In this in-depth interview, Mr. Nileshkumar Kukalyekar, Business Director at Envalior, delves into the company's extensive portfolio of recycled and bio-based materials, including Akulon® RePurposed, and its applications across diverse industries. Mr. Kukalyekar explains how Envalior is at the forefront of sustainable innovation, offering high-performance solutions like thermoplastic composites, bio-based alternatives, and advanced engineering plastics. He also discusses the company’s commitment to responsible sourcing, environmental stewardship, and ethical labor practices. Through collaborations with industry leaders like Samsung, Envalior is driving the transformation towards a circular economy, reducing plastic waste, and promoting sustainability in key sectors such as automotive, electronics, and consumer goods.
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Q. Beyond Akulon® RePurposed, what other recycled or bio-based materials does Envalior offer? Can you elaborate on your product portfolio and its applications across different industries?
A. Envalior has a broad portfolio of high-performance plastics in combination with excellent, science driven product development capabilities. We offer a very strong and broad portfolio with innovative performance materials suitable for a diverse range of applications.
We offer a diverse range of specialty materials, including thermoplastic composites like Tepex®, polyphthalamide (PPA) with ForTii®, thermoplastic copolyester (TPC) with Stanyl® and Arnitel®, bio-based materials like EcoPaXX®, high-performance materials like Xytron™, and engineering plastics like Arnite®.
We have also developed a plastic enclosure based on a combined solution of PA6 and local reinforcement with Tepex® organo sheets, which have high resistance to the extreme conditions of battery fires in a thermal runaway process.
All of our materials cater to various applications across industries such as automotive, electronics, industrial, and consumer goods, providing a balance of performance, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness, and demonstrating Envalior's commitment to innovation and sustainability. Our high-performance solutions enable the transformation of key industries, such as automotive and new mobility, electronics and electrical, and consumer goods sectors. Science-based, customer-focused innovation and a sustainable product portfolio will remain key drivers of our business, contributing to future growth and longstanding success.
Q. How does Envalior ensure the responsible sourcing and ethical treatment of workers involved in collecting discarded fishing nets?
A. Envalior ensures the responsible sourcing and ethical treatment of workers involved in collecting discarded fishing nets by employing over 300 people across the entire process, from sourcing to shipping, and partnering with local suppliers who engage local communities in the collection and processing of nets. By paying for collected fishnets, we create incentives for fishermen to retrieve and sell their discarded nets, rather than dumping them in the oceans or on beaches. This approach promotes fair labor practices, community involvement, and environmentally responsible waste management, demonstrating Envalior's commitment to ethical and sustainable practices throughout our supply chain.
Q. What are the specific technical challenges of incorporating Akulon®RePurposed into high-performance electronics like smartphones? How did Envalior collaborate with Samsung to overcome these challenges?
A. Incorporating Akulon® RePurposed into high-performance electronics like smartphones poses specific technical challenges, including achieving the required strength, functional integration, and design flexibility for small and thin parts.
To overcome these challenges, Envalior collaborated with Samsung by tailoring Akulon®RePurposed to meet the exacting demands of the Galaxy S22 and Tab S8 series. Our expertise in materials science and application understanding enabled the development of thinner parts with necessary structural properties. Through a rigorous process of collecting, separating, cutting, cleaning, and extruding discarded fishing nets, we created an eco-conscious material consisting of at least 80% recycled polyamide. This customized material was integrated into critical components, such as the key bracket and S Pen inner cover of the Galaxy S22 series, and the inner support bracket of the Tab S8 series, offering an excellent balance of mechanical performance and sustainability.
Q.How does Envalior measure the environmental impact of Akulon® RePurposed in terms of reduced ocean plastic pollution and carbon footprint? Are there any life cycle assessments available?
A. Envalior measures the environmental impact of Akulon® RePurposed by tracking key metrics, including the removal of over 3,000 metric tonnes of abandoned fishing nets from India's coastal areas annually, reducing ocean plastic pollution. Additionally, the production process achieves a 70% lower carbon footprint compared to similar fossil-based nylon 6 materials. The material is also UL2809 ECVP-certified for Ocean-Bound Plastic (OBP) content, ensuring adherence to rigorous environmental standards. Furthermore, the program has created 300 jobs across the local value chain, promoting sustainable livelihoods and community engagement.
By monitoring these metrics, Envalior demonstrates its commitment to environmental stewardship and transparency, showcasing the positive impact of Akulon®RePurposed on reducing ocean plastic pollution and carbon footprint.
Q. The partnership with Samsung is a significant milestone. How does Envalior plan to expand collaborations with other electronics manufacturers to promote the use of recycled materials?
A. Envalior is well-positioned to drive industry-wide adoption of sustainable materials in the electronics industry, leveraging its strong manufacturing presence in India to ensure efficient production and distribution. By utilizing local supply chains and following standardized global processes, we enhance operational efficiency, reduce costs, and enable seamless innovation and product development across regions. With a deep understanding of engineering plastics and application expertise, we support design engineers in creating thinner, stronger, and more functional parts that meet the demanding requirements of miniaturization, structural strength, and design freedom in the electronics and smartphone components sectors. By providing high-performance materials like Akulon®RePurposed, Envalior promotes sustainable practices, reduces electronic waste, and contributes to a circular economy, ultimately transforming the industry's approach to material selection and waste management.
As a highly focused new industry leader where materials science and manufacturing excellence are core, Envalior will build on its strong track record of innovating at the forefront of changing market dynamics and evolving customer needs focusing on sustainability.
Q. Envalior envisions a circular economy by 2030. What are your strategies to encourage broader industry adoption of recycled and bio-based materials beyond the electronics sector?
A. Envalior is implementing a multi-faceted approach to encourage broader industry adoption of recycled and bio-based materials beyond the electronics sector, driving progress toward a circular economy by 2030. This includes collaborating with companies across industries, educating and raising awareness about sustainable materials, establishing standardization and certification efforts, achieving economies of scale, developing innovative products, advocating for supportive policies, engaging with supply chains, conducting life cycle assessments, promoting circular business models, and investing in ongoing research and development.
By working together with industries, governments, and stakeholders, we aim to increase the use of sustainable materials, share knowledge and benefits, and establish industry-wide standards, ultimately contributing to a more circular and sustainable future.
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