Envalior unveils sustainable PBT, biocircular compounds at Fakuma 2024

At the Fakuma trade fair in Friedrichshafen, Germany, Envalior introduced a new line of polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) compounds made from bio-circular 1,4-butanediol (BDO), derived from used cooking oil. This initiative aims to provide environmentally friendly alternatives in the PBT market. The newly launched Pocan X-MB grades received certification under the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) Plus standard, recognizing their sustainable raw material content.

Marc Marbach, the global business director for PBT at Envalior, emphasized that these compounds allow customers to reduce their carbon footprints and reliance on fossil-based raw materials. “Our new products represent a significant step toward expanding our portfolio with sustainable options, integrating both biological and recycled materials,” he noted.

Envalior is also exploring additional sustainable raw material sources, such as post-consumer recycled materials (PCR). The Pocan X-MB compounds have potential applications in various industries, including automotive, for components like connectors, housings, and other structural parts.

The Pocan X-MB line includes three product variants with glass-fiber content of 20% and 30%. These variants boast a sustainable material content of up to 71% when combined with other recycled materials, such as post-consumer PET and recycled glass fibers. Furthermore, the new products reportedly have carbon footprints that are over 30% smaller than those of traditional PBT compounds.

A key feature of these new compounds is that the BDO sourced from used cooking oil maintains the same chemical and physical properties as conventional fossil-derived BDO. This means that manufacturers can seamlessly replace their fossil-based PBT products with Envalior’s sustainable alternatives without incurring significant conversion costs or modifying existing production processes.

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Envalior has previously launched ISCC Plus-certified PBT compounds under the Pocan Eco brand, which incorporate recycled materials such as glass fibers from industrial waste and, in certain grades, mechanically recycled post-consumer PET. Marbach highlighted the growing demand for these recycled materials, especially in the automotive sector, attributed to upcoming EU regulations on the disposal of end-of-life vehicles.

Envalior’s ongoing commitment to sustainability positions it as a notable player in the development of environmentally friendly materials within the plastics industry.

 

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