ADDITIVES | NATURAL FILLERS
Right: Neen cosmetic
pencils made with biode- gradable plastic with wood flour filler from Sulapac
ranging from high stiffness and high thermal stability for rigid structural components to high toughness for more flexible resilient parts,” said Tiwari. The PP/bamboo composite has passed relevant automotive test requirements, including flammability testing, and is available for commercial evaluation. Current work is focused on further improving performance in high- temperature, high-humidity conditions, which remain challenging for natural-filler composites for exterior applications, Tiwari noted. Potential future applications may include automotive and other electrical and electronic equipment components, protective housings and enclosures, industrial packaging and reusable containers, material- handling and logistics equipment such as warehouse storage systems, and other moulded plastic products where lower-carbon material alternatives as desirable. “As manufacturers face mounting pressure to
Below: Printerior Designs recently introduced natural-fibre- filled PETG and PP pellets for large-format additive
manufacturing under its Circdal brand
reduce Scope 3 emissions and satisfy circular- economy regulations, Yazaki is actively engaging with product developers, sustainability leaders, and manufacturers to explore commercial adoption of the PP/bamboo composite material,” Tiwari said. Finland-based Sulapac produces bio-based
materials for packaging applications. The company recently announced that US-based makeup brand Neen chose Sulapac Flow 1.8 material for its cosmetic pencils. Sulapac Flow 1.8 is made with FSC-certified wood flour from industrial side streams and biodegradable, bio-based plastics. It is certified as industrially compostable by BPI and the European Bioplastics Seedling Certification Scheme and meets FDA requirements for food contact materials.
The material is a drop-in for compounds made
with ABS, AES or PVC that is processed in the same way and has the same look and feel, said the company. With a high bio-based content (72%), brands can reduce their carbon footprint by approximately 50% compared to styrene-based pencil materials, Sulapac said.
Fibres in 3D printing Compounder and 3D printing manufacturer Printerior Designs recently introduced natural- fibre-filled PETG and PP pellets for large-format additive manufacturing (LFAM), which the company prints into architectural products, such as wall panels, partitions, and screens, under its Circdal brand. The products include wood-filled recycled PETG and glass-fibre reinforced grades. The company is also developing UV-stable, flame- retardant wood-filled PP and PETG pellets, said Trenton J Esser, Printerior Co-founder and CEO. “The demand pull for us is architects and designers,” said Esser. “The sustainability story – recycled polymer plus natural fibre – resonates more than we expected, and the aesthetic matters just as much: natural fillers give a matte, organic finish that makes a printed part read as a designed material rather than plastic. In large format, fillers also help with the practical side: lower shrink and warp on big sections, and better cost per pound.” Natural fibres are hygroscopic and require drying prior to the extruder and again at the printer, Esser said. Other challenges include dispersion and the need to use hardened wear parts to withstand abrasion. Managing the “thermal window” is key. “Wood fillers start to degrade right
32 COMPOUNDING WORLD | September 2026
www.compoundingworld.com
IMAGE: CIRCDAL
IMAGE: SULAPAC
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