SABIC Collaborates with Kraton for Production of Certified Renewable SBCs

SABIC has a new collaboration underway with Kraton to deliver certified renewable butadiene from its Trucircle portfolio for use in Kraton’s certified renewable styrenic block copolymers (SBCs). SABIC’s biobased butadiene is derived from animal-free and palm oil-free ‘second generation’ renewable feedstock, such as tall oil, a by-product from the wood pulping process in the paper industry.

From sourcing the raw feedstock to producing the polymers, each kilogram (2.2 lb) of the company’s biobased butadiene reportedly reduces CO₂ emissions by an average of 4 kilograms (8.82 lb) compared to fossil-based virgin alternatives, according to the cradle-to-gate lifecycle analysis. Kraton is using the biobased butadiene in its  newly launched ISCC PLUS certified renewable CirKular+ ReNew Series. With up to 70% certified renewable content, the ReNew Series offers customers the opportunity to use the mass balance approach and adopt ISCC PLUS certification to produce renewable products. Kraton successfully produced CirKular+ ReNew Series Hydrogenated Styrenic Block Copolymers (HSBC) at its Berre, France plant earlier this year using SABIC’s renewable butadiene.

Said Mohammed Al-Zahrani, v.p., Chemical at SABIC,  “Our collaboration with Kraton for renewable butadiene as feedstock for Kraton’s polymers is another example of working together towards our common goals and confirms the wide interest from the chemicals industry in developing sustainable solutions for the future. After SABIC’s earlier successes in developing certified renewable and circular ethylene, propylene, and benzene, we are delighted to add certified renewable butadiene to our Trucircle portfolio.”

Said Holger Jung, Kraton sr. v.p. and polymer segment president, "Kraton’s ambition is to enable the bioeconomy and play a role in advancing the circular economy. Value chain collaboration is instrumental in achieving progress towards a circular economy. Kraton is excited to collaborate with SABIC in using certified renewable butadiene enables us to develop and produce styrenic block copolymers with up to 70% of certified renewable raw material content. This is an exciting innovation for our customers as it can help reduce the carbon footprint of fossil-based HSBC made in our Berre plant by up to 65%.”