SABIC, Drylock and Plastik Group partner for absorbent hygiene applications with circular certified polymers

• Recycling of materials into hygiene applications: Certified circular polymers from SABIC’s TRUCIRCLE™ portfolio are used in recyclable hygiene film for feminine hygiene, baby care and disposable medical applications
• High-purity recycled material can be adopted in downstream processes as a direct drop-in with no compromise in production efficiency and product performance
• Value chain partnership between SABIC, Plastik Group and Drylock Technologies expands use of alternative feedstock in market segment of absorbent hygiene products; first product already launched in the market, and more to come

SABIC, a global leader in the chemical industry, has announced that Plastik Group, a major international manufacturer of films and bags for the hygiene market, is using certified circular polymers from SABIC’s TRUCIRCLE™ portfolio in the production of specialty films designed for absorbent disposables offered by Drylock Technologies. Drylock has approved the use of these films for various absorbent hygiene applications, such as sanitary pads, panty liners, towels and diapers in feminine, baby and incontinence care.

“There is a global trend towards identifying solutions for single-use disposable absorbent hygiene products” says Abdullah Al-Otaibi, General Manager of Engineering Thermoplastic & Market Solutions at SABIC. “With our TRUCIRCLE™ initiative, we identified sustainable solution for such challenge. Our value chain partnership with Plastik Group and Drylock can serve as a role model for making a difference. While it demonstrates a feasible route to more responsible, circular product solutions, it meets with our aims to increase efficiency and create value of used materials that would otherwise end up as waste in landfill sites or incineration plants.”

SABIC produces TRUCIRCLE™ certified circular polymers for its SABIC PURECARES™ polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) polymers portfolio with feedstock from advanced recycling of mixed and used plastic, which keeps valuable used plastic in the circular chain. Plastik Group uses PP and PE resins from this portfolio to create various innovative film materials for absorbent hygiene applications. Drylock has selected these films for manufacturing a range of new hygiene products that meet increased regulatory, brand owner and consumer demands for more responsible, lower-carbon and waste reducing solutions without compromising safety, purity and convenience. 

At the end of their service life, these hygiene products can be returned into the raw materials cycle for separation of components, cleaning and re-conversion to circular feedstock.

“We operate two manufacturing sites for hygiene films and bags accredited to mass balance accounting according to the International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC) PLUS regime for tracing the circular or bio-based material content throughout the entire production chain,” states Cattaneo Gianangelo, President at Plastik Group. “Depending on customer specifications and technical requirements, the content of circular certified polymers from SABIC in our films can be raised all the way up to 100 percent, resulting in a significantly lower carbon footprint compared to conventional hygiene films.”

“Being a global leader in sustainable hygiene products means taking care of a lot of things, from vegan and cruelty-free solutions to maintaining our carbon neutral status,” adds Jules Van Malderen, Business Development Director at Drylock Technologies. “The substitution of standard virgin PE film by paper and film based on recycled PE is just one example. We will continue moving further into this direction, as fast and disruptive innovation is a part of our DNA, even more so when it comes to sustainability. After all, by our slogan we ‘Innovate to protect’.”

Absorbent hygiene application samples illustrating the benefits of this value chain collaboration will be featured during K 2022 from October 19 to 26 in Düsseldorf, Germany, at SABIC’s Booth D42 in Hall 6.