SABIC and DSM combine efforts to create DYNEEMA® products from certified circular polymers

SABIC and Royal DSM, a global science-based company in Nutrition, Health, and Sustainable Living, have announced a collaboration to create new Dyneema® products made using certified circular polymers from SABIC’s TRUCIRCLE™ portfolio of circular solutions.  

In this pilot project, DSM will produce Dyneema®, an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (HMPE) made using SABIC’s certified circular ethylene in both a sailing rope and a pelagic trawl net application. The circular ethylene, from SABIC’s TRUCIRCLE™ portfolio, uses mixed plastic waste as feedstock, which not only contributes to preventing valuable plastic from becoming waste and the avoidance of carbon emissions compared to incineration, but it will also help preserve fossil resources.

SABIC’s certified circular materials are produced via advanced recycling that regenerates hard-to-recycle plastics, which would otherwise typically be destined for incineration or landfill. It breaks them down to produce basic chemical building blocks, which are then used as an alternative feedstock to recreate high-performance plastics akin to a virgin material – in this case, certified circular polyethylene. 

Abdullah Al-Otaibi, General Manager of Engineering Thermoplastics & Market Solutions for Petrochemicals at SABIC, said: “This pilot programme with DSM is another significant step closer towards closing the loop and enhancing the recyclability of materials produced for high-stake industries. 

At SABIC, we are committed to innovating and working with partners to change how plastic is made and used. We believe collaboration is vital to drive forward and develop innovative solutions which help to create a circular economy where we use our natural resources wisely and responsibly.”

Since early 2019, SABIC has been supplying its certified circular products to leading customers and converters, providing them with access to more sustainable materials to create an extensive variety of innovative and highly advanced applications ranging from food contact packaging to consumer and hygiene products.

Jan-Lodewijk Lindemulder, President DSM Protective Materials commented: “This achievement is a key milestone on the journey toward our goal of delivering a fully circular Dyneema. By working with partners from across the value chain, we are able to significantly reduce the environmental impact of the world’s strongest fiber – and we will continue to explore ways of reducing and eliminating waste across the entire product lifecycle.” 

Jon Mitchell, Managing Director at Marlow Ropes said: “We’re proud to be one of the first manufacturers to integrate recycled-based Dyneema within our products and demonstrate the material’s feasibility. By collaborating with materials science pioneers such as DSM and SABIC, we are able to create products that not only deliver superlative functional performance but also have a lower environmental impact. Our products are trailed and tested by professional offshore sailing teams including 11th Hour Racing Team, a proud partner of ours at Marlow, with whom we share a progressive approach to seeking sustainable solutions: no more business as usual."

Klaus Walther at Gleistein said: “Warm congratulations to DSM and SABIC for pushing the boundaries of science to deliver a truly unique product. We’re proud that our ropes can be produced from what once was typical household plastic waste. This is an important stepping stone towards becoming circular. It will enable our customer Maritiem BV to further develop high-tech fishing gear whilst contributing to the circular economy. And not forgetting Cornelis Vrolijk Fishing Company, who again illustrate their commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility by introducing this concept in fishery.” 

SABIC’s TRUCIRCLE portfolio and services span design for recyclability and closed loop services, to mechanically recycled materials, certified circular products from advanced recycling of used plastics and certified renewable polymers from bio-based feedstock. SABIC's certified polymers are based on a mass balance approach. This widely recognized international sustainability certification scheme verifies that the mass balance accounting follows predefined and transparent rules. In addition, it provides traceability along the supply chain, from the feedstock to the final product.