MATERIALS | PVC PLASTICISERS
Right: Inbra, Varteco and Innoleics, have formed a collaboration to accelerate the adoption of bio-based plasticisers
aim of offering sustainable alternatives to phtha- lates. Feedstocks include epoxidised linseed oil and epoxidised soybean oil, although production of renewable resources must be carefully controlled as it could have significant social and economic consequences, especially when competing with food production. Intensive soy monoculture also requires substantial industrial chemicals such as fertilisers and pesticides, as well as the need to replant every year, and contributes to deforestation. Research has also focused on cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL), a non-edible by-product of cashew processing contained in the porous lattice structure of the cashew nut shell. Although the shell is an agricultural waste product, CNSL is one of the richest natural sources of phenols, consisting of four substituted phenols (anacardic acid, cardanol, cardol, and 2-methylcardol). Cardanol-based compounds derived from CNSL have bene earmarked for use in bio-based plasticisers for PVC and are considered a promising alternative to phthalates due to their unique natural structure, which is similar to that of phthalates. A study by a team at University of Montpellier in
France evaluating the feasibility of utilising technical CNSL (80% cardanol and 20% cardol) as a PVC plasticiser was published last year in the European Journal of Lipid Science and Technology. During the testing phase, various plasticisers were synthesized from pure cardanol or technical CNSL through esterification and epoxidation to enhance compat- ibility. The research revealed the influence of epoxy on the physicochemical properties of PVC films. To summarise, epoxidation increases the thermal stability and the viscosity of the plasticiser, and also results in an increase in elongation at break. Moreover, epoxidation improves thermal stability by introducing oxirane which captures HCl, and also increases the chemical resistance for CNSL derivatives and volatility, which are sought- after properties in themselves. Epoxidation proves to be a valuable way to boost the plasticising properties of the compounds, even for those with long alkyl chains, according to the study’s writers. Importantly, this work demonstrated that technical CNSL, without purification into pure cardanol, can be effectively used as a precursor for PVC plasticisers. The study concluded by stating: “Performances observed for technical CNSL-based plasticisers are comparable to, and in some cases even superior to, those reported for pure cardanol- based plasticisers in the literature. Thus, the purification step of cardanol can indeed be skipped, allowing for a simpler, more economical, and more sustainable process.”
22 FILM & SHEET EXTRUSION | September 2026
Other companies also see the potential for bio-based plasticisers in Europe. Inbra, Varteco, and Innoleics, have formed a collaboration to accelerate the adoption of sustainable, bio-based plasticisers with an initial focus on the Benelux region. Building on more than 18 years of industrial success, Brazilian chemical company Innoleics says its technology encompasses a full portfolio of primary bio-based plasticisers designed to replace materials such as DINP, DOTP, and TOTM, deliver- ing equal or superior performance while maintain- ing competitive cost. The new partnership lever- ages the combined production capabilities of Inbra and Varteco, with facilities located across the world’s three major soy producing regions, ensuring reliable supply, consistent quality, and scalability for European customers. In addition, Varteco provides technical and
commercial support, assisting customers in product validation, formulation optimisation, and industrial implementation. Together, the trio of companies hope to expand a technology platform that they say has already demonstrated commercial performance in other regions, creating new opportunities for compounders, converters, and brand owners. The initiative also aligns with global decarbonisation efforts, contributes to carbon footprint reduction, and advances the sustainability profile of flexible PVC applications by transferring expertise accumu- lated by all three companies.
CLICK ON THE LINKS FOR MORE INFORMATION: �
www.alphagary.com �
https://tekni-plex.com �
www.polsl.pl �
https://inbra.com.br �
https://innoleics.com �
www.varteco.com.ar �
www.ivv.fraunhofer.de
www.filmandsheet.com
IMAGE: VARTECO
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