Düsseldorf, Germany — Royal DSM rolled out bio-based grades of its Stanyl and Arnitel resins at K 2019.
At an Oct. 17 press event at K 2019 in Düsseldorf, officials with DSM — based in Geleen, Netherlands — said that the firm also has set a goal of offering bio-based or recycled-based grades of all of its materials by 2030.
"There's growing momentum around the circular economy," Engineering Plastics President Shruti Singhal said at the event. "When we do well as a business, we can also do good."
Singhal joined DSM last year and took on his current role earlier this month. He has more than 25 years of experience in plastics and specialty chemicals.
"One of the reasons I joined DSM was its sustainability message," he said. "It goes into the DNA of every member of our team."
"There are unmet customer needs in sustainability," Singhal added. "So feedstock recycling will be pivotal technology."
The new grades of Stanyl nylon 4/6 and Arnitel copolyester are aimed at applications in the automotive and electrical/electronic markets, according to Nylon Vice President Joost D'Hooge.
"They have the same functionality as our conventional portfolio, so no requalifications are needed," he said. "Customers can start ordering today."
The 2030 goal will include the availability of bio-based or recycled content of at least 25 percent in all DSM materials.
In another sustainable move, DSM worked with surfboard maker Starboard to use a grade of DSM's Akulon RePurposed-brand nylon resin that's fully recycled from discarded nylon-based fishing nets. The nets are gathered from the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea and are given a new lease on life as fins, fin boxes, standup paddleboard pumps and other structural parts in surfboards.
Expanded grades of Arnitel can be used in midsoles of athletic footwear to deliver a range of performance advantages. The material has consistent performance across diverse climates and can be designed with an all-polyester solution for upper and sole materials.
Arnitel is also being used in flat-free tires that are not supported by air pressure. In those tires, officials said that the material offers a combination of flexibility, high temperature resistance, strength and processing characteristics. They added that Arnitel is increasingly being used as "a lighter, smarter, greener alternative" to conventional rubbers.
DSM employs 23,000 worldwide.
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