Stahl’s priorities for sustainable innovations

Innovation is part of Stahl’s DNA and our aim is to enhance product performance while minimizing the product impact from raw material to end of life. To achieve this we focus on three areas of innovation:

1. Using low impact raw materials

At Stahl, we have made an important commitment to phase out restricted substances as part of developing low-impact products. In addition to adhering to the ZDHC Manufacturing Restricted Substances Lists (MRSLs) in the market, we have developed our own, more stringent list.

The Stahl MRLS ensures that the additional substances its lists cannot be used in the development of new products. Our list represents a combination of substances found in the recognised industry MRLs, plus substances that we deem to be undesirable for the future.

This has implications for our suppliers, and we inform them whenever we update our list of potentially restricted materials.

2. Replacing non-renewable resources using bio-based materials

We are assessing the environmental impact of finite feedstocks and are switching to lower impact alternatives. In many cases, this means switching to bio-based materials, materials based on captured carbon or materials that contain recycled content.

To define when a product is bio-based, we use the definition of the ASTM D6866. This methodology tests products on their modern bio-based (organic) content. It looks at both the percentage of bio-based materials in the product and how ‘old’ the materials are. A product is bio-based when it contains 20% bio-based material or more. ASTM D6866 bio-based content computation only considers the total organic carbon content, not product weight; the amount of water is taken out before measuring the bio-based content.

Stahl’s bio-based technology portfolio includes:

Bio-based polyurethanes

Bio-based Polymatte®

3. Using recycled content, contributing to circularity

Alongside our commitment to using low-impact raw materials and bio-based new materials, Stahl invests in technologies and partnerships to turn commercial waste into durable and sustainable products. We also repurpose the content of our own by-producs and waste streams to move towards a circular business model.

To continually evaluate our progress towards circularity, we use the Life Cycle Assessment Methodology, which measures the impact of a product on the environment over the course of its life.

Stahl’s 12 Principles of Responsible Chemistry

Image source: Biorender

Meet our sustainable innovation expert

Within Stahl, every employee contributes to our sustainability commitment in their own way, so reducing the impact of Stahl on the environment and society.

In addition, we appoint dedicated colleagues who devote their passion and knowledge to helping our customers find the perfect, responsible product solution that will make their business better in respect to sourcing and end of life.

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