You have undoubtedly heard the term circular economy within the plastics industry. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, "[a] circular economy, as defined in the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act, refers to an economy that uses a systems-focused approach and involves industrial processes and economic activities that are restorative or regenerative by design, enables resources used in such processes and activities to maintain their highest value for as long as possible, and aim for the elimination of waste through the superior design of materials, products, and systems (including business models)."

Although the ideas behind this definition seem reasonable and desirable, there are concerns about the feasibility and capability to achieve these goals. Engagement levels around ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) topics are steadily increasing due to responsible companies addressing these challenges head-on.

Kraton, a leading global producer for the Coatings, Adhesives, and Sealants, and Elastomers (CASE) markets, is one of the companies leading the charge to bring sustainability in plastic additives to the forefront.

The controversy surrounding plastics has been part of the environmental discourse for decades. While often at the forefront of circular economy initiatives, it’s important to remember that plastics are some of the most versatile and frequently-used materials used in our modern world. They are essential to our infrastructure and ubiquitous in our daily lives, from transportation to housing, so we need practical solutions to manage plastic materials at the end of life.

Kraton and Univar Solutions are committed to being part of the solution. Together, we intend to close the circle on this plastic economy with a sustainable approach. For customers, it means they also become part of the solution with eco-friendly ingredients and product offerings, ensuring economic viability – a crucial tenet of any sustainability path forward.

Kraton and Univar Solutions are working together to develop specialty innovations and improvements for the sustainability journey, helping customers develop high-performance products with more sustainable/circular designs.

In addition to the market-needs sustainable solutions Kraton develops, Univar Solutions' global market and technical experts support customers in finding new and inventive ways to utilize these innovative products and benchmark successes.