By Plasteurope.com correspondent

US specialist for surface coatings, additives, and compounds Avient (Avon Lake, Ohio; www.avient.com) said it has extended its reSound REC recycled content TPE portfolio. The new grades were specifically developed for automotive interior applications such as mats, grips, and console trays, according to the company.

Avient says the grades support the latest post-consumer recycled (PCR) material targets proposed by the European Commission as part of its End-of-Life Vehicles (ELV) directive. The ordinance stipulates a minimum of 25% of plastics used in vehicles sold as of 2030 must be sourced from PCR materials, of which 25% must be from circular or closed-loop streams within the automotive industry.

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The company said its reSound REC grades contain 51-59% recycled content, with a minimum of 37% from PCR sources including closed-loop feedstock. They provide comparable performance to 100% virgin equivalents and meet various OEM specifications. According to Avient, the new materials can achieve a 8-18% reduction in carbon footprint compared with virgin TPE grades.

Available in a hardness range from 43-90 Shore A, the grades be used for overmoulding onto polypropylene substrates. The new materials provide good UV stability and meet standards for volatile organic compounds and fogging, the company said, making them acceptable for use in interior automotive applications.