WHY MATERIAL-SMART

Being material-smart is about making conscious choices of the optimal raw materials for each specific product. We always have climate, functionality and costs in mind. Our experts can help you reduce your company’s CO2 footprint.

Be material-smart and lower your CO2 footprint

CO2 footprint

In 2015, the UN adopted a new treaty on climate change, the Paris Agreement. Reaching the goal requires each of us to reduce our CO2 emissions and climate footprint by more than 10 % a year. This is why all of us — businesses, manufacturers and consumers — need to revisit our material choices. Here on materialsmart.se we help you to become material-smart and conscious about how you can contribute to lowering our CO2 emissions.

For any finished product on the shelf, between 60 and 80 percent of the carbon footprint originates from the raw materials it is produced from. That is why manufacturers have a responsibility to choose the best materials for their product in terms of function, weight and carbon footprint, but also a responsibility to choose the right packaging for the product. In many cases the carbon footprint can be reduced significantly by selecting plastic instead of, for instance, metal, wood or paper.

It is also possible to make a significant CO2 saving by replacing a plastic material with an optimized plastic raw material. This can also be achieved by switching from a virgin plastic raw material to a recycled material. There is a wide range of alternative materials for both products and packaging.

“- As consumers, we must actively choose the best option. As entrepreneurs or producers, we must also give consumers that opportunity. We do this by taking responsibility for ensuring that the product and its packaging have as little climate impact as possible during production. The right material for the right product. Henrik Palokangas, Sustainability Specialist for polymer materials, Polykemi, Ystad, Sweden.”

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CO2 footprint 
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CO2 footprint

We can help companies make the optimal material choice with regard to current sustainability and CO2 footprint demands. This is also an opportunity to save time and weight.

CO2 footprint

Scientific study paves way

Polykemi Group, which consists of companies such as Polykemi, Scanfill and Rondo Plast, has for decades produced climate-optimized plastic materials. These are used for everything from cars and dishwashers to gym equipment and gardening tools, as well as primary and secondary packaging.

In 2020, we started the work with conducting a scientific study of the impact our materials leave on the climate. This is an ongoing process that involves all companies within the Polykemi Group. The study has shown that the choice of material has a significant role in the fight for the climate. The work on the study has resulted in a detailed calculation tool that gives our experts the opportunity to calculate the CO2 footprint of our materials when they leave our production facilities in Ystad, Sweden and Kunshan, China.

This gives our customers correct and necessary information to be able to calculate their own environmental impact on the produced component. This leads to them being able to achieve their environmental goals faster.

The study was conducted in collaboration with a third party to ensure an objective analysis according to applicable standards. The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA ISO 14040) methodology was used to quantify the environmental aspects of existing or planned products.

When our new factories are completed in Chongqing, China and in Charlotte NC, USA, we plan to carry out the same work there.

Polykemi Group has extensive experience of both virgin and recycled materials. Now we also has the tools to simulate the effects of materials choices.
Thanks to our solid knowledge, we can create materials that are optimized for climate, properties and costs. These are three parameters that go hand in hand when used correctly.
CO2 footprint

Simulate your material choices

The calculator allows you to simulate various material choices and compare their impacts on the environment. We are happy to provide exact figures for the environmental impact of our materials in your particular project. Contact us and we will gladly help you!

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reduce the CO2 footprint

Each material choice has an impact on the climate

Every product that is manufactured has an impact on our climate. This means that every choice of material you make affects the climate. There are great opportunities to improve the knowledge about this. You can act material-smart, reduce the climate footprint and at the same time save cost.

Some material-smart choices to think about:

  • Replacing an aluminium profile with extruded ABS plastic, reduces the CO2 footprint by more than
    80 %.
  • A bowl made from PP has a climate impact ten times lower than a corresponding product made of stainless steel.
  • A part that needs to be painted can be made of an optimized recycled quality. For example, an exterior vehicle detail in PC/ABS can save up to 4 kg of CO2-e for each kilo of material used.
  • Packaging is an important part of the fight against food waste. When a cucumber is wrapped in 1.5 grams of plastic, the shelf life is increased by 11 days, compared to a cucumber that is not wrapped in plastic.

Our experts have already helped a large number of customers in various industries. They have reduced their CO2 footprint by optimizing their choice of raw materials.

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