Scientific study paves way for new LCA simulation tool from Polykemi Group

Polykemi Group is making a major investment to help companies reduce their carbon footprint. The company is using a scientific study to provide customers information on how their material choices affect the climate.

The scientific study was conducted at Polykemi in 2020 and focused on analyzing the climate impacts of the company’s materials. The study demonstrates that the choice of material has a significant part to play in the fight against climate change and assists customers in making smart material choices.

“The simulation tool enables us to calculate the cradle-to-gate carbon footprint of all our materials. This enables our customers to assess the environmental footprint of the components they produce,” Mr. Palokangas says.

“It’s easy to select materials out of force of habit, even though there may be significantly better alternatives available that would reduce costs, save time and lower the carbon footprint.”

“We help our customers make smarter material choices to reduce their carbon footprint, while also providing the possibility to make their products lighter and saving both time and costs,” says Sustainability Specialist Henrik Palokangas.

In 2015, the UN adopted a new international treaty on climate change, the Paris Agreement, which strives to limit global warming. To meet the demanding goals, both producers and consumers need to contribute.

“The current discussions is very much focused around energy and fuels, but we also need to consider how different products affect our environment even when they are being produced,” explains Henrik Palokangas, Sustainability Specialist for polymers at plastics manufacturer Polykemi, based in Ystad, Sweden.

“We have conducted a scientific study, analyzing the climate impact of all our products, and used the results to develop a simulation tool. This gives our customers a unique opportunity to take greater responsibility for the climate, all while reducing their costs.”

The scientific study at Polykemi was conducted in collaboration with a third party to ensure an objective analysis according to applicable standards. The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA ISO 14040) methodology was used to quantify the environmental aspects of existing or planned products.

Similar studies are currently continuing for the production unit in Kunshan, China, and are planned for the new factories in Chongqing, China, and in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA.

For more than 50 years, Polykemi Group has successfully produced and developed customer-adapted plastic compounds, from both virgin plastic and high-quality recycled plastic materials.

“Polykemi has extensive experience in both virgin and recycled materials, and now also has the possibilities to simulate the effects of material choices,” says Mr. Palokangas.

“Our solid know-how enables us to develop optimized materials in terms of climate performance, features and costs. When used correctly, these three parameters can be aligned to produce the best results.

For more details: www.polykemi.com