Ocean-bound plastics is defined as those that have been recovered from ocean-feeding waterways and inland areas within a 50-kilometre radius of the ocean.
The ocean-bound resin SABIC uses is mechanically recycled and converted into components for new consumer goods and electronics applications, such as TV remote controls and electronic razors. It has the potential to also be used in other industries, such as automotive.
According to an internal SABIC lifecycle assessment based on a resin grade comprising 20 per cent recycled content, for every tonne of product containing the ocean-bound recycled compound, an equivalent of 24 million single-use 500ml PET water bottles can potentially be diverted away from oceans, preventing them from becoming marine litter.
In addition, the resin offers potentially significant reductions in carbon footprint of up to 7 per cent and energy consumption of up to 11 per cent compared with its virgin grade, SABIC said. It has good impact strength, processability and chemical resistance, the company added.
The new compound can help to tackle the problem of ocean-bound plastics directly as part of SABIC’s commitment to minimise plastics ending up as waste, suggested Sergi Monros, vice-president of performance polymers and industry solutions for petrochemicals at the company.
“By creating more sustainable materials and forging new collaborations, we hope to help reshape our industry and our entire value chain, while at the same time playing a leading role to help provide guidance for necessary regulation and governance,” Monros said.
“We are proud that we managed to design material based on recycled ocean-bound PET in such a way that it meets the high performance requirements of our customers, in combination with very good processability.”
Launched in 2019, TruCircle is described by SABIC as a complete portfolio of solutions that span design for recyclability, mechanically recycled products, certified circular products from feedstock recycling of plastics waste streams, certified renewable products from bio-based feedstock, and closed-loop initiatives.