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Avient Expands Global Portfolio of TPE with Recycled Content

New grades for the European market formulated using recovered polypropylene, oil, and glass filler can contain more than 80% recycled content.

Clare Goldsberry

April 2, 2021

1 Min Read
electric toothbrush
Image: Parntawan1987/Adobe Stock

Avient has announced a global expansion of its resound R recycled-content thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) range. The launch includes new grades in Europe that contain over 80% recycled content, as well as versions in North America and Asia that are compatible with PC, ABS, and PC/ABS overmolding.

In Europe, new patent-pending grades are formulated using recovered materials such as recycled polypropylene, recycled oil, and recycled glass filler. Utilizing this combination of recovered materials, Avient is able to increase the overall percentage of recycled content in these grades to over 80%. These grades include a blend of both post-industrial (PIR) and post-consumer recycled (PRC) content; they are available in 30, 50, and 70 Shore A hardness levels and are suitable for overmolding onto polypropylene. Applications include lawn and garden products, personal care, footwear, office supplies, houseware durables, and automotive components.

In North America, Avient is launching an additional resound R recycled content TPE grade for PC, ABS, and PC/ABS overmolding. The grade contains 30% PIR content at 80 Shore A hardness and is compatible with consumer electronics appliances such as phone cases.

In Asia, an expanded resound R range now includes three PIR grades for PC, ABS, and PC/ABS overmolding and seven PCR grades for overmolding onto PP. The PIR grades are formulated with 20 to 60 percent recycled content and the PCR grades contain 9 to 39% recycled food packaging. 

“With our global customers’ ever-increasing focus on achieving a circular economy, we’ve responded by utilizing innovative materials from local recycling streams,” said Matt Mitchell, Director, Global Marketing, Specialty Engineered Materials at Avient. “These developments are part of our ongoing commitment to expand our sustainability portfolio and help customers in all regions meet their sustainability goals.”

About the Author

Clare Goldsberry

Until she retired in September 2021, Clare Goldsberry reported on the plastics industry for more than 30 years. In addition to the 10,000+ articles she has written, by her own estimation, she is the author of several books, including The Business of Injection Molding: How to succeed as a custom molder and Purchasing Injection Molds: A buyers guide. Goldsberry is a member of the Plastics Pioneers Association. She reflected on her long career in "Time to Say Good-Bye."

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