Exel Composites launches commercial scale use of biobased resins

In Finland, Exel Composites has announced a new purchasing agreement with chemical manufacturing giant INEOS for over 100 metric tons of its ENVIREZ bio-based resin system. 

This deal will serve as a springboard for the firm to phase out its use of hydrocarbon-derived resins. 

This specific INEOS ENVIREZ resin’s chemical composition features 23% bio-based glycol, compared to traditional crude oil-sourced hydrocarbon resins. Resultantly, the carbon equivalent emissions in the manufacture of this resin are 2.89 CO­2e kg including biogenic carbon, as opposed to fossil-based equivalent resin’s 3.68 CO­2e kg*, the company said.

“The manufacturing industry simply won’t reach its sustainability targets through isolated initiatives,” said Kim Sjödahl, SVP of technology and sustainability at Exel Composites. “We know that genuinely making a difference means adapting our central processes and incorporating more eco-friendly materials into our high-volume manufacturing.

“All our evaluation and testing confirms INEOS’ information: its drop-in bio-based solution yields the same technical performance as with the fossil-based resins. Customers won’t notice any difference between the two,” continued Sjödahl.

Exel also said its customers will have the choice of switching to this resin or keeping the original composition in the products that they purchase, 

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