Big moves in pursuit of the circular
Opinion
PFN introduces Bornewables nonwovens
Adrian Wilson
Second-generation raw material feedstock derived entirely from waste and residue vegetable oil streams.
25th April 2023
Adrian Wilson
|
Geneva, Switzerland
PFNonwovens (PFN) introduced new nonwovens for the personal hygiene market based on Borealis Bornewables at the INDEX nonwovens show in Geneva from April 18-21.
Bornewables can be used as direct drop-in replacements for comparable fossil-based polyolefins and in PFN’s nonwoven production required no changes to the existing manufacturing process while delivering the same high quality and performance as non-renewable virgin materials.
The Bornewables polypropylene (PP) used by PFN is made with second-generation raw material feedstock derived entirely from waste and residue vegetable oil streams. The renewable content in all Bornewables products is mass balance accredited under the ISCC (International Sustainability and Carbon Certification) PLUS certification standard, confirming authenticity and fully transparent traceability from the raw materials to the finished products.
Borealis has adopted the mass balance approach for its renewable and chemically recycled polymers to provide products addressing climate change and circularity. The approach allows manufacturers to trace the exact share of sustainable feedstock allocated to their products and ISCC PLUS certificates are audited annually to ensure that all requirements are met. Mass balancing makes it possible for customers to meet ambitious sustainability targets and stay on top of changing legislation. For every ton of certified Bornewables PP used in production, a maximum equivalent amount of nonwoven material can be claimed as certified renewable.
“Anticipating the growing demand for more sustainable nonwoven solutions, we have focused our development resources over the past few years on the circular sphere,” said Tonny De Beer, chief product, technology and sustainability officer at PFN. “Using the Borealis Bornewables instead of standard fossil-based resins will significantly reduce our carbon footprint, even enabling products with a carbon footprint below zero.”
“The combination of our expertise in polymer science and development with PFN’s processing know-how has resulted in nonwovens that make full use of the Bornewables advantages to minimise CO2 emissions,” added Peter Voortmans, global commercial director of consumer products at Borealis. “Together we are reducing both waste and fossil depletion, while delivering cost-efficient products for the hygiene market with a premium look and feel.
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