Vinyls producer Inovyn (London / UK; www.inovyn.com) has announced that its “Biovyn” biomass-based PVC produced in Jemeppe / Belgium is now certified by the Roundtable on Sustainable BioMaterials (RSB, Geneva / Switzerland; www.rsb.org). The certification follows that received from the RSB in October 2019 for Biovyn produced at Inovyn’s German site in Rheinberg.

Inovyn said RSB certification for both sites strengthens its long-term growth strategy to improve a circular economy with the material and offers customers more choice of bio-attributed PVC grades and copolymers. It added that Biovyn enables greenhouse gas savings of more than 90% versus conventional PVC.

For Biovyn, Inovyn is entirely replacing ethylene derived from fossil fuels with a variant derived from bio-ethanol. For this purpose, parent company Ineos processes waste from the Finnish wood industry, which is supplied by UPM.

It is not clear how many of the 60 or so grades produced are currently bio-based. Inovyn also did not comment on a Plasteurope.com enquiry regarding the share of bio-based PVC in total output. According to a spokesperson, the entire production at two sites could be switched to process bio-ethylene. However, PVC with bio-based content is a niche product.

In the development phase of its bio-based PVC, the UK company collaborated closely with flooring manufacturer Tarkett (Nanterre / France; www.tarkett.com). The French company launched its first floor coverings produced with Biovyn in 2020.