Chase, Aspect open new distribution channels for sustainable materials

Resin distributors Chase Plastic Services Inc. and The Aspect Co. have expanded their sustainable product offerings through recent deals.

Clarkston, Mich.-based Chase Plastics has expanded its CP Pryme product line to include CP Pryme ECO resins. In a news release, Chase Plastics officials said the new materials, like other CP Pryme resins, are made from reprocessed materials and can be used with less stringent applications.

"Chase Plastics has offered [post-industrial and post-consumer] recycled products for over 30 years," President Adam Paulson said. CP Pryme ECO "will provide an environmentally friendly solution to applications across numerous industries, supporting our customers' growing desire to drive sustainability initiatives," he added.

Officials said Chase Plastics offers a wide array of sustainable products from domestic and international suppliers. For many years, the firm also has operated in-house recycling programs, used recycled materials and reduced energy consumption in their facilities with resource-efficient lighting, water, and HVAC solutions.

In 2016, Chase Plastics implemented Operation Clean Sweep, a program of best management practices to reduce accidental pellet, flake and powder loss at its South Bend, Ind., warehouse. In 2021, the firm joined Operation Clean Sweep Blue to enhance its commitment to managing, measuring, and reporting unrecovered plastic releases into the environment.

On Dec. 6, Chase Plastics is hosting a webinar to share more information about the new CP Pryme ECO line and other sustainable product options. Registration for the event is free and can be found on the firm's website.

Chase is a stocking distributor with a portfolio of more than 35,000 grades of specialty, engineering, and commodity plastics.

New York-based Aspect Co., an MGI International unit focused on sustainable resins, recently announced a strategic partnership with plastics recycler Tide Ocean SA of Switzerland. Aspect officials said in a news release that the partnership "is aimed at fostering sustainable solutions in the plastics industry."

The collaboration converts plastic waste found near waterways into a premium raw material made entirely of socially sourced ocean-bound plastic. Those materials will be added to Aspect's product mix.

"Given the strong demand for recycled resin, we believe the ocean-bound material will allow brands to reach their sustainability targets while creating a circular economy by diverting waste from the ocean," President Marco Liuzzo said.

Tide Ocean founder and CEO Thomas Schori added that his firm "is thrilled to have found such a great distribution partner to take our U.S. business to the next level and create a great social and environmental impact."

MGI launched Aspect in late 2022. Aspect offers sustainable materials from several suppliers, including AdvanSix Inc. and Danimer Scientific. MGI is a holding company that also owns resin distributors Marco Polo International and Global Plastics. MGI was formed in 2019, with global trading firm Itochu International Inc. of Tokyo as a partner and minority owner.

Tide Ocean has developed recycling methods for marine plastics with the Swiss Institute for Materials Engineering & Plastics Processing. Granulates, threads, textiles and filaments made from Tide Ocean material are used in a wide variety of products.

Tide Ocean sources most of its plastic in Southeast Asia, from Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

The firm has set a goal of collecting the equivalent of 1 billion plastic bottles for recycling.