Tie-ups: Braskem/Nexus Circular in 10-year supply agreement for circular materials; Hansgrohe selects Ineos Styrolution’s bio-ABS for sanitaryware fittings

Recycler Nexus Circular and Brazilian polymers producer Braskem have signed a ten-year definitive commercial agreement for the supply of circular feedstocks from a new advanced recycling facility. Braskem completed a strategic investment in Nexus Circular in January 2022. Braskem will produce certified circular polypropylene (PP) utilising Nexus Circular’s commercial-scale advanced recycling technology, which converts landfill-bound plastics into high-quality circular feedstocks used in the production of sustainable virgin-quality plastics.

The contracted volumes of advanced recycled circular products from Nexus will support Braskem’s strategic objective to sell 300,000 tonnes of products with recycled content by 2025 and 1 million tonnes by 2030. Braskem America’s CEO Mark Nikolich said, “We look forward to a long and growing partnership with Nexus to secure high-quality feedstock for the production of Braskem’s certified circular PP resins. This supports our corporate initiative to develop a carbon neutral circular economy for plastics while supporting our clients’ goals for plastics with recycled content.”

This project will add to Braskem America’s existing sustainable PP and PE portfolio, which currently consists of nine PCR products including two PCR PP grades that can be used in a wide range of US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) food contact applications where PP is used today. Braskem’s full range of PCR solutions can be used in a variety of PP and PE applications, including but not limited to consumer packaging, caps and closures, durable goods, automotive, and consumer housewares.

Since 2018, Nexus has been consistently supplying commercial volumes of ISCC Plus-certified circular liquid products, having diverted over 8 million pounds of used plastics from landfill.

Jodie Morgan, CEO at Nexus, confirmed, “This long-term commercial contract builds upon the strong foundation of our growing relationship. We are excited to partner with Braskem to accelerate our impact and ability to address the complex challenges of plastics accumulation in the environment.”

In other news, styrenics maker Ineos Styrolution says that sanitaryware fittings maker Hansgrohe has selected the company’s sustainable Novodur ECO solutions for its next generation products.

Hansgrohe is one of the world’s largest producers of shower heads, hand-held showers and taps/ faucets. As part of its challenge to reduce the company’s ecological footprint, the company decided to look at the materials used for the production of its sanitary fittings. It selected Ineos Styrolution’s Novodur ECO P2MC B50 for two reasons: Firstly, Hansgrohe’s high quality standards were not to be compromised and secondly, adjustments to production had to be minimal, it adds.

Ineos Styrolution’s bio-attributed Novodur grades fulfill these demands: The products offer identical properties as the conventional material – including surface quality, impact strength, high flowability and, in the case of Novodur ECO P2MC B50, suitability for electroplating. The material is also a plug-in solution not requiring any changes to the production setup. At the same time, Novodur ECO B50 grades offer product carbon footprint (PCF) savings of up to 71%, it claims.

Frank Semling, COO at Hansgrohe SE, said: “We are extremely pleased that the transition to the new sustainable Novodur ECO P2MC B50 was very swift and completely hassle-free.”

Eike Jahnke, Vice President Specialties EMEA at Ineos Styrolution said: “We consider Hansgrohe to be a pioneer in many ways. They led the way to the design bathroom of the 21st century, and at the same time, they are committed to sustainable management and responsible business practices. We will continue to develop sustainable styrenics ECO solutions for entrepreneurs like Hansgrohe. We are committed to deliver premium performance at reduced ecological footprint.”

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