Sustainable alternative to plastic

Sulapac materials are designed to replace conventional plastics in cosmetic packaging, food service items, and homewares. They have a low carbon footprint and they are circular by design. Unlike conventional plastics, the bio-based and biodegradable Sulapac materials are safe for people and the planet: they leave no permanent microplastic or toxic load behind, yet they meet the quality standards of the world’s most prestigious luxury brands.

Low carbon footprint

Sulapac materials enable significant reductions in CO2 emissions helping companies to reach their climate targets while elevating the customer experience.

Safe for people and the planet

The bio-based and biodegradable Sulapac materials leave no persistent microplastics or toxic substances behind. They are certified industrially or home compostable (excluding Sulapac Barrier).

Circular by design

Sulapac materials are made with recycled content and side stream raw materials. They can be mechanically and/or chemically recycled.

Easy to adopt

Sulapac materials are converted into products with existing plastic processing machinery, enabling a practical and resource efficient transition towards a cleaner future.

Reduce your carbon footprint with Sulapac

Plastics account for 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions. The production of oil-based plastic is estimated to double in the next 25 years further increasing the atmospheric CO2 burden and accelerating climate change. Industries relying on oil-based plastic need sustainable low carbon alternatives like Sulapac.

Sulapac materials are composed of 55% to 100% certified bio-based ingredients. Hence, they allow for the substitution of fossil-based carbon with biogenic carbon, a crucial step to keep the natural carbon cycle in balance.

Our current CFP calculations are based on the assumption that the biopolymers used are first-generation feedstock. However, majority of the Sulapac material grades can already be manufactured using recycled biopolymers. This results in even lower carbon footprint. The life cycle assessment for selected Sulapac materials with recycled content is ongoing, and we can’t wait to share the results!

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Disclaimer Disclaimer

The results are based on confidential, application-specific study by a customer. Therefore, only difference in percentage is presented to compare the materials and support decision-making.​

Promoting the bioeconomy

Sulapac materials are made with 70–100% biobased raw materials – and we’re not stopping there. Our goal is to have all our core portfolio materials made from 100% biobased ingredients by 2035.

So, what biobased ingredients do we use? Firstly, we use wood chips and wood flour from industrial side streams as natural fillers. Our other main raw material group is biodegradable, biobased biopolymers, including high-performance polylactic acid supplied by TotalEnergies Corbion. Their Luminy® PLA is based on ethically farmed, GMO-free sugarcane and produced in an EcoVadis Platinum-certified facility.

Designed for circularity

Along with maximizing the use of biobased ingredients, we’re also committed to increasing the share of non-first generation feedstock. Part of the biopolymers we use are recycled (based on the mass balance allocation method), and our wood is always second-generation feedstock.

Together with our suppliers, customers, and partners we’re advancing the use of recycled content and further enabling the recyclability of Sulapac and other biobased, biodegradable materials. With each closed-loop project, every tonne of Sulapac recovered, and every truckload of recycled content ordered, we’re paving the way toward a fully circular bioeconomy.

From built-in sustainability to continuous improvement

Our materials enable a cleaner future and a healthier living environment for all species. Yet we believe there’s always a higher standard to strive for.

Besides constantly improving our products and their positive impact on the planet, we are also committed to continuously reducing the climate impact and environmental footprint of our own operations and fostering a socially responsible supply chain.

Read about our sustainability approach here.

Sustainability without compromises

Nature knows best. That’s why we design Sulapac materials to mimic the beauty, functionality, and circularity of nature.

Beautiful

UNIQUE LOOK & FEEL

Beautiful appearance based on a unique combination of raw materials.

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Functional

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE

Range of materials optimized for specific application requirements.

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MASS-PRODUCIBLE

Processable with existing plastic converting machinery with competitive production speed.

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PREMIUM QUALITY

Rigorous testing protocol, advanced technical support and quality assurance to ensure premium outcome.

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Sustainable

BIO-BASED

With up to 100% biobased content1: bio-based biodegradable biopolymers and sustainable fillers such as wood from industrial side streams as main raw materials.

NO PERMANENT MICROPLASTICS

Can be digested by naturally occurring microorganisms into CO2, water and biomass.2

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LOW CARBON FOOTPRINT

Up to over 70% lower cradle-to-gate carbon footprint compared to conventional plastic.3

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SAFE FOR PEOPLE AND PLANET

Safe formulations, no ecotoxic impacts. Biodegradable also in open environments leaving no permanent microplastic or toxic load behind.6  FDA and/or EU food contact compliant.

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CIRCULAR BY DESIGN

Recyclability (chemical and/or mechanical) demonstrated by independent third parties.4 Incorporating feedstock from industrial and agricultural side streams and recycled content where available.5

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RESPONSIBLY SOURCED

Made of responsibly sourced sustainable raw materials. Supplier and raw material approval process specified in our ISO 9001 certified quality management system.

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Disclaimers Disclaimers

1) USDA Bio-based certification. Certification info available in the Regulatory Data Sheet of each material.

2)Depending on the material grade, Sulapac materials show 49,7–100% relative biodegradation into CO2 in 420 days or less in simulated marine environment (30C)(ASTM D6691). Sulapac Universal also tested according to ASTM 5511 (accelerated biodegradation in the landfill, 37C): reached 68% relative biodegradation in 160 days.

3) For example, 0,09 kg CO2eq/kg for Sulapac Universal (Cradle-to-gate LCA screening performed by an independent third-party consultancy). The corresponding value for polypropylene is 1,7 kg CO2eq/kg. The value for each material can be found within the individual material descriptions.

4) Recycling bio-based biodegradable materials is technically feasible, but the infrastructure is still under development. Sulapac materials can be sorted out of a mixed waste stream with NIR. When collected together, Sulapac materials do not interfere with the current recycling of conventional fossil-based or bio-based non-biodegradable plastics.

5) Our wood originates from certified forests. We always follow our strict Policy for Sustainable Sourcing.

6) Ecotoxicity and threshold values for heavy metals meet the requirements set for compostable materials according to EN 13432 (excluding Sulapac Barrier). All raw materials comply with the US FDA requirements for food contact materials.

7) Sulapac Solid and straw made of Sulapac Flow 1.7 have been tested for per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) by an independent laboratory (ISO/IEC 17025 certified) based on CEN/TS 15968 test method; No PFAS were detected.

8) BPI and/or Seedling certificate for most recipes. Certification info available in the technical data sheet of each material.

Scientific background

Deep dive into our material features and learn about the scientific criteria and validation behind our statements.

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Materials for various technologies

The Sulapac material portfolio includes a range of sustainable materials for injection molding, extrusion, thermoforming, and 3D printing.

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Contact our team

Replace conventional plastic with the beautiful, functional and sustainable Sulapac material. We will help you to make the switch smoothly.

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