Perstorp Starts Switch to Sustainable Polyols
Swedish chemical producer Perstorp is making strides toward its sustainability goals following its mid-May announcement that it will be acquired by Malaysian petrochemicals giant Petronas Group (PCG) for €1.54 billion.
At the time, CEO Jan Secher said the company will be able to tap PCG’s strength and market-leading position to achieve the scale needed to increase the pace of innovation and accelerate its sustainable transformation.
This week, the compay announced plans to convert production of “a large majority” of the polyols made at Perstorp, Sweden, to “pro-environment” products. In the process it will reduce greenhouse gas emissions toward its goal of becoming climate neutral, in line with the Paris accord.
Products to be switched up to 2023 include all fossil-fuel based grades of pentaerythritol (penta), neopentyl glycol and trimethylolpropane. In their place, Perstorp will produce and market new products that were developed between 2010 and 2017 and bear the brand names Voxtar, Evyrone and Neeture.
All of the new materials are of partly renewable or recycled origin, based on a traceable mass-balance concept and certified with ISCC PLUS, meaning that they are identical to the fossil-based versions and can be used as drop-in replacements. Perstorp said the transition will significantly reduce its usage of finite materials, and allow it to market products with a lower carbon footprint.
“Phasing out the fossil base polyols produced at the site in Perstorp is a bold move, but we are convinced that this is the only way forward for us, as an industry, to align with the Paris Agreement and significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.” Secher said.
“As an upstream company in the chemical industry we can, and should, make a positive impact across multiple value-chains by offering products with a reduced carbon footprint,” he added. Perstorp additionally manufactures polyols in China, Italy and the US.
Author: Dede Williams, Freelance Journalist
