Neste, LyondellBasell, Biofibre and Naftex are cooperating in the production of building elements combining polymers with bio-based content with natural fibers.

 

Neste, a Finnish producer of kraft and raw materials for the chemical and plastics industries, is reportedly supplying polyolefin producer LyondellBasell with "Neste RE." This is a raw material for plastics production made from 100 percent bio-based materials such as waste and residues, it said. LyondellBasell then processes this raw material into the polypropylene CirculenRenew C14, which is said to have a measurable biobased content. The biocompound manufacturer Biofibre then uses this to produce natural-fiber-reinforced plastic pellets. Finally, Naftex, a manufacturer of beams and profiles, uses these granules in an extrusion process to produce components such as fence posts or profiles for decking. These solutions for the construction sector would have a reduced carbon footprint and served as temporary carbon stores. Carbon previously taken from the atmosphere during the growth of the biomass used as raw material would be sequestered in the building material products during the use phase of several years or even decades. An LCA study conducted by GreenSurvey for Biofibre is said to confirm that the amount of carbon removed from the atmosphere by the biomass used is greater than the amount of emissions generated along the supply chain by the logistics and production of the fiber-reinforced plastic granules. Martin Bussmann, Brand Owner Manager in Neste's Renewable Polymers and Chemicals Business Unit, believes it is very important for the construction sector to develop innovative ways to combat climate change: "Renewable solutions such as the renewable raw material for plastics, Neste RE, can play a decisive role in this. The long use phase of the building elements creates a carbon reservoir: the materials can store the carbon taken from the atmosphere and in this way serve as a temporary buffer in the fight against climate change."
 
Sources:

• recyclingportal.eu (Ausgust 29, 2023)
• Photo: © Naftex