06. Feb 2023
Teknor Apex new TPE has 35% sustainable content
Teknor Apex (Pawtucket, RI, USA) is excited to announce the new Monprene® S3 CP-15170 BLK, an eco-conscious thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) made with 35% sustainable content that includes UBQ™ and post-consumer recycled material.
UBQ is a sustainable plastic substitute converted entirely from organic and unrecyclable waste. Biobased and highly recyclable, UBQ offers a climate-positive solution towards a circular economy. By replacing oil-based raw materials with UBQ in TPE formulations, Teknor Apex is helping to address the global waste crisis, preserving finite natural resources, and reducing the carbon footprint of end products which utilize its TPE.
This new Monprene TPE is initially available in 70 Shore A and is coloured black. It performs and processes comparable to its standard TPE offset. The durometer and amount of sustainable content can be customized based on end use requirements. This high flow TPE is designed specifically for injection moulding or overmoulding onto PP – ideal for consumer product applications requiring flexibility such as hand and power tools, consumer electronics and appliances that include soft-touch components, for anti-slip, comfort grip, and improved ergonomics. Monprene TPEs combine the performance of thermoset rubber with the processability of a thermoplastic and can still be recycled.
UBQ is a novel worldwide patented material that has already been adopted by leading industry brands and enterprises for manufacturing durable products with reduced environmental footprints. Demand for UBQ continues to build globally, as companies work to reach carbon reduction commitments in the production of end-products. Teknor Apex has been an early adopter of UBQ, paving the way for other materials companies to develop more sustainable products within a circular economy. As a result of increasing demand, UBQ Materials (Tel Aviv, Israel) will open a new facility in the Netherlands with an annual production output of 80,000 tonnes of UBQ, further bridging the gap between the global ecosystems of waste and materials.
“We are excited to further develop our partnership to include UBQ in our latest line of sustainable thermoplastic elastomers (TPE). This new product enables sustainable product design and reduces dependency on virgin petroleum-based plastic”, said Jonathan Plisco, New Business Development Manager of Teknor Apex. “In the race to meet market demand for environmentally conscious materials, we are proud to offer new sustainable options that provide the right balance of performance, manufacturability and economics”.
“Teknor Apex’s implementation of our biobased thermoplastic into its product lines strengthens our shared commitment to reshape how things are made and improve the footprint of everyday products”, said Derek Schaefer, VP of Business Development, UBQ North America. “We all have a role to play in reducing methane emissions, through this new Made with UBQ product line, manufacturers have the ability to contribute to a truly circular economy where human consumption lives in harmony with the planet”. AT