Arnitel® Eco, an innovative, partly bio-based thermoplastic copolyester elastomer (TPC) has won an honorable mention in the 2012 Material ConneXion Material of the Year Award. The revolutionary material, launched in 2010, is partially derived from rapeseed oil and offers superior performance characteristics, allowing end-users to reduce their carbon footprint by switching over to Arnitel Eco from petrochemical-based TPC elastomers, in a range of end-user applications.
Arnitel Eco was one of ten materials and processes that were handpicked according to the far reaching results they can achieve and to Material ConneXion’s innovation parameters which include: being a new process, an advancement to an existing material or process, technology transfer and sustainability. Significant advances in sustainable material innovation can be seen in materials such as Arnitel Eco which uses an alternative source for plastic and rubber products that can now be manufactured from rapeseed. With superior properties to existing plastics and rubbers, it has a lower carbon footprint and reduces reliance on oil.
“The MEDIUM Award for Material of the Year is an opportunity to celebrate the extraordinary breadth and scope of material and process innovation today,” says Adam I. Sandow, CEO of Sandow Media, the parent company of Material ConneXion. “The winner is distinguished not only for its technical innovation, but for its capacity to make a lasting impact on the environment.” In accepting the Award, Francis Aussems, Innovation Manager of DSM said: “We are pleased that the Material ConneXion recognized DSM’s efforts and achievement. By successfully applying our Bright Science, we have been able to develop this performance material that delivers a reduced carbon footprint and improved performance, like heat and UV resistance. This makes the material highly suitable for sports equipment, office furniture and food packaging.”
Aussems added: “Developing bio-based products is an integral part of DSM’s business strategy. The company continues to revolutionize the engineering plastics and composite resins market by launching more eco-friendly products such as EcoPaXX® and Palapreg® ECO.” Founded in 1997, Material ConneXion is the foremost resource for innovative materials research and strategic materials insight. Locations in the U.S., Europe and Asia offer access to membership-based Materials Libraries with more than 6,000 advanced and sustainable materials and consulting services—from strategy development to materials sourcing, manufacturing support and workshops. Over the years, Material ConneXion has helped thousands of companies—from Fortune 500s to smaller, forward-thinking businesses—create better, more sustainable designs, build stronger brands and increase profits. With a 360-degree view of the world of materials, its intelligence is used in every area of design, from products, packaging and architecture to interiors, transportation and fashion.
Committed to increasing awareness of the invaluable role materials play in design and sustainability, its public and academic programming has played a key role in educating hundreds of thousands of designers and students through exhibitions, lectures and, increasingly, the development of Material Libraries within academic institutions.
DSM – Bright Science. Brighter Living.™
Royal DSM is a global science-based company active in health, nutrition and materials. By connecting its unique competences in Life Sciences and Materials Sciences DSM is driving economic prosperity, environmental progress and social advances to create sustainable value for all stakeholders.
DSM delivers innovative solutions that nourish, protect and improve performance in global markets such as food and dietary supplements, personal care, feed, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, automotive, paints, electrical and electronics, life protection, alternative energy and bio-based materials. DSM’s 22,000 employees deliver annual net sales of around €9 billion. The company is listed on NYSE Euronext.
