HEXPOL TPE awarded ISCC PLUS certification in Germany

Manchester, UK – The compounding group HEXPOL TPE has added to its credentials: The International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC PLUS) was awarded to their site in Lichtenfels, Germany.

ISCC PLUS is a global certification scheme providing traceability along the supply chain and guarantees correct and transparent use of the mass balance approach. All companies along the supply chain undergo the ISCC PLUS audit process, meaning when HEXPOL TPE purchases ISCC PLUS-certified raw materials, all upstream entities will have been verified. Sustainability declarations create a chain of custody from origin through to the brand owner.

Mass balance allows for a gradual increase of the non-virgin fossil share of polymer compounds with the target to reduce the use of fossil raw materials step by step. The certification allows HEXPOL TPE to produce ISCC PLUS certified bio, circular and/or bio-circular attributed TPE materials via the mass balance approach.

“We are pleased to add ISCC PLUS certified TPEs to our growing portfolio of biobased, biocomposite and soft polymer compounds with recycled content,” said Jochen Schneider, managing director HEXPOL TPE GmbH. “This achievement further underscores HEXPOL TPE’s commitment to sustainability and enabling the defossilisation of the polymer industry.”

Mass balance versions of the Dryflex portfolio of TPE (TPS, TPO and TPU) materials will be available. Also in scope are the Epseal TPEs designed for food and beverage sealing applications. The mass balance TPEs offer a drop-in material alternative for customers. The technical properties, chemical composition and regulatory status, will be the same as the corresponding fossil grade.

Dr. Kevin Ament, product safety and ISCC coordination at HEXPOL TPE GmbH, added, “For our customers working in highly regulated markets such as care, food contact, toys and baby products, ISCC PLUS certification is an important step. It means we can replace the fossil polymers in our compounds with the mass-balanced version to create a one-to-one replacement. This is because the mass balance versions use raw materials with bio, circular or bio-circular characteristics, but which have the same quality, processability and purity as those of fossil origin.”

This expands the mass balance offering from the HEXPOL TPE group following the ISCC PLUS certification awarded to their Swedish site in 2021.