A grade of post-consumer, recycled polystyrene developed by Axion Polymers (Salford, Manchester / UK; www.axionpolymers.com) has gained PAS 2050 certification, a method for measuring the greenhouse gas emissions from goods and services that was developed by BSI Standards Solutions (London / UK; www.bsi-group.com) at the request of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (London / UK; www.defra.gov.uk) and the Carbon Trust (Witney / UK; www.carbontrust.co.uk). The material, “Axpoly PS13”, is made from recovered garment hangers and also qualified for the Carbon Trust’s carbon reduction labelling. It has been assessed as creating just 17% of the emissions associated with the full supply chain for oil-based virgin polymer.

Axion Polymers says it is the first European company to offer customers a product with the Carbon Reduction Label, adding that other products in the range are currently under development. “Axion Polymers has taken a lead in the UK polymer industry and joined our stable of brands committed to reducing their carbon footprint”, explained Euan Murray, general manager of the Carbon Trust Footprinting Company (www.carbon-label.com). “By adopting the Carbon Reduction Label, Axion Polymers has committed to reduce the carbon footprint of its Axpoly PS13 product in two years.”

The post-consumer polymers from Axion are manufactured to ISO 9001 quality standards. They are used in a variety of closed-loop recycling applications for new products, including flat screen TV panels, washing machine components and horticultural pots. The company’s recycled “Axpoly” and “Axfoil” sheet grades save around 15,000 t/y of carbon dioxide emissions compared to the same volume of virgin PS – see Plasteurope.com of 26.08.2009.