SCGC GREEN POLYMER™: A Sustainable Solution for the World Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Waste, Promoting Recycling

One of the strategies to achieve the SCGC's Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) goals is to increase the proportion of environmentally friendly product and solution production, aligning with the 12^th United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In this regard, SCGC has set an ambitious goal to sell one million tonnes of green polymers annually by 2030.

SCGC has created a range of environmentally friendly plastics under the brand SCGC GREEN POLYMER™, developed under the principles of a circular economy, focusing on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and waste generation, encapsulating the Low Carbon, Low Waste concept. This aligns with functional requirements and the pursuit of sustainability. The environmental solutions encompass four areas: REDUCE, which pertains to the reduction in resource use; RECYCLABLE, which focuses on design for recyclability; RECYCLE, promoting recycling; and RENEWABLE, denoting the development of environmentally friendly bio compostable plastics and plastics made from renewable resources.

REDUCE: Reduction in Resource Use

SCGC has developed SMX™ technology that enhances the strength of plastic resins, reducing the thickness of products while retaining their original strength. The technology facilitates easy molding, and in addition to cutting down the use of plastic resin resources, lighter products help reduce energy use in transport processes and lower carbon dioxide emissions. SMX™ technology is currently used in various applications:

• • SCGC has collaborated with Lion to develop packaging for the 'Shokubutsu' shower cream bottles. This helped to reduce material use while maintaining the original quality. More details can be found at https://www.scgchemicals.com/th/articles/news/1658821211
  • Plastic resins for body powder packaging. Further information can be found at https://www.scgchemicals.com/th/articles/news/1679278107
  • Plastic resins for carbonated water bottle caps, enabling the production of lightweight caps. This reduces the use of plastic resins while maintaining functionality. Given the current market scenario, many major manufacturers have begun to shift to bottle cap models that use fewer plastic resins. More information can be found at https://www.scgchemicals.com/th/articles/stories/1653032402
  • Plastic resins for film application, suitable for making plastic packaging, such as shopping bags, gloves, and trash bags. These materials can withstand more 'dart drop impact' than regular-grade film and can be mixed with more than 30% post-consumer recycled resins (PCR) while maintaining their strength. This also helps in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Plastic resins are used to produce industrial films and large chemical storage tanks. More information can be found at https://www.allaroundplastics.com/article/innovation/29700/

RECYCLABLE: Design for Recyclability

SCGC has developed a solution to create packaging using only PE, PP, or PO for the entire product (Recyclable Packaging Solution). This approach streamlines recycling progress while maintaining the functional properties, addressing circular economy issues and the environment.

RECYCLE: Recycling

To maximize resource utilization and reduce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming, and to minimize waste volume, SCGC has created solutions for recycling used plastic.

• • High Quality Post-Consumer Recycled Resin (High Quality PCR) from the mechanical recycling process involves taking used household plastics and transforming them through mechanical recycling, with the addition of SCGC's proprietary formula. This turns the used plastic into high quality PCR of HDPE, LDPE, and PP. Additionally, the source of the used plastic can be traced back, complying with the Global Recycled Standard (GRS). The resins can replace virgin resins from 25 to 100%, leading to collaborations with leading global companies such as Unilever in the development of recycled HDPE gallon packaging for Sunlight brand products, and with Shell in the development of eco-friendly lubricant packaging from recycled HDPE plastic resins.

• • High Quality Odorless PCR from mechanical recycling is intended for packaging in the personal care product group emphasizing fragrance. It is derived from sorting and cleaning used plastics in Thailand using modern processes for safety and cleanliness. Coupled with odor-eliminating technology, it ensures that the resulting packaging is free of unpleasant odors. The raw material origin can be traced back certified by the Global Recycled Standard (GRS). In addition, there is a collaboration with Lion to develop packaging from High Quality Odorless PCR Resin.

• • Certified Circular Polyolefin Resin from the advanced recycling process can transform difficult-to-recycle used plastic into raw material for a petrochemical factory, which can then produce new plastic resins. With properties and quality equivalent to virgin plastic, it is certified by the sustainable standard ISCC PLUS throughout the supply chain. This answers the call of the continuously growing environmentally friendly food packaging industry and helps reduce the waste volume in the country.

RENEWABLE: The Use of Renewable Resources and Bioplastics

SCGC has developed a bio-compostable compound resin, a form of plastic that can compost. This resin is ready to be molded into the production of compostable bags. Additionally, SCGC is teaming up with Braskem to research and assess the feasibility of producing bio-based polyethylene from agricultural products, representing another application of recyclable resources.

• • Bio Compostable Compound Resin: This bio compostable plastic has unique properties that make it ideal for film molding, particularly for producing bio-compostable products such as garbage bags and shopping bags. It can be used both domestically and industrially, enhancing convenience and boosting efficiency in production significantly. The bio-compostable plastic developed by SCGC has been certified by the world-leading institution, DIN CERTCO of Germany, as industrially compostable. It can biodegrade under temperatures of 60°C, transforming into carbon dioxide, water, and biomass within 180 days, leaving no residue in the environment. Furthermore, it can fully reenter the environmental cycle.

The innovations are part of the green innovations, caring solutions for the world that SCGC is committed to creating and developing, underlining our dedication to being a leader in Chemical Business for Sustainability. Our goal is to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20% from the 2021 baseline by 2030 through our "Low Carbon, Low Waste" approach. Additionally, SCGC is ready to collaborate with partners across all sectors to create innovative solutions that improve people's quality of life and ensure a sustainable environment.