High-Performance Polymers, bio‑circular factors
Bio‑sourced raw materials, low‑carbon applications and a focus on sustainability, recovery and recycling of materials: these are the three pillars of the bio‑circular concept designed by Arkema, under the acronym ABC (“Advanced, Bio‑based, Circular”), the central area of focus of its innovation and growth policy in the field of its High‑Performance Polymers.
This approach relies largely on the Group’s expertise in the production of polyamides derived from 100% castor, an inedible plant grown mainly on arid lands in India. It offers the benefit of being harvested twice a year, while polymers from petroleum rely on a resource that takes more than a million years to form. As the world’s largest buyer of castor oil, Arkema has invested in the Pragati program (see box on next page) over the past five years to support thousands of Indian castor growers yield more responsible, less water‑and fertilizer‑intensive crops.
In 2021, the Group also acquired Agiplast, a specialist in polymer regeneration. Beyond the sustainability and performance of its polymer range, Arkema therefore intends to invest in the entire value chain of its polymers, from sourcing to recycling.
