Jun 14 2007
For over 15 years, DuPont has been developing integrated science that collaborates with nature to produce a new category of bio-based materials called DuPont(TM) Renewably Sourced(TM) Materials. Today, the company announced a new way to find information on these materials, which are derived from renewable farm- grown sources, via a new web portal:
DuPont(TM) Renewably Sourced(TM) Materials are high-performance, bio-based materials and biofuels that are made, in whole or in part, from renewable agricultural feedstocks such as corn, soybeans, sugar cane and wheat, rather than petroleum. In the future, DuPont hopes to also make these materials from cellulosic feedstocks from fast growing energy crops, such as grasses, and agricultural byproducts, such as corn stalks.
"Renewably sourced materials have become possible at DuPont thanks to the integration of its core scientific disciplines in biotechnology, chemistry and materials science," said Peter C. Hemken, vice president and general manager - DuPont Bio-Based Materials. "We are proud to introduce materials and biofuels that help address society's needs for improved environmental sustainability and reduced dependence on petroleum with practical solutions that meet our customers' tough performance standards. We recognize that DuPont(TM) Renewably Sourced(TM) Materials are not the single answer to these major issues but they are a step in the right direction for DuPont and our customers."
Two criteria are used to select DuPont(TM) Renewably Sourced(TM) Materials. First, the product must contain at least 20 percent renewably sourced ingredients by weight, as verified through independent testing using the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) carbon dating process. A number of the products being launched in 2007 contain 90-100 percent renewable content. Second, the product must perform as well as or better than similar petroleum-derived products in critical product attributes. Products that meet these criteria qualify to be marketed through the DuPont(TM) Renewably Sourced(TM) Materials program and are branded with a special icon designed to help customers identify renewably sourced products that can be used in their applications.
Today, nine product families that have been launched or will be launched during 2007 have qualified as DuPont(TM) Renewably Sourced(TM) Materials, including: DuPont(TM) Sorona(R) polymer, DuPont(TM) Sorona(R) EP thermoplastic polymer, DuPont(TM) Cerenol(TM) polyol, DuPont(TM) Hytrel(R) RS thermoplastic elastomer, DuPont(TM) Pro-Cote(R) soy polymer, DuPont(TM) Selar(R) VP breathable resin and Susterra(TM) propanediol and Zemea(TM) propanediol, two products from the DuPont Tate & Lyle Bio Products joint venture. The advanced biofuel that DuPont is developing together with BP, biobutanol, will also qualify for this program.
In addition to basic product information, the website provides environmental data sheets for each product family that discloses some key information on its cradle-to-gate environmental footprint, including an analysis of greenhouse gas emissions and non-renewable energy consumption based on a peer-reviewed life cycle analysis, as well as product properties such as renewably sourced content, bio-based carbon content, biodegradability and ability to compost as verified by ASTM testing. This information is designed to help customers make informed decisions about using DuPont products as ingredients to help improve the environmental sustainability profile of their own products in their particular application.
"DuPont established sustainability goals and a deadline to reach them by 2015, and promoting the use of renewably sourced materials will help us to address goals such as greenhouse gas reductions and use of non-depletable resources," Hemken added.
DuPont - one of the first companies to publicly establish environmental goals 16 years ago - has broadened its sustainability commitments beyond internal footprint reduction to include market-driven targets for both revenue and research and development investment. The goals are tied directly to business growth, specifically to the development of safer and environmentally improved new products for key global markets.