BEWISYNBRA GROUP AB
CLOSING THE CIRCLE
BEWISYNBRA GROUP AB
WE LEARN HOW A LEADING PROVIDER OF EPS MATERIALS IS LEADING THE CHARGE TO A CIRCULAR ECONOMY.
CLOSING THE CIRCLE PROJECT MANAGED BY: NEIL STOWE 2 | BUSINESS FOCUS MAGAZINE
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BEWISYNBRA GROUP AB
BEWiSynbra Group is a leading provider of EPS materials and the components in insulation and construction material in Europe. Working as an integrated company, BEWiSynbra produces its own raw materials and supplies them to its own downstream processes alongside other external customers, giving the company good knowledge of market dynamics in Europe.
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“W
e are an integrated supplier, with our own raw material and our own production units,” says Jonas Siljeskär, CEO of BEWiSynbra. “By managing the entire value chain we can close the loop while leading the industry’s development toward a more circular approach.
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Tricon is an industry leader in the global trade and distribution market. We add value to our suppliers and customers through providing industry leading logistics, risk management, financing, and market intelligence services. We originate and market products globally, meeting specific location, quality, timing and volume requirements. We also provide a versatile range of price risk management and contracting tools to our clients. Every day, we strive to enhance international commerce through the physical movement and marketing of industrial Chemicals, Fuels, Polymers, Raw Materials, and Fertilizers. We are committed to providing our clients and suppliers with streamlined services so they can focus on their core business. With our worldwide team of professionals, we have grown from a business that began with distribution of specialized petrochemicals, to a global leader in the trading of various commodities.
www.triconenergy.com
Address: 777 Post Oak Blvd. Suite 550, Houston, TX 77056 USA Email: info@triconenergy.com Phone: +1 (713) 963-0066
SEKISUI KASEI BEWISYNBRA AND SEKISUI KASEI ‘We are a global player in fine polymers and foam particles. In our industry – and to be more precise, in our partnerships – trust alone is not enough. We need to have partners that are open, willing and capable to break the mould. To step away from what’s ‘normally’ used in their industry, in order to discover innovative alternatives. BEWiSynbra shares this mindset.’ Eric van de Aast, Business Manager of Sekisui Kasei Europe BV continues: ‘In our line of business it’s the change from using common EPP and EPS foam particles to using our Piocelan. We don’t claim Piocelan to be the replacement product for all the products moulders develop. But there are quite some high level cases in which Piocelan can bring about a revolution in what’s possible. This impacts not only product development and business opportunities, but can also help tackle the environmental challenges we have at hand as a society. In this we are completely aligned with BEWiSynbra and their strategic agenda. And very important: they are in the position to bring change into practice.’ WHAT IS YOUR CHALLENGE? ‘We feel every partner should start by asking a product developer: What is your challenge? For example, the challenge isn’t to produce a commodity component. The challenge is what
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requirements that component should have. This means you shouldn’t just go for industry’s standard EPP or EPS. You should first keep in mind the type of product for your ideal match. This could very well be Piocelan, with its unique specs. BEWiSynbra was open to take this approach in their R&D. Once they discovered what was possible with our hybrid alternative, a new realm of possibilities inspired their product development.’ A WINNING TEAM ‘We at Sekisui Kasei aren’t focused on delivering a product that’s suitable just for today.’ as Thijs Wansink, Managing Director of Sekisui Kasei Europe BV states. ‘We feel it’s our responsibility to have a wider scope in mind. This involves future generations who will continue to use what we produce today. But also the simple fact that we can truly make an impact when it comes to magnitude: on a global scale we are part of automobile components, packaging materials, construction, housing, cosmetics, LCD-screens, medicals and more. For us this logically leads to the question: How can we take advantage of how our products contribute to end-products and thus society? Our position and knowledge make us a game changer. But we need team players to win the game. And given our track record together so far, BEWiSynbra and Sekisui Kasei have been on a winning streak. www.sekisuikasei.com
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ICL ICL, a global manufacturer of products based on unique minerals, fulfills humanity’s essential needs in three markets: agriculture, food and engineered materials. The company extracts raw materials from well-positioned mineral assets and utilizes technology and industrial know-how to add value for customers in key agricultural and industrial markets worldwide. ICL is the world’s largest producer of elemental bromine, supplying over 33% of global demand. The company is leader in the production and marketing of bromine and phosphorus flame retardants for a wide range of applications in different industries. At ICL, sustainability drives our development, from the first stage of product design to end-of-life. We continually monitor market trends to introduce cost effective innovations that enhance the value downstream, while diminishing our ecological footprint. Seek to formulate for sustainable construction materials? We have just the right solution! Our new polymeric FR-122P for EPS and XPS insulation systems enhances fire safety and has superior environmental profile, allowing modern buildings to combine the best of fire safety with energy efficiency and recyclability at end-of-life.
GLOBAL LEADER IN MANUFACTURING, DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPLY OF FLAME RETARDANTS
ICL is an active participant in global circular economy efforts. We are tackling circularity both from the industrial processes and from the product end-of-life perspective, working closely with our value chain to pioneer breakthrough recycling technologies. Thus, we are one of the founders of the PolyStyrene Loop recycling scheme.
#1 in Bromine capacity #1 in bromine and phosphorus based flame retardants
ICL is a public company whose shares are dual-listed on New York and Tel Aviv Stock Exchanges (NYSE and TASE: ICL). www.icl-ip.com
High quality, Safe and Sustainable products Pioneer in FR recycling technologies Global manufacturing and supply capacity
Looking for maximum flexibility in your particle foam processing? With the EMMotion Flex you secure more flexibility and efficiency through uncomplicated use of monoblock moulds and third-party products - at simultaneous use of the toggle-drive! BEST DRIVE SYSTEM WITHOUT HYDRAULIC
Email: frinfo@icl-group.com www.icl-ip.com
• Maintenance friendly
• No loss of stroke
• No viscosity variations
• EM quick mould change system
• Clean production area
• Even movement on moveable side
• Low noise emission
• No lowering of the moveable chamber
• Powerful and even drive
• High positioning and repeat accuracy
• Speed: 500mm / sec.
Visit our website
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Watch our video
Erlenbach GmbH Am Rödchen 1, D-56355 Lautert T: +49 6772 8010 E: info@erlenbach.de www.erlenbach.com
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BEWISYNBRA GROUP AB
This means taking responsibility for the entire life cycle of EPS from procurement of input goods to product development and production, to collection and recycling of EPS that will form the raw materials for new products.”
Jonas Siljeskär, CEO of BEWiSynbra.
A GREAT RESPONSIBILITY
Of course, lots of companies talk big about the sustainability of their work, but for BEWiSynbra this is more than a marketing exercise. “Founded in the Norwegian archipelago, BEWiSynbra has been committed to sustainability and focused on reusing EPS long before sustainability became a buzzword,” Siljeskär insists. “EPS is amazing as it is completely recyclable, and we strive to become the EPS manufacturer with the strongest sustainability profile. In 2018, we established BEWiSynbra Circular, a unit for minimizing the company’s impact on the environment using concepts and operations for recycling EPS.”
The important thing, Siljeskär tells us, is for companies to be accountable for their role in protecting the environment. “Being in the plastic industry, we need to take full responsibility, so we’re looking to our suppliers to also follow our guidelines when it comes to the circular economy by recycling their materials.” He says. “We create value to our customers by providing them with whole solutions, and the circular offering is a crucial part of that solution. We have a very rewarding working relationship with many of our customers. A good example of how cooperation can bring
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a great result to the customer is how our main supplier of EPP now have provided the recycled raw material for EPP. We are constantly looking at new ways of working and solutions in order to develop with our customers and market needs”.
“WE NEED TO PLAY A VERY IMPORTANT PART IN TAKING THE PLASTIC SUSTAINABILITY WORK TO THE NEXT LEVEL.” 8 | BUSINESS FOCUS MAGAZINE
While the company is keen to embrace their role in creating a more sustainable future, it’s not a goal they can achieve alone, and Siljeskär points out that Europe has a long way to go in establishing the kind of plastic recycling infrastructure necessary. “The challenge is huge, that’s why I like our company. We never give up. Whenever we take two steps back it’s so we can pick up speed and move forward,” he says. “Europe is not so mature when it comes to plastic recycling. Glass and aluminium, that has already had
established systems for many years. But there’s also evidence since we’ve debated plastic within the European Union that they will be adding taxes to the plastic industry, with all the plastics in the ocean and the microplastics.” BEWiSynbra is establishing itself as a front runner in this arena alongside its suppliers. “We need to play a very important part in taking the plastic sustainability work to the next level. In the EU today there are no systems at all to collect and decide what to do with plastic materials,” Siljeskär
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BEWISYNBRA GROUP AB
says. “For aluminium and glass bottles, they have this system in place already, it is possible. The main challenge is to establish that system in Europe for plastic.”
“IT’S VERY IMPORTANT WE LOOK AT THE WASTE MARKET TODAY AS A COMPETITION BECAUSE EVERYONE IS STARTING NOW TO BE REALLY INTERESTED IN THE WASTE STREAMS. THE WASTE WILL BE A TICKET TO US TO AVOID THE PLANNED TAXES ON MICROPLASTIC, SO WE NEED TO KEEP UP.”
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While Siljeskär is keen for the governments in the EU to take a lead on this matter, BEWiSynbra isn’t going to wait around for that to happen. “Our role is very clear at least to us,” he says. “We are doing real things, putting up greenfield factories that will have to do business as a collector and processor to get the polystyrene back to our raw materials factories. We’re buying other companies that are doing waste collecting, we’re investing in extrusion technology and chemical recycling. We’ve invested 10 million euros over three years in our circular system, and have 20,000 tons of collected polystyrene from the market going back to our production.” At the same time as paying attention to the environmental
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GREEN IS THE NEW BLACK ARPRO expanded polypropylene (EPP) is going full circle. We are applying circular economy to provide continual use of resources. JSP uses newly produced material made from recycled EPP to produce its ARPRO 5134 RE with a recyclate content of 25%. This not only saves resources but also reduces CO2 emissions by up to 12% compared with virgin material. ARPRO Expanded Polypropylene is a 3D engineering material that delivers energy absorption with structural strength at very low weight. It also offers chemical resistance as well as thermal and acoustic insulation. ARPRO is 100% recyclable.
ARPRO.COM
JSP - USING ARPRO, EXPANDED POLYPROPYLENE (EPP) CAN HELP REDUCE CO2 EMISSIONS
BEWISYNBRA GROUP AB
JSP and BEWi have worked together since 2014 to develop answers to a circular economy. Both companies strive to provide sustainable and pragmatic concepts to anticipate regulatory and industrial requirements now and in the future. In the last two years, JSP and BEWi have focused on developing automotive series parts, including safety applications, using ARPRO RE, which is made from 25% recycled end-of-life moulded parts, producing 12% less CO2 emissions during production compared with virgin materials. In addition, BEWi has used ARPRO 35 Ocean to mould a range of consumer products. Made from 15% recycled maritime industry waste, this grade of ARPRO has comparable physical properties and performance to virgin APRRO and reduces CO2 emissions by 7% during production. In January 2018, the EU proposed the European Strategy for Plastics in the Circular Economy to change the way plastic products are designed, used, produced and recycled. In 2020 during the recovery plan for Europe this proposal was accepted. The regulations from the proposal are to be introduce from the 1st January 2021; companies must abide by these changes or face an €0.80 fine per kg for any packaging that does not have recycled content in. Another EU regulation where ARPRO can help reduce CO2 emissions focuses on the decarbonisation of vehicles. By 2021 car manufacturers in particular have a requirement to emit less than 95 grams of CO2 per kilometre on average. Exceeding this will incur a €95 fine for every excess gram of CO2 per km, multiplied by the number of cars the manufacturer sells in 2020. Green company indices show the Nordic region are a few years ahead of central Europe in the circular economy and its approach to sustainability. In 2018, Volvo Cars announced that by 2025 25% of plastic in their vehicles would be made from recycled content. Nordic leaders have pledged to the UN to become the most decarbonised region in the world by 2030. The UN introduced 17 Sustainable Development Goals in 2015 including climate action on decarbonisation. European countries were early adopter to convert these goals into directives. From these the EU announced the 2019 to 2024 European Green Deal and the 2030 Climate target plan. The goals, package and framework are changing how many industries are working by boosting the efficient use of resources when moving to a clean, circular economy. To address these challenges, JSP can help companies achieve sustainability targets. By replacing virgin EPP material solutions, or injection moulded plastics designs, with ARPRO recycled grades companies can make a positive step towards reducing CO2 emissions, achieving sustainability targets via lightweight solutions while guaranteeing the material’s performance. ARPRO is at the forefront of innovation and change. It is a pioneering lightweight, impact energy absorption material with an increasing percentage of recycled content. The material is chemical resistant and offers thermal and acoustic insulation with a very high strength-to-weight ratio. ARPRO is the only global offering of EPP with recycled content; it is 100% recyclable from end-of-life moulded products. Manufacturer of ARPRO, JSP, has a long history of producing sustainable solutions, offering the first 15% recycled-content, ARPRO 5135 RE in 2010 to support the decarbonisation strategies of all industrial sectors from automotive, HVAC, packaging and supply chain concepts. About JSP JSP is a specialist in thermoplastic foams delivering ARPRO for automotive applications, HVAC, transportation, sporting goods and more. JSP is the only company with a global presence in research, development and production in the field of expanded polypropylene particle foams. The company is active with innovations to make products safer, lighter, competitive and more sustainable.
www.ARPRO.com
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stakes, Siljeskär also recognises that the market they’re operating in is becoming more competitive. “It’s very important we look at the waste market today as a competition because everyone is starting now to be interested in the waste streams. The waste will be a ticket to us to avoid the planned taxes on microplastic, so we need to keep up,” Siljeskär says. “Our target is 60,000 tons of collected polystyrene from the market, which is the amount of EPS we sell that is estimated to have a life-cycle of under one year.”
KEEPING TO THE MISSION
While the issues around plastic pollution are essential and pressing, other issues have risen to the top of every business agenda this year. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a huge impact across the board, but it hasn’t dissuaded BEWiSynbra from its priorities.
“OUR TARGET IS 60,000 TONS OF COLLECTED POLYSTYRENE FROM THE MARKET. THIS IS BECAUSE 60,000 TONS HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS THE VOLUME OF RAW MATERIAL FOR APPLICATIONS THAT HAVE A LIFETIME OF LESS THAN ONE YEAR.” “We had the same question last week from our board, and we among many other companies in this part of Europe were of course very much impacted by the corona outbreak,” Siljeskär tells us. “It started at the beginning of March, and in April we could
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“WE NEED TO STAY TOGETHER AND CLOSER TO OUR CUSTOMER. WE DO BELIEVE THAT OUR WAY OF DOING BUSINESS WITH OUR SUPPLIERS AND CUSTOMERS WILL BE GOING HAND IN HAND WITH THEM. FOR INSTANCE, WE CAN SEE THAT AN AUTOMOTIVE BUSINESS WANTS US TO WORK WITH THEM. THEY WANT US INVOLVED AT AN EARLY STAGE AS WE’VE STARTED TO DEVELOP AUTOMOTIVE PRODUCTS TO SUPPLY THEM WITH. THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF OUR SUPPLIER DEVELOPING RAW MATERIALS CONTAINING RECYCLED MATERIAL TO MAKE THEIR NEXT CAR MORE SUSTAINABLE.” BUSINESSFOCUSMAGAZINE.COM
see the technical packaging and components weren’t selling. The pandemic hit certain regions and countries harder than others, so while deliveries to the automotive industry were severely impacted our business in other segments were more or less unaffected. We are selling raw material, going to different products which have been doing very well even with the corona outbreak. We saw no decrease in insulation and construction markets and many countries are investing more heavily in the infrastructure at trains, airports, and highways. We noted some decreases in volumes during the first months of the pandemic, but from early summer we can see that the volumes have stabilized. The pandemic was an efficient stress test for us, and we are glad to see that our business model proved to be very resilient. “ Looking beyond COVID, BEWiSynbra is keen to stay with its mission, working closely with suppliers and customers for a better tomorrow. “We need to stay together and closer to our customer. We do believe that our way of doing business with our suppliers and customers will be going hand in hand with them,” Siljeskär says. “For instance, we can see that the Automotive business want us to work them . They want us involved at an early stage as we’ve started to develop automotive products to supply them with. This is an example of our supplier developing raw materials containing recycled material to make the next car more sustainable.”
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