene

To produce styrene BMB, BASF replaces fossil resources like naphtha or natural gas with renewable feedstocks derived from organic waste or vegetable oils. It is one way to produce styrene via a mass balance approach. Mass balance is a chain-of-custody model that keeps track of the total amount (e.g., circular or other alternative) of feedstock throughout the production process and ensures a proper allocation to the finished goods.

Raw material and plastic producers like Ineos Styrolution and BASF can thus offer products with a better environmental profile but the same features as those manufactured from fossil feedstock. The allocation process via the mass balance approach as well as the products are certified by independent auditors. Read more about BASF’s biomass balance approach (basf.com).

“BMB feedstocks on one side and feedstocks based on chemically recycled plastic waste on the other side, both replacing fossil resources, are a very appealing way to contribute to an improved carbon footprint of subsequent products,” says Stefanie Kutscher, Head of Business Management Styrene at BASF’s Styrenics Business Europe. “Alternative raw materials already in the economic cycle enable us to produce with less virgin fossil raw materials. So, both mass balance approaches aim to achieve the same.”

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Xenia Thermoplastic Specialties Launches New Range of Supertough Carbon Fiber Composites

New Xecarb ST family of carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic composites combines advanced lightweighting benefits with superior impact strength

Xenia Materials, a global leader in thermoplastic specialties, has announced the introduction of Xecarb ST, a new family of supertough carbon fiber composites custom-engineered to close a performance gap in the market and provide superior impact strength performance.

“There is a growing demand for lightweight composites in various new markets, such as sustainable mobility and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), where we have identified a need for higher impact resistance than previously offered by carbon fiber reinforced composites,” says Cristian Zanchetta, Technical Manager for R&D at Xenia Materials. “Our new Xecarb ST family meets these challenges while at the same time opening new opportunities for innovative applications in existing market segments, such as sports equipment, appliances, supercars and even additive manufacturing.”

Xecarb ST builds on the proven mechanical strengths of Xenia’s successful Xecarb range, but shows significantly higher notched impact resistance, low temperature ductility and tensile elongation at break. With slightly lower density, the new carbon fiber composite technology offers these unmatched advantages together with further lightweighting possibilities. Major customers seeking to improve the impact and cold impact performance of carbon fiber composite applications are already evaluating the added potential for weight reductions, lower material and energy consumption, associated cost savings and reduced environmental impact.

Xecarb ST thermoplastic composites are based on selected polyamide matrix materials – PA66, PA6, PA11, PA12, PA6.10, PA6.12 and PA4.10 – addressing different mechanical, thermal and physical requirements. Standard carbon fiber content is 30 percent (CF30). The PA6-based composites are also available as CF20, CF25, CF35 and CF40 grades. In addition, the portfolio includes two high-modulus materials for enhanced flexural strength, and provides a wide engineering window for further customization depending on specific application needs.

“Beyond winter and mountain sports equipment from boots and running shoes to bikes, these new high-impact carbon fiber composites will help us reach into other markets and further expand our customer base in Europe, APAC and North America,” adds Enrico Mancinetti, Sales Manager. “Driving this growth, Xenia Materials will also increase its European sales force with a strong focus on qualified local customer support and service.”

Xecarb is a registered trademark of Xenia Srl.

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Covestro and Sol Kohlensäure Sign Framework Agreement for Biogenic Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

• Covestro’s NRW sites supplied with biogenic CO2 from SOL Kohlensäure
• Supply partnership helps Covestro switch to alternative raw materials
• Both partners advancing Circular Economy and climate neutrality

Materials manufacturer Covestro and SOL Kohlensäure GmbH & Co. KG have concluded a framework agreement for a supply partnership for biogenic carbon dioxide (CO2). With immediate effect, SOL, as one of the most important European suppliers of gases and gas services, will supply the liquefied gas to Covestro sites in North Rhine-Westphalia, where it will be used to produce plastics such as MDI (methylene diphenyl diisocyanate) and polycarbonate. Under the terms of the framework agreement, SOL Kohlensäure will already supply up to 1,000 metric tons of biogenic CO2 this year. From 2023, the supply volume is to be further increased substantially, enabling Covestro to save the same amount of CO2 from fossil sources at its NRW sites.

“We have set ourselves the goal to become fully circular. To this end, we want to convert our raw material base to 100% renewable sources. We are very pleased to have found a partner in SOL Kohlensäure who will support us in this transformation with a pioneering spirit,” explains Daniel Koch, Head of NRW Plants at Covestro.

“We at SOL Kohlensäure are advancing the shift to more sustainable CO2 sources. In this way, we are increasing security of supply, becoming independent of fossil raw materials, and reducing our environmental footprint at the same time,” emphasizes Falko Probst, Sales Manager at SOL Kohlensäure.

From waste product to raw material
The CO2 used is obtained by SOL Kohlensäure from various sources, such as bioethanol and biogas plants. In these plants, CO2 is produced as a by-product during the treatment of various biomasses, such as plant residues. This is separated by SOL Carbon Dioxide, purified and then made available to Covestro production as a raw material.

In this way, the supply partnership supports the circular concept and contributes to reducing emissions.

Covestro’s Lower Rhine sites in Leverkusen, Dormagen and Krefeld-Uerdingen are ISCC Plus certified and can supply their customers with more sustainable products made from renewable raw materials.

Goal of climate neutrality by 2035
Covestro has set itself the goal of becoming fully circular. This also includes using alternative raw materials. Biomass, CO2, as well as end-of-life materials and waste replace fossil raw materials such as crude oil or natural gas. Carbon is managed in a circular way. In realizing these ambitions, both companies are relying on long-term supply partnerships.

In addition to biogenic CO2, Covestro is investigating the use of other technical gases from renewable sources. The materials manufacturer is already offering its customers its first sustainable products, such as climate-neutral¹ MDI. With the expansion of its alternative raw material base, this portfolio is set to grow further in the coming years.

ISCC (“International Sustainability and Carbon Certification”) is an internationally recognized system for the sustainability certification of biomass and bioenergy, among others. The standard applies to all stages of the value chain and is recognized worldwide. ISCC Plus also encompasses other certification options for instance for technical-chemical applications, such as plastics from biomass.

Climate neutrality is the result of an internal assessment of a partial product life cycle from raw material extraction (cradle) to the factory gate (Covestro gate), also known as cradle-to-gate assessment. The methodology of our life cycle assessment, which has been critically reviewed by TÜV Rheinland, is based on ISO standards 14040 and 14044. The calculation takes into account biogenic carbon sequestration based on compensation measures.

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