Royal DSM, a global science-based company in Nutrition, Health and Sustainable Living, Sabic, a global leader in the chemical industry, and UPM Biofuels, a leading producer of sustainable raw materials, signed a partnership that will help to reduce the environmental footprint of Dyneema®, the world’s strongest fiber. The collaboration will see Dyneema® transition to bio-based feedstock leveraging SABIC’s ground-breaking TRUCIRCLETM solutions for certified renewable products. As such, DSM is delivering on its commitment to improve the sustainability footprint of Dyneema®, moving towards a circular, bio-based economy.
In December 2019, DSM announced ambitious sustainability targets for its Dyneema® high performance fibers. This new partnership – according to the Dutch company – represents an important step in realizing the goal of sourcing at least 60% of its feedstock from bio- based raw material by 2030. The transition to bio-based feedstock will maintain the unique properties of Dyneema®, enabling customers to adopt a more sustainable solution without compromising process efficiency or final product performance. The Dyneema® bio-based material will be carrying the globally recognized ISCC Plus certification and will not require re-qualification of downstream products. Bio-based Dyneema® will be available from April 2020.
UPM Biofuels produces bio-based feedstock UPM BioVerno from the residue of the pulping process. This is then processed by SABIC to make renewable ethylene under their TRUCIRCLETM umbrella of solutions. TRUCIRCLETM includes certified renewable products, specifically resins and chemicals from bio-based feedstock that are not in competition with the food chain and help to reduce carbon emissions. By applying a mass balancing approach, DSM is then able to create bio-based Dyneema® fiber that delivers consistent durability and performance with a reduced environmental impact. The new partnership underlines DSM’s commitment to working closely with partners and suppliers to realize a more sustainable value chain.
Mass balance accounting is a well-known and controversial approach that has been designed to trace the flow of materials through a complex value chain. The mass balance approach provides a set of rules for how to allocate the bio-based and/or recycled content to different products to be able to claim and market the content as ‘bio’-based or ‘recycled’-based. (Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation, Mass Balance White Paper).
“By partnering with SABIC and UPM Biofuels – Wilfrid Gambade, President DSM Protective Materials, said – we are taking the next important step in our sustainability journey, and driving our industry’s transition from conventional to renewable resources. By improving the impact of our materials, together with our partners, we are helping to protect both people and the environment they live in. In this way, we are using our bright science to deliver brighter living.”
“We firmly believe – Mark Vester, Circular Economy Leader at SABIC, said – that true collaboration and innovation will drive positive change. With our TRUCIRCLE initiative, we are more committed than ever to closing the loop on used plastics in 2020. We are delighted to be partnering with DSM and UPM Biofuels as a further step towards transforming the value chain and creating a circular, transparent, and sustainable economy.”
Juha Rainio, Sales and Marketing Director at UPM Biofuels, added: “We are committed to replacing fossil-based feedstocks with renewable ones. This collaboration with SABIC and DSM is an excellent example of a future beyond fossils, which is a key driver for UPM going forward.”
IL BIOECONOMISTA 