Our top five sustainable materials
Sustainability, reducing carbon footprints and boosting green credentials: this is something that’s on the cards for individuals and companies alike all around the world. Even when it comes to materials in science and industry, there’s a definitive focus on reducing negative impact on the environment, ultimately creating a more sustainable future for ourselves and generations to come.
What are sustainable materials?
Generally speaking, sustainable materials are materials that are either created or sourced using methods that aren’t harmful to the environment, or that are not harmful while in use or after use. Biodegradable and compostable materials are a great example of the latter!
When it comes to sustainable materials for scientific research and development, this refers to materials that are the result of environmentally sound processes that conserve energy and natural resources.
Our sustainable materials list
We have developed a range of materials that strike the right balance between product quality and reducing the product’s carbon footprint, allowing our customers to focus on research and product design without compromising quality.
The products in our Green Production range are all either redesigned, renewable, reconfigured, recyclable or reimagined.
Here, we discuss just five of them to demonstrate examples of credentials and applications!
1. Green Graphene
The green production process for Graphene is scalable, as it concentrates on the conversion of methane (a greenhouse gas that is a harmful by-product of existing processes like farming, landfills and palm oil milling) into an environmentally friendly product.
Our Green Graphene can be used in applications such as heat sinks, indoor solar cells, display screens and various medical, chemical and industrial processes.
2. Cellulose Acetate
This material is derived from two sources, wood pulp and cotton fibres. It gets its badge of sustainability thanks to its biodegradability and natural status.
It’s a material with many potential uses, particularly in the automotive industry because of its mechanical strength, toughness, wear resistance, transparency and malleability. Its high resistance to impact makes it a desirable material for protective goggles, tool handles and oil gauges too.
3. C-solder
The main eco-credential for C-solder is that it is a metal that contains no lead – which is toxic. It’s also tin-based and flux-free, as well as having a low soldering temperature.
Since its purpose is to join carbon materials together, as well as carbon to metals, ceramics and glass, its uses are extremely versatile.
4. Green Foams
Our foams are a uniquely customisable porous range of products, with source materials which include metals, alloys, ceramics and polymers.
Foam requires less source material in its creation and provides numerous functional and energy-saving benefits in comparison to other lightweight materials. Further efficiencies can be achieved depending on the particular manufacturing process too.
5. Polyhydroxybutyrate Biopolymer
Also known as PHB, this material is a type of PHA that’s derived from bacterial fermentation. Due to its biodegradability and biocompatibility, it’s a great sustainable alternative for other plastics used for single-use items, such as food containers and utensils, surgical stitches, pins, packaging and carriers for drug delivery.
It also decomposes, giving its green credentials a boost!
