Sirmax Group, a manufacturer of polypropylene compounds, engineering polymers, post-consumer compounds and bio-compounds for all areas of use, will be taking part in PRS Europe (Plastics Recycling Show), scheduled for June 22-23 in Amsterdam at stand J32. At the exhibition, the Group will showcase two products that have been nominated for the PRSE Award competition final and are the result of a collaboration with clients in the circular polymers field. Plastics Recycling Awards Europe recognizes achievements within the plastics recycling industry. The awards provide an overview of current developments in the use of recycled materials, product design and innovative manufacturing. Sirmax Group made it to the finals with two innovative products, the first belonging to the "Home & Leisure" category and the second to the "Building & Construction" category. Both boast the ISCC Plus certification, which the Italian group has just obtained.
The nominees
The product in the "Home & Leisure" category is called Battigia and is made by Italy's VECA Spa using Serplene, a material produced by SER (Sirmax Group), which is an rPP made from 100% post-consumer mechanical recycling. It is part of a line of kitchen and table elements developed and designed by VECA called BLIM Plus, which is 100% made in Italy. Battigia is a sponge holder designed to combine functionality and design. It is available in 2 different colors that enhance the uniqueness of the material with which it is made. All products in the BLIM line are impact resistant and durable. Made of 100% high quality recyclable polypropylene, they are also non-toxic, antibacterial, odorless, and mold-resistant, as well as being easy to clean and disinfect.
The product in the Building & Construction category is called Voronoj. It is a panel that varies in and thickness (0.4 to 4 cm) made by the Italian company Plastiz. The panel is entirely made of a particular grade of HDPE branded Sertene from post-consumer mechanical recycling and can be used for different indoor and outdoor applications, both decorative (garden objects, complements, etc.) and functional (insulation panels, decoration of interiors and exteriors).
The 2022 PRSE Award nominees will be on display in a dedicated area of the two-day event in Amsterdam until the ceremony and announcement of the winners.
ISCC and CSTB Certifications
The products presented in Amsterdam both received the ISCC (International Sustainability and Carbon Certification), a prestigious supply chain certification that endorses the sustainability of Sirmax’s products, partners, and entire value chain.
The ISCC certification, which originated in Germany for the certification of biodiesel, has now been adopted by the European Union as the standard for verifying sustainability in all types of biomass and biofuels. The ISCC Plus scheme makes it possible to extend sustainable management to categories which are not strictly related to biofuel, such as feed, food, chemicals and solid biomass. The ISCC Plus Standard is voluntary and allows companies within a supply chain to monitor and demonstrate the sustainability of their products by checking environmental and traceability requirements.
Sirmax Group has been certified for the production of the Green Isofil and Green Isoglass range, families of filled and reinforced PP compounds containing recycled polypropylene (produced by parent company Sirmax), and for the production of recycled polyethylene and polypropylene base resins produced by SER, a Group company that specializes in recycled polyolefin from post-consumer waste. The certification guarantees the origin of the material and all links in the upstream supplier chain.
The ISCC Plus supply chain label opens up new market prospects for Sirmax, allowing the Group to access national and international public tenders that require certain environmental criteria and enabling downstream clients to become ISCC certified themselves.
Alongside the ISCC certification, the Italian industrial Group has also been awarded the CSTB certification. CSTB (Centre Scientifique et Technique du Batiment), a French certifying body, is one of the most important bodies for the accreditation of products and raw materials for the building sector. This certification does not only cover materials, but also certifies the company’s production and control processes, making it a fundamental requirement for operating in the French and European markets. The Sirmax product that has obtained the CSTB certification is Xelter S, an elastomer that has passed physicochemical checks, UV aging tests, and high and low temperature resistance tests which have confirmed its high elastomechanical properties, excellent resistance to weathering, and long-lasting performance. The CSTB certification will mainly be applied to the production of window gaskets, however, given the stringent nature of CSTB’s requirements and monitoring practices, products that meet this certification are also suitable for use other sectors (e.g., automotive exteriors). This certification also involves the end customer, who must be certified and apply for certification of the finished part.
"We are proud to have obtained two such important and internationally-relevant certifications," states Massimo Pavin, Sirmax Group president and CEO. "They increase our competitiveness, but more importantly, they attest to our commitment and reward our efforts in the concrete implementation of sustainability and environmental protection, not only our own, but also those of our suppliers and customers."
