Product Innovation

Reusing plastic waste as a raw material is an important element of the circular economy, but requires that the different plastics be separated according to type first. With the new black pigment Bayferrox 303 T from our Inorganic Pigments business unit, we can help to increase the recycling rate for plastic packaging, which is still far too low around the world. The innovative pigment for coloring black plastic reflects 20% of near-infrared radiation (NIR). This enables plastics to be identified efficiently and costeffectively with the aid of NIR detectors like those used for sorting waste.

For us, innovation also means continuously enhancing the applicability of the products we have already established on the market. One example of this is the new type of Lewatit ion exchange resin, with which we open up new areas of application in the electronics industry and microsystems technology. Thanks to an improved polymer matrix in conjunction with a modified formula, we can now manufacture the product to the very highest degree of purity. In the future, Lewatit can therefore be used in the processing of ultra-pure water, which is necessary for semiconductor manufacture.

Another innovation, our natural preservative Nagardo®, has now also been launched in Europe following the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. We obtained approval for use in non-alcoholic beverages the EU in the reporting year and continue to expand the global footprint of Nagardo®.

European beverage producers can now make use of a long-awaited natural preservative that not only efficiently safeguards product quality but also enables them to transform their product ranges and to meet consumers’ growing demand for natural ingredients.

We have developed Emerald NH500 to market maturity as an innovative flame retardant. This new, phosphorus-based product has been specially designed for use in high-performance plastics and electric mobility. It exhibits very good flame-retardant properties in combination with other additives and easily passes the relevant fire safety tests. Versatile formulations ensure that the mechanical properties and other functional characteristics of the end products are maintained. In addition, the additive offers excelent thermal stability and boasts a unique morphology.