Solvay and Hegen develop “first” circular baby bottles with ISCC certification

12 Sep 2023 --- Solvay, a global supplier of specialty materials, has partnered with Hegen to create the “first” baby bottle made from recycled content.

Solvay’s Duradex material is made from polyphenyl sulfone (PPSU) and is used to manufacture a Press-to-Close, Twist-to-Open (PCTO) baby feeding bottle. The non-fossil feedstock content of the PPSU grade is third-party mass balance (MB) certified under the International Sustainability & Carbon Certification PLUS MB accounting regime.

“Brand owners and manufacturers in the child care market are increasingly seeking to improve the [environmental] sustainability of their products without compromising safety, efficiency or convenience,” says Guillaume Meunier, head of marketing, Life Solutions, at Solvay Materials.

“Hegen’s baby feeding and drinking bottles are widely acknowledged for their high quality and use the highest-purity materials to ensure a healthy and comfortable feeding experience for both mother and child. We are pleased to announce that the company has adopted our mass-balance certified PPSU for molding their iconic bottles.”

Ecological baby bottle
The MB accounting approach provides a method of tracing the feedstock content from the material production to the final application. Duradex is linked to 54% allocated circular, non-fossil feedstock.

Solvay and Hegen cater to environmentally conscious parents with new baby bottles made from recycled materials. Duradex PPSU is an amorphous, naturally amber-transparent polymer, free of artificial pigments, phthalates and bisphenols, such as bisphenol A.

“We are excited about this strategic material partnership with Solvay, which will help us further reduce the environmental impact of our baby feeding bottles in line with our ambitious sustainability roadmap,” adds Yvon Bock, founder and CEO of Hegen.

“The circular Duradex polymer exhibits the same high-performance properties as the previous material used in molding our premium Hegen PCTO bottles, including excellent processability and uncompromising durability, which makes it a very efficient drop-in alternative to all-fossil PPSU solutions.”

Solvay’s Duradex PPSU MB polymer is scratch-resistant and stain-resistant. It does not absorb odors, delivers a non-stick surface, is shatterproof and has high heat resistance.

The PCTO bottle is lightweight and “ergonomically shaped.” With its wide opening, the bottle can be steamed or hot water sterilized 1,000 times and put through dishwasher cycles without the risk of damage.

The baby bottle is set to arrive on the market by 2024.

Edited by Sabine Waldeck