Chinaplas 2021: Clariant exhibits plastic additive solutions for China’s tightening packaging regulations

15 Apr 2021 --- Specialty chemicals company Clariant is showcasing a range of new high-end additive solutions for plastics at Chinaplas 2021 (April 13-16), one of Asia’s biggest plastics innovation fairs. 

The company says it is ready to support local manufacturers in adapting quickly to highly demanding new packaging applications and environmental goals. 

As China imposes more stringent regulations on single-use plastics, its manufacturing segments are adopting a more eco-conscious approach to packaging innovation, says Clariant. 

The company says it is answering the country’s newfound needs by increasing local access to resource-efficient additives enabling the reduction, reuse, and recycling of plastics. 

The strategy comes as part of a broader increase in its local production footprint and collaborative, joint development focus to help the plastics value chain advance technology, performance and the shift to circularity in China’s growth markets.

New Chinese plants 
Clariant recently opened a new plant in Cangzhou and has a new Additives R&D Center. Meanwhile, new products continue to be produced at its established facilities in Zhenjiang.

AddWorks PKG additive solution used in wrapping. “We’re in China to help meet China’s fast-evolving needs, and more support is to come,” says Francois Bleger, head of Clariant BU Additives.

Packaging and protective agriculture films are among the main growth markets targeted by Clariant’s additive solutions, on show today and tomorrow at Chinaplas 2021.

Clariant is also introducing AddWorks PKG 906 Circle, a proprietary polymer stabilizer used to increase plastic waste recycling in polyolefin film manufacturing.

“AddWorks PKG 906 Circle is helping end-of-life greenhouse films to be recycled into films for secondary packaging without loss of product efficiency or compromise to the required high-demanding film quality,” explains Bleger.

“The resulting collation shrink films are used typically for wrapping and bundling PET beverage bottles.”

In China for China
Clariant is highlighting the following benefits specifically for the Chinese market: 

• New additives solutions for packaging and greenhouse films.
• More support for sustainable innovation in China’s plastics industry & application sectors.
• Building a footprint for collaboration and tailored solutions.

Clariant’s sustainability product designators – Terra, Vita and Circle – will help orient customers and value chains to the sustainability benefits of products and solutions, says the company.

Resilient Asia sales
The announcements come after Clariant reported losses in its 2020 financial report. 

Clariant’s sales in China increased by 6% in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.Clariant reported operations sales of CHF 3.860 billion (US$4.1 billion) in 2020 compared to CHF 4.399 billion (US$4.6 billion) in 2019. This corresponds to a decrease of 5 percent in local currency and 12 percent in Swiss francs due to depreciating currencies versus the Swiss franc. 

Pricing had a positive impact on the Group. However, the modest sales increase in Business Area Catalysis could not offset the lower volumes in Care Chemicals and Natural Resources, the report reads. 

For the full year, Asia remained resilient, growing sales by 4 percent, with notable growth in India, while China increased sales by 6 percent in local currencies. 

Clariant recently reported partnering with India Glycols, a company specializing in green technology-based chemicals.

The partnership will establish a 51-49 percent joint venture in renewable ethylene oxide derivatives, subject to customary regulatory approvals.

PackagingInsights recently explored the latest in additives innovation with plant-based pioneer Palsgaard, antimicrobial specialist BioCote, and chemical giants BASF, Clariant and Lanxess.

Edited

By Louis Gore-Langton