Sustainability | HEXPOL - A Material Difference

HEXPOL Compounding Americas Achieves ISCC PLUS Sustainability Certification

melissacohill — Wed, 29 Nov 2023 15:08:14 +0000

HEXPOL Middlefield has achieved The International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC PLUS) as a Rubber Compounding Processing Unit with mass balance chain of custody.

HEXPOL Middlefield ISCC Plus Certification Issued on 11.22.23

The International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC) is a certification program for the Circular Economy that focuses on the verification and traceability of sustainable materials. ISCC is globally recognized as the standard of choice for industry sustainability certifications.

This certification allows HEXPOL Middlefield to produce ISCC PLUS certified circular, bio circular and/or bio attributed compounds via mass balance accounting principles. This provides traceability of certified raw materials along the certified supply chain through sustainability declarations that create a chain of custody from origin to the end product.

Certification of supply chains is a vital part of an organization’s overall sustainability management. This ensures that the integrity and performance of the entire supply chain are aligned toward common sustainability goals and objectives from start to finish.

Companies and entities that obtain the certification must meet certain predetermined standards as required under the ISCC PLUS certification.

As the leader in the rubber compounding industry, HEXPOL Compounding Americas pursued the ISCC PLUS certification to make A Sustainable Difference in order to support its customer’s goals and initiatives while aligning with supply chain sustainability projects.

In addition, HEXPOL continues to work toward achieving strategic objectives to reduce environmental impact, to create safe and secure workplaces and to be a good corporate citizen.

HEXPOL’s cross-functional ISCC PLUS implementation team achieved this significant accomplishment in less than four months with zero nonconformities found during the certification audit.

Jason Yauger, Quality Manager – HEXPOL Middlefield
Cathy Rose, Quality Systems Manager – HEXPOL Compounding Americas
Misty Mahan, Regional EH&S – HEXPOL Compounding Americas
Ali Wolf, Sustainability Manager – HEXPOL Compounding Americas
Jeremy Lawson, Managing Director – HEXPOL Middlefield
Tom Roberts, Director of Quality – HEXPOL Compounding Americas
Jerry Saxion, Director of Business Systems – HEXPOL Compounding Americas

“We are proud of the Middlefield and HEXPOL Compounding Americas support team’s dedication to achieving the ISCC PLUS certification. The Global Sustainability and Carbon Certification is a significant milestone that reflects our organization’s dedication to sustainable solutions.”

Jeremy Lawson, Managing Director – HEXPOL Middlefield

“This achievement of ISCC PLUS certification is part of HEXPOL’s ongoing sustainability effort and collaboration with customers and suppliers, as we continue to be fully committed to support sustainability goals and developing innovative products that provide a lower environmental impact that contribute to the circular economy. We believe that the ISCC PLUS certification is not only a validation of our efforts but also a strong message to the industry that responsible and eco-conscious manufacturing is not only already possible, but also necessary for a successful future.”

Jerry Saxion, Director of Business Systems – HEXPOL Compounding Americas

HEXPOL TPE awarded ISCC PLUS certification in Germany

jillbradford — Mon, 27 Nov 2023 14:20:22 +0000

HEXPOL TPE awarded ISCC PLUS certification in Germany

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, in October.

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. This achievement further underscores HEXPOL TPE’s commitment to sustainability and enabling the defossiliation of the polymer industry.

– Jochen Schneider, Managing Director HEXPOL TPE GmbH

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.

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.

– Dr. Kevin Ament, product safety and ISCC coordination at HEXPOL TPE GmbH

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

About HEXPOL TPE

HEXPOL TPE is an international polymer compounding group specialising in Thermoplastic Elastomers (TPE) for key industries such as consumer, medical, packaging, automotive and construction. We were among the 1st companies to produce TPEs in Europe, and more than 50 years later, the possibilities continue to inspire us – yes, we're self-confessed TPE freaks! Our international teams work with customers around the world, developing new polymer combinations and creating customised materials that are safer, more durable, more sustainable. As part of the HEXPOL Group of companies, we share an extensive global footprint. Covering Europe, Asia-Pacific and North America, enabling us to support our customers worldwide.

Annual Report with Sustainability Report 2022

jillbradford — Wed, 26 Apr 2023 16:41:06 +0000

The HEXPOL Annual Report for 2022 with Sustainability Report is now available

I am proud of how well we continued to tackle global challenges in 2022. Our strong business model has once again been excellently executed by skilled and dedicated employees worldwide.

– Georg Brunstam, President and CEO

Download the Sustainability Report for indepth insights

Previous editions

Sustainability Report 2021
Sustainability Report 2020
Sustainability Report 2019
Sustainability Report 2018
Sustainability Report 2017
Sustainability Report 2016
Sustainability Report 2015
Sustainability Report 2014

HEXPOL Compounding Americas Install Solar Arrays

jillbradford — Thu, 06 Apr 2023 13:34:27 +0000

Sustainability = Operational Savings

By Ali Wolf, Sustainability Manager, North America

HEXPOL Compounding Americas (HCA) continues to provide funds to fulfill its progressive management practices by investing in its people and facilities to ensure HCA is thoughtfully positioned to deliver a material difference to its customers today and in the future.

In 2022, HCA realized operational savings and reduced its enterprise carbon impact to 1,039 MtC02, which is equivalent to 224 cars on the road annually.

The carbon impact reduction was a result of installing solar arrays at HCA’s Long Beach, City of Industry, Aguascalientes and Queretaro sites which led to 2% of our total carbon footprint (a total of 1.3MW).

Investing in our people, planet, and business performance; Sustains our ability to serve our customers.

Aerial View of HEXPOL AGS with Solar Panels Installed on Roof.

HEXPOL LESINA CO2 neutral in scopes 1 & 2 emissions

nadjaelsayed — Mon, 12 Dec 2022 16:03:06 +0000

Preferred by Nature confirms HEXPOL Compounding Lesina s.r.o to be carbon neutral in Scopes 1 and 2 for the calculation year 2021.

Preferred by Nature is a non-profit organization working to support better land management and business practices that benefit people, nature and the climate in more than 100 countries.

According to the leading Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol corporate standard, a company’s greenhouse gas emissions are classified into three scopes.

Scope 1 emissions are direct emissions from company-owned and controlled resources. In case of HEXPOL Lesina for example, stationary combustion like fuel use in production or mobile combustion like vehicles belonging to the company. The company is constantly looking into options to reduce scope 1 emissions further. However, unavoidable emissions (in case of Lesina 60 tons CO2e) are offset with the climate+ program of Gold Standard, where Lesina is supporting to provide clean water access to families in Laos with the carbon offset of 2021.

Scope 2 emissions are indirect GHG emissions associated with the purchase of electricity, steam, heat, or cooling. As HEXPOL Lesina is purchasing energy from renewable sources since 2018, there are no emissions to be reported in this category.

HEXPOL Compounding Lesina s.r.o now received a certificate which proves its carbon neutrality for scopes 1 and 2 emissions from Preferred by nature, an independent, third party.

Scope 3 emissions are all indirect emissions which occur in the value chain of the company like for example for all purchased goods and services, logistics, transport, business travels, waste generation etc.

Michael Jakubik, sales and marketing director of Lesina says: “We are proud of this achievement. Sustainability is anchored in HEXPOL’s core values and we are happy to provide a proof, that our efforts are paying off. Nevertheless, our journey does not stop here. We are working on several different measures to lower our scope 3 emissions. Developing products with a lower product carbon footprint or optimizing the resource-usage in our operations are just some examples from a whole list of activities “

About HEXPOL Compounding

HEXPOL Rubber Compounding produces a wide range of natural and synthetic rubber compounds to meet the exact requirements of its customers, across a broad range of industries. The largest end-customer segments are the automotive and engineering industries, followed by the building and construction sector. Other important customer segments are the transportation sector, the energy sector, the consumer sector and the cable and wire industry. HEXPOL Rubber Compounding is part of the HEXPOL Group, headquartered in Malmö, Sweden. The Group has approximately 5000 employees in fourteen countries.

HEXPOL Rubber Compounding – HEXPOL Silicone & Rubber Compounding

HEXPOL TPE Launch Medical Mass Balance Thermoplastic Elastomers

nahim — Mon, 14 Nov 2022 10:49:18 +0000

HEXPOL TPE Launch Medical Mass Balance Thermoplastic Elastomers

At the COMPAMED 2022 exhibition, HEXPOL TPE officially launched their medical TPEs with bio-attributed content according to the mass balance principle. Adding to their growing portfolio of materials that enable a shift away from fossil feedstocks.

Mass balance allows for a gradual increase of the bio-circular share using existing infrastructure with the target to reduce the use of fossil resources step by step. It is an approach to account for materials entering and leaving a system. The bio-circular feedstock is added at the beginning of the process, traced through intermediate transformations, and allocated to the end product. As both bio-circular and fossil feedstocks are mixed, it is not possible to guarantee a specific concentration in the final product. This is comparable to ‘green’ electricity, where consumers cannot be sure the electricity they use has come directly from renewable sources, but the overall share of green electricity in the grid rises in step with demand.

HEXPOL TPE identified mass balance as a good option for their medical customers as the resulting TPE material is a drop-in solution with identical properties. This is because monomers from renewable sources, but with the same quality and purity as those of fossil origin, are used to make bio-circular polymers (through mass balance). HEXPOL TPE can replace the fossil polymers in their TPE compounds with the bio-attributed mass-balanced version to create a 1:1 replacement. The technical properties, chemical composition, and regulatory status of the mass balance TPE will be the same as the corresponding fossil-based material.

Annika Swanholm, medical development engineer at HEXPOL TPE, commented, “It’s important for us to support our medical customers as they address the sustainability of their products and help them make informed material choices. To be included as part of our Mediprene portfolio of medical TPEs, we must also ensure we uphold the highest levels of raw-material selection, regulatory compliance, traceability and change management”.

Third-party verification is required to audit the mass balance allocation and allow for correct product labelling. HEXPOL TPE’s Swedish site was among the first TPE compounders to achieve the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC PLUS) last year. ISCC PLUS is a global certification scheme providing traceability along the supply chain and guarantees correct and transparent use of the mass balance approach. Certified companies must meet specific environmental and social standards, creating a chain of custody.

The new materials will form part of the Mediprene portfolio of TPEs for medical applications. Mass balance versions of their Mediprene 500M standard series are available, as well as customised grades. Typical applications include airway management, face masks, resealable membranes, IV systems, seals and connectors.

Inger Haag Olsson, medical development engineer at HEXPOL TPE, added, “These mass-balanced TPEs allow customers to meet performance requirements while ensuring the regulatory status and, at the same time, working towards their sustainability goals”.

HEXPOL TPE can provide cradle-to-gate Product Carbon Footprints (PCF) to further inform customers. HEXPOL TPE’s PCF methodology is built upon the principles of ISO 14067:2018 for the carbon footprint of products, which is associated with the principles and requirements of ISO standards 14040:2006 and 14044:2006 for life cycle assessment. The PCF provides CO2 equivalent data per kg of TPE, calculated from raw materials and their transportation, product manufacturing and packaging.

Mediprene medical TPEs with bio-attributed content according to the mass balance principle can be used in applications such as airway management, face masks, resealable membranes, IV systems, seals and connectors.

About HEXPOL TPE

PEFC Certificate for HEXPOL Lesina’s Natural Rubber Compounds

nadjaelsayed — Fri, 14 Oct 2022 09:30:19 +0000

PEFC Certificate for HEXPOL Lesina's Natural Rubber Compounds

PEFC is a Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification and the world’s largest forest certification organization.

HEXPOL Compounding Lesina S.R.O received a certificate which proved the conformity of the chain of custody requirements of PEFC ST 2001:2020 and 2002:2020 for natural rubber compounds.

Besides synthetic rubber, which is made from petrochemicals, HEXPOL uses natural rubber for several compound solutions.

Natural rubber is made from the latex sap of rubber trees, which derive from about 14 million hectares of plantations around the world, mainly run by smallholders in economically developing regions. Managing rubber plantations sustainably means fewer negative environmental and social impacts from the production of natural rubber and rubberwood.

PEFC certification is available to all companies that manufacture, process, trade or sell natural rubber and rubber wood products.

HEXPOL Compounding Lesina is now part of this supply chain and can provide PEFC-certified natural rubber compounds to all interested customers.

The current demand for natural rubber compounds, which are 100% based on PEFC-sourced natural rubber, is still small, but expected to grow in parallel with the industry’s increasing interest in more sustainable solutions.

Norbert Niemand, managing director of Lesina says: “Forests play a critical role for the global environment- especially in times of climate change. The certification of our plant shows our commitment towards a more sustainable value chain of natural rubber compounds and our intention to act responsibly.”

About HEXPOL Compounding

HEXPOL Rubber Compounding – HEXPOL Silicone & Rubber Compounding

HEXPOL TPE Announced as Partner in Polestar 0 Project

jillbradford — Wed, 14 Sep 2022 07:55:01 +0000

HEXPOL TPE Announced as Partner in Polestar 0 Project to Create a Climate-Neutral Car by 2030

Polestar, the Swedish electric performance car company, is accelerating its work to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions by welcoming new partners to the Polestar 0 project, among them is the polymer compounder HEXPOL TPE.

The Polestar 0 project is Polestar’s moon-shot goal of creating the first truly climate-neutral car by 2030 without offsetting. The project will work to identify and eliminate all greenhouse gas emissions from the extraction of raw materials to when the car is delivered to the customer, as well as the end-of-life handling. The partnership agreement is with HEXPOL TPE’s site in Åmål, Sweden.

Photo: Polestar

HEXPOL TPE will support the project with their knowledge and capabilities in thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) and soft polymer compounds. Including research into advancing possibilities with biobased and recycled content. The project’s scope will also involve supply chain mapping to identify all root sources of emissions and investigate logistics systems with zero CO2 emissions.

A project of this ambition requires partners at the cutting-edge of their industries and which are fully engaged in our bold vision. That’s why I’m looking forward to HEXPOL TPE becoming a crucial part of our team as we find solutions for developing an entirely climate-neutral supply chain. HEXPOL TPE’s expertise in thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) and soft polymer compounds will be invaluable in our mission and will play an integral role in pioneering new and innovative technologies to achieve what has so far been impossible

– Hans Pehrson, leader of the Polestar 0 Project

Photo: Polestar

This is a very inspiring project to be part of. It aligns with our work to enable a systems transformation in the polymer industry. To bring a true change, we need to collaborate on an unprecedented scale. We’ve already started the work and are excited to see where we go

– Thomas Nilsson, Managing Director HEXPOL TPE AB

About HEXPOL TPE

HEXPOL TPE is an international polymer compounding group specialising in Thermoplastic Elastomers (TPE) materials for key industries such as consumer, medical, construction, electronics and automotive. Polymer compounding is a high-technology process that enhances material properties and performance by combining polymers with additional ingredients. HEXPOL TPE was among the 1st companies to produce TPEs in Europe. Today, more than 50 years later, they continue to work with companies around the world, developing new polymer combinations and creating customised materials that are safer, more durable, more sustainable. HEXPOL TPE is part of the HEXPOL Group, headquartered in Malmö, Sweden. The Group has approximately 5,100 employees in fourteen countries.

About the Polestar 0 Project

The Polestar 0 project is Polestar’s moon-shot goal of creating the first truly climate-neutral car by 2030 which was announced in the company’s first annual review, published in April 2021. The scope of the project is to identify and eliminate all greenhouse gas emissions from the extraction of raw materials to when the car is delivered to the customer, as well as the end-of-life handling. The Polestar 0 project aims to cut carbon emissions by changing the way that cars are made, rather than using traditional processes and then planting trees to offset CO2e. This approach will encompass collaboration across the entire development process and value chain, from suppliers to retailers. The project targets what Polestar can measure and control: zero carbon emissions in the production of the car, delivery to customer, and end-of-life. The use phase of an electric car can already today be close to climate neutral if the car is charged with renewable energy. The timeline for launching a car in 2030 means the advanced research needs to be completed by 2025, when work with the car’s architecture begins. By 2027, the vehicle project starts, which means that the application of that research, the advanced engineering required to take a research project into industrial production, needs to be completed.

www.polestar.com/global/sustainability/climate-neutrality/polestar-0-project/

HEXPOL TPE Launch TPEs containing Maritime Waste Recyclate

jillbradford — Tue, 31 May 2022 11:56:42 +0000

HEXPOL TPE collaborates with Plastix to expand the use of Maritime Waste Recyclate

International TPE compounder HEXPOL TPE has added to their growing portfolio of Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE) materials containing recycled content. The new Dryflex Circular MWR TPEs contain recyclate coming from post-use maritime ropes.

For the MWR raw materials, HEXPOL TPE is working with PLASTIX A/S, a Danish plastic recycling company specialising in sorting and recycling plastic fibre waste from the maritime industry. They convert used fishnets, trawls and ropes that would previously have ended up in the ocean or on landfill into high-grade and virgin-like raw materials.

The Dryflex Circular MWR TPEs are available in 40 Shore A to 50 Shore D hardnesses with 10 to 60 % recycled content. They are available in black, blue, green and mint colours.

The new materials form part of the Dryflex Circular TPE portfolio, which also offers custom-formulated materials with PCR (Post Consumer) and PIR (Post Industrial) recyclate. Dryflex Circular TPEs are recyclable in closed-loop systems.

“We are continually investigating new recyclate sources to support the shift away from virgin materials. Reutilising what would be waste and giving it a new life to help keep valuable materials in circulation,” commented Jill Bradford, global marketing manager at HEXPOL TPE.

“What drew us to working with Plastix were the controls and quality of their products and that their work is evidence-based. They have conducted Life Cycle Assessment to provide data on the carbon footprint of their products.”

“Integrating post-consumer recycled material is essential in the world’s transition to a circular economy and requires its usage in all applications possible. We are excited to be working with HEXPOL TPE to make this happen,” states Hans Axel Kristensen, CEO and co-founder at Plastix.

About HEXPOL TPE

HEXPOL TPE Receives EcoVadis’ Platinum Medal for Sustainability

jillbradford — Mon, 28 Mar 2022 09:51:09 +0000

HEXPOL TPE Receives EcoVadis' Platinum Medal for Sustainability

In recognition of their sustainability work HEXPOL TPE, the international polymer compounding group has achieved platinum status in the EcoVadis ratings for their site in Manchester, UK.

The platinum rating puts HEXPOL TPE’s UK site in the top one per cent of companies evaluated in its industry. It was awarded at the end of 2021. The EcoVadis assessment focuses on performance over four themes: the environment, labour and human rights, ethics, and sustainable procurement.

“It takes commitment from many individuals to really work on sustainability. This accomplishment reflects the efforts of employees across the business. It’s really the result of people caring about the direction we take and using that concern in their roles,” commented Kirsty Wood, sustainability lead at HEXPOL TPE Ltd.

EcoVadis is an independent assessment organisation that evaluates companies’ sustainability performance. They rate performance by assessing a company’s policies, actions, and results, as well as inputs from third-party professionals and external stakeholders. Their methodology is based on international standards such as the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) and ISO 26000.

“It’s great to see a score like this that complements our ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 certification. Sustainable and continual improvement is a major focus, and the EcoVadis assessment is an excellent tool to support this goal,” added Katie Kenan, SHEQ manager HEXPOL TPE Ltd.

ENDS
Malmö, Sweden

About HEXPOL TPE

HEXPOL TPE is an international polymer compounding group specialising in Thermoplastic Elastomers (TPE) for key industries such as consumer, medical, packaging, automotive and construction. We were among the 1st companies to produce TPEs in Europe, and more than 50 years later, the possibilities continue to inspire us – yes, we’re self-confessed TPE freaks! Our international teams work with customers around the world, developing new polymer combinations & creating customised materials that are safer, more durable, more sustainable. As part of the HEXPOL group of companies, we share an extensive global footprint covering EU, Asia-Pacific and North America, enabling us to support our customers worldwide.

About EcoVadis

EcoVadis is the world’s most trusted provider of business sustainability ratings. Global supply chains, financial institutions and public organisations rely on EcoVadis to monitor and improve the sustainability performance of their business and trading partners. Backed by a powerful technology platform, EcoVadis’ evidence-based ratings are validated by a global team of experts, and are adapted to more than 200 industry categories, 160 countries, and companies of all sizes. Its actionable scorecards provide benchmarks, insights, and a guided improvement journey for environmental, social and ethical practices. Industry leaders such as Amazon, Johnson & Johnson, L’Oréal, Unilever, LVMH, Salesforce, Bridgestone, BASF, and ING Group are among the 85,000 businesses that collaborate with EcoVadis to drive resilience, sustainable growth and positive impact worldwide. Learn more at www.ecovadis.com

Sustainability | HEXPOL - A Material Difference

HEXPOL Compounding Americas Achieves ISCC PLUS Sustainability Certification

HEXPOL Middlefield has achieved The International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC PLUS) as a Rubber Compounding Processing Unit with mass balance chain of custody.

HEXPOL Middlefield ISCC Plus Certification Issued on 11.22.23

HEXPOL TPE awarded ISCC PLUS certification in Germany

HEXPOL TPE awarded ISCC PLUS certification in Germany

About HEXPOL TPE

Annual Report with Sustainability Report 2022

The HEXPOL Annual Report for 2022 with Sustainability Report is now available

Download the Sustainability Report for indepth insights

HEXPOL Compounding Americas Install Solar Arrays

Sustainability = Operational Savings

HEXPOL LESINA CO2 neutral in scopes 1 & 2 emissions

Preferred by Nature confirms HEXPOL Compounding Lesina s.r.o to be carbon neutral in Scopes 1 and 2 for the calculation year 2021.

About HEXPOL Compounding

HEXPOL TPE Launch Medical Mass Balance Thermoplastic Elastomers

HEXPOL TPE Launch Medical Mass Balance Thermoplastic Elastomers

About HEXPOL TPE

PEFC Certificate for HEXPOL Lesina’s Natural Rubber Compounds

PEFC Certificate for HEXPOL Lesina's Natural Rubber Compounds

About HEXPOL Compounding

HEXPOL TPE Announced as Partner in Polestar 0 Project

HEXPOL TPE Announced as Partner in Polestar 0 Project to Create a Climate-Neutral Car by 2030

About HEXPOL TPE

About the Polestar 0 Project

HEXPOL TPE Launch TPEs containing Maritime Waste Recyclate

HEXPOL TPE collaborates with Plastix to expand the use of Maritime Waste Recyclate

About HEXPOL TPE

About Plastix

HEXPOL TPE Receives EcoVadis’ Platinum Medal for Sustainability

HEXPOL TPE Receives EcoVadis' Platinum Medal for Sustainability

About HEXPOL TPE

About EcoVadis