German specialty chemicals producer Evonik (Essen; www.evonik.com) is planning the launch of a generation of sustainable PVC plasticisers. Production of the phthalate-free plasticiser 1,2-cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid diisononyl ester is slated to begin in the second half of 2013, with production at the company’s Marl / Germany site reaching 40,000 t/y. Evonik began building the production facilities in the summer of 2012.

The company said continuing research will lead to the addition of further products to the plasticiser range. This includes the launch of bio-based PVC plasticisers.

Rainer Fretzen, head of Evonik’s Performance Intermediates business, said: “By expanding our portfolio to include phthalate-free plasticisers, we’re ideally supplementing our existing and proven 'Vestinol' product family. With our new plasticisers, our customers will soon be able to choose the plasticisers that meet their exact requirements from an even wider range of products.”