Applications First
Applications First stroller portfolio made with biobased materials Bugaboo (Amsterdam, the Netherlands), DSM Engineering Materials (Emmen, the Netherlands), Fibrant (Urmond, the Netherlands) and Neste (headquartered in Espoo, Finland) recently announced that their cross-value chain partnership has successfully enabled the launch of an entire Bugaboo stroller portfolio made with biobased materials. Specifically, the majority of the strollers’ plastic parts are made using DSM Engineering Materials’ Akulon ® 100 % biobased B-MB polyamide 6 (PA6), which in turn is made using biobased feedstock from both Fibrant and Neste. DSM Engineering Materials uses a mass-balancing approach with renewable waste and residue raw material to enable a ~75 % PA6 carbon footprint reduction compared to conventional PA6 and up to 24 % of the entire stroller. Earlier in 2022, Bugaboo announced ambitious targets to achieve net-zero carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions by 2035. As most of Bugaboo’s impact derives from its Scope 3 emissions, a transition toward lower fossil carbon materials is a key element of the company’s environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategy. This aligns closely with the ambitions of the other partners: DSM Engineering Materials’ ongoing ambition of a full alternative portfolio of biobased and circular solutions, helping to defossilise the economy as part of its SimplyCircular initiative, Fibrant’s commitment to make the entire value chain more sustainable and Neste’s offering of Neste RE feedstock for polymers and chemicals. While conventional Akulon PA6 is already an excellentin-class for carbon footprint, switching to Akulon 100 % biobased B-MB PA6 offers a significant carbon footprint reduction compared to conventional PA6 and helps to further de-fossilize the value chain. Used in the entire stroller line, the new material was developed by DSM Engineering Materials in collaboration with its partners Fibrant and Neste. Specifically, Neste provided renewable Neste RE, a feedstock for polymers made 100 % from biobased materials such as waste and residues, which was used to replace fossil feedstock in the value chain. DSM Engineering Materials, Fibrant, and Neste are all ISCC-PLUS certified. With identical mechanical performance and characteristics to conventional Akulon grades, this mass-balanced biobased Akulon PA6 offers the quality and durability necessary to comply with Bugaboo’s strict safety standards, making it a drop-in substitution while enabling a CO 2 reduction of up to 24 % per stroller in line with the company’s ambitious ESG targets. This first line of strollers will be gradually available online and in stores worldwide in the coming period. In addition, over the course of 2023, Bugaboo will transition its entire stroller portfolio to production with biobased materials. Bugaboo Donkey stroller in action. Photo: Bugaboo. Adriaan Thiery, CEO at Bugaboo, comments: “Tackling the imminent climate crisis and all its consequences requires companies to take responsibility now – but no company can achieve a circular economy alone. By partnering along the value chain, we can benefit from innovative lowcarbon emission solutions like biobased PA6, which enable companies like Bugaboo to achieve our ESG goals, stick to our Paris Agreement targets, and move toward a circular, low-carbon economy”. Roeland Polet, President DSM Engineering Materials, says: “As Bugaboo becomes one of the earliest pioneers of biobased PA6, we’re very proud that our collaboration with Fibrant and Neste has produced such an innovative material. Collaboration remains key as we work toward the sustainable economy that consumers know we need, and sustainable circular solutions like our biobased PA6 are practical ways for our partners to get ahead by realising their environmental ambitions while making positive impacts at scale. We’re looking forward to supporting many more of our partners as they follow Bugaboo’s example and lead the way toward a more sustainable society”. Martijn Amory, CEO Fibrant, says: “Acting now is at the core of Fibrants’ commitment to climate neutrality. We are proud that by applying our EcoLactam ® Bio in this crossvalue-chain collaboration, we are enabling a significant and excellent-in-class carbon footprint reduction. This confirms our view that innovation and partnership lead the way to a sustainable future”. Mercedes Alonso, Executive Vice President at Neste Renewable Polymers and Chemicals: “The cooperation with Bugaboo, DSM and Fibrant shows what joint efforts can achieve in our industry: a high quality, yet more sustainable product leading to significant reductions in our industry’s dependence on fossil resources. It shows once more that where there is a will to cooperate, there is change and it also is another example that change is possible in all kinds of industries and applications: Industry-wise, there are no limits when it comes to making polymers more sustainable”. MT www.bugaboo.com www.dsm.com | www.neste.com | www.fibrant52.com 28 bioplastics MAGAZINE [06/22] Vol. 17
Cove PHA bottles hit the market Cove, the California-based material innovation company, recently announced its partnership with Erewhon, the Los Angeles premium organic grocer, making it the first retailer of Cove’s fully biodegradable water bottles. Cove’s water bottles will be available at Erewhon stores throughout Los Angeles, as well as online at cove.co. Cove will announce new retail partners in the coming months as they scale up manufacturing at their production facility in Los Angeles. “Cove entering retail is a significant milestone for the company and it was important for us to find a mission-aligned retail partner to debut Cove. We’ve found that in Erewhon and are excited to take a big step forward in our mission to create a sustainable material world”, said Alex Totterman, Founder and CEO of Cove. “Erewhon will also offer a valuable end-oflife option for our customers by allowing them to deposit their used Cove bottles into their bins for compostables, which will then be routed to a local compost operation for biological recycling”, said Totterman. “Erewhon has celebrated the amazing benefits of naturally grown foods and the importance of preserving the earth for more than 50 years and continues to lead the way in conscious consumption today”, said Vito Antoci, Executive Vice President of Erewhon Markets. “When we were introduced to Cove, we were incredibly excited to be part of this innovative and potentially world-changing moment for CPG – the world’s first fully biodegradable water bottle is something we are very proud to be launching at Erewhon”. In spring 2021 Cove had announced an exclusive partnership deal with RWDC Industries (bM reported in issue 02/2021). RWDC, based in Athens, Georgia, USA and Singapore, now supplies its proprietary PHA to produce Cove’s water bottles. RWDC Industries uses plant-based oils, including post-consumer or used cooking oils, to produce PHA, which it has branded Solon . The biotech company combines deep expertise in PHA properties and applications with the engineering know-how to reach a cost-effective industrial scale. RWDC – the only PHA supplier of Cove’s that the startup would name – adds secret ingredients to its concoction, but Blake Lindsey, the company’s chief commercial officer, said that there’s nothing synthetic involved, according to Bloomberg. “We are thrilled to be working with the Cove team to make PHA-based water bottles a reality. In a world where over one million plastic bottles are purchased per minute, our collaboration is an important step toward providing materials that enable healthier options for people and the environment”, said Daniel Carraway, co-founder and CEO of RWDC. The PHA in Cove’s bottles and caps is certified biodegradable by TÜV Austria in marine, soil, and freshwater environments, as well as in industrial and home compost. Cove bottles and caps will compost in industrial settings within 90 days. MT Info See a video-clip at: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=Fx-2iusi0j4 Applications www.drinkcove.com | www.rwdc-industries.com bioplastics MAGAZINE [06/22] Vol. 17 29
