Unlocking the Potential of Mineral-based Specialty Chemicals – Exclusive Interview with Imerys

An Interview with Jelena Arsic-van Os, Imerys Vice President Plastics, Paints, Coatings, Adhesives, Sealants (ACS) & Rubber

 

Sustainability is not just a buzzword at Imerys, it is at the core of all of our developments. In 2018, Imerys launched its SustainAgility™ program which aims to unlock the sustainable potential of minerals so as to be a positive force for change across the value chain. With sustainability in mind, Imerys has developed a number of innovative mineral solutions that the company will be presenting at the upcoming K Show in Dusseldorf, which meet critical challenges the polymers industry is facing. These include our unique range of high-value talcs for automotive lightweighting: High Aspect Ratio HAR® and Jetfine® T2; our ImerShield® state-of-the-art flame retardant synergist for engineering thermoplastics; and our unique FilmLink® range for enhancing the properties of breathable films.

We talked to Dr. Jelena Arsic-van Os, Imerys Vice President Plastics, Paints, Coatings, Adhesives, Sealants & Rubber, to find out more about what Imerys will be showcasing at K 2022, and about what the company is doing in the realm of innovation and sustainability.

 

#1. Who are Imerys and what sets you apart from the competition today?

Imerys is a recognized world leading supplier of mineral-based specialty solutions for many industries. We pave the way thanks to our worldwide exclusive access to high quality mineral resources and industrial assets, expertise in material science and technological processing knowledge, unique in the industry.

Imerys operates 247 industrial sites, owns over 100 exclusive mineral deposits throughout the world and mines and processes more than 30 different minerals. Besides having access to the unique resources, the company provides innovative, reliable, and sustainable expert solutions based on advanced processing technology. The Group masters specific expertise and know-how in the mechanical, chemical, and heat treatment of minerals as well as their processing and formulation. We are the proud owners of over 2530 patents and 30 industrial models. In recent years, the company has been spearheading research into synthetic minerals seeking pure and exclusive properties that can only be achieved with designed minerals.

At Imerys, we are passionate about minerals, because we know how essential they are for many industries: mobile energy, construction, automotive, steelmaking, paint, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, food, cosmetics, and many more. Our 17,000 employees are dedicated to promoting awareness of the impact of minerals on our daily lives and to demonstrating how important they are. Indeed, in 2021, the company saw the successful launch of 80 new solutions in joint development with our customers.

Here are some recent examples of our latest pioneering innovations:
 

• We have been developing modern and innovative mineral-based solutions for automotive thermoplastics to make cars tougher, lighter - lowering fuel consumption.
• Our mineral solutions improve the performance of recycled plastics.
• Our products make babies' diapers more breathable and more comfortable to wear.
• Our solutions for biopolymers enable them to replace oil-based plastics.
• Used in tire inner liners, Imerys engineered minerals reduce rolling resistance.

Moreover, Imerys is engaged in expanding its industrial capacities in fast-growing markets, such as lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles in Belgium, we are building a new talc plant in China to be inaugurated in 2023 and we are investing in new-generation products and technologies used in breathable film processing.

 

#2. Sustainability and the circular economy are increasingly important to the Polymers industry—and to society at large. How is Imerys factoring this into the solutions it offers the market today?

Imerys is a responsible company that cares. Rapidly changing stakeholder expectations are stimulating industrial players to integrate environmental and social factors alongside economic considerations, in order to build a more resistant and resilient company for the future. In the last two years, we have seen a dramatic acceleration in the importance of sustainability/CSR in the eyes of clients, investors and the public at large, with more and more individuals - including employees, civil society groups, and governments - expecting companies to demonstrate how they operate sustainably.

Our company is focusing on improving our sustainability impact and has set itself ambitious commitments. We see sustainability as not only a must but as a strong driver for growth. To this effect, Imerys launched its SustainAgility™program in 2018, with the aim of unlocking the sustainable potential of minerals so as to be a positive force for change across our value chain. By taking into account the impact of our operations and products and services on our stakeholders and by addressing society's needs through our solutions, we aim to demonstrate our sustainability leadership in the industry.

With regard to the specific sustainability of our portfolio, we ensure that business decisions on new products and innovations are built on scientific data related to sustainability criteria. Imerys wants to leverage its most sustainable products to gain new business opportunities and to demonstrate concrete efforts in this context. We are increasingly asked by investors to quantify the part of our portfolio that is low-carbon, or sustainable; customers are requesting more detailed sustainability data on our products. This work will help Imerys prepare for the EU Taxonomy Regulations.

The methodology we have selected is inspired by the 'Solvay Sustainable Portfolio Management' (SPM) methodology developed over 10 years ago to measure the alignment of their portfolio against sustainability criteria. We have slightly adapted this methodology and aligned our approach to the Portfolio Sustainability Assessment (PSA) framework that was developed by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). The 'SustainAgility™ Solutions Assessment' thus developed, is a scientific, fact-based Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) method to measure social and environmental impacts from cradle to grave, to identify and steer our portfolio towards 'sustainable solutions''. The Group as a whole has made a clear public commitment to extend these assessments to cover 40% of our sales value and to ensure at least 50% of new product developments are approved 'SustainAgility Solutions' by the end of 2022.

 

#3. Momentum in the fight against climate change has reached new heights. Has this had an impact on your strategic orientations in terms of innovation and/or on your production standards?

Imerys is leading our industry's response to climate change and has expressed this commitment through its membership of the French Business Climate Pledge. Through our SustainAgility™ programme, we ensure our systematic approach to combating climate change permeates all aspects of our business, from the energy we buy and the processes we use, to the way we manage our supply chain and the products we provide to customers.

We have a clear climate change roadmap in line with the commitments of the Paris Agreement, with transparent objectives and concrete actions to significantly reduce the carbon emissions of our operations and develop low-carbon solutions for our customers.

In concrete terms, the group as a whole has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 36% (tCO₂/M€) by 2030, in alignment with the COP21 2°C trajectory. We intend to achieve this by making our production techniques more energy-efficient and increasing the amount of low-carbon energy we use. We also aim to engage 71% of group suppliers to adopt science-based targets themselves by 2023.

Our long-term future as a business depends on our capacity to ensure that our practices continue to meet the needs of society as the world transitions towards a low-carbon economy—but this also creates exciting new opportunities for the Group. Our production teams have implemented some successful initiatives to reduce our energy footprint. For example, our UK operations host a 35 MW capacity of solar panels and wind turbines across the country, providing communities, our plants and the national grid with low-carbon electricity. Our talc operations in the French Pyrenees run a totally GHG-free cableway system to ferry talc ore from the mine to the Luzenac plant in the valley below, avoiding the 34 km roundtrip by truck. Our Weisskirchen plant in Austria reintroduces waste heat into the community serving approximately 150 houses, two apartment blocks, as well as the local schools and public buildings.

 

#4. Can you tell us more about the SustainAgility™ Portfolio Assessment Programme and how will this be reflected in the products you will be showcasing at the K Show?

As mentioned above, our SustainAgility Portfolio Assessment programme gives us a better understanding of the environmental footprint of our products at all stages of their life cycle, and is a strong framework for providing customers with reliable data.

It is aligned with the WBCSD framework for Portfolio Sustainability Assessment (PSA) and has been validated by a third party (Arthur D. Little), and is based on:

• A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) founded on Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) criteria
• A market alignment assessment including an evaluation of public communication and feedback from key stakeholders

We are using it to quantify the real impact and benefits of our individual products and to award the highest performers with the Imerys 'Pioneer' sustainability label. This recently introduced certificate denotes a product that provides the highest social and environmental contribution to the downstream value chain, while demonstrating a low environmental impact in its production phase compared to its economic value.

We will be showcasing two Pioneer solutions at:
 

• Our high aspect ratio for thermoplastic lightweighting. HAR® talcs increase compound stiffness enabling plastics compounders to downgauge parts. They are particularly prized by manufacturers of automotive parts and rigid packaging.

• Our Jetfine® 3 C ultrafine talc improves the mechanical performance of biopolymers. is the result of our proprietary jet milling technology and is recognized as the finest talc on the market.Jetfine® 3 C also improves the mechanical performance of bioplastics making them suitable alternatives to conventional oil-derived thermoplastics.Jetfine® 3 C also improves the mechanical performance of bioplastics making them suitable alternatives to conventional oil-derived thermoplastics.

#5. What are the critical challenges the Polymers industry is facing that Imerys' solutions help address?

The first challenge is automotive lightweighting. Auto manufacturers are looking to build lighter, tougher vehicles, with a lower CO₂ footprint. Our teams will be showcasing our full range of high aspect ratio, ultrafine and microlamellar talcs designed as thermoplastic reinforcing and nucleating agents, which enable part compounders to improve stiffness, hence downgauge part thickness to produce lighter parts. Used in rubber tire inner liners, Imerys' high aspect ratio talcs improve permeability, enabling compounders to reduce liner wall thickness and improve rolling resistance.

 

 

HAR® talc allows weight and density reductions in PP whilst achieving same stiffness at a lower rate.

Electric cars are also ushering in new challenges in terms of heat management, electrical conductivity, and flame retardancy. At K 2022, we will be showcasing our high aspect ratio graphites for applications requiring superior electrical and thermal conductivity as well as our conductive carbon blacks for electrically conductive and anti-static compounds. Our teams will also be proud to present our full range of minerals for partial flame retardant replacement, including our recent ImerShield® grade.

The second challenge is to boost the sustainability profile of packaging. The packaging industry is the largest consumer of plastics today. To mitigate their carbon footprint, packaging manufacturers are constantly seeking to produce more robust, recyclable, lighter end products, whilst improving output and reducing formulation costs.

Here again, used in thermoformed polypropylene (PP) and blow or injection molded products, Imerys mineral-based solutions improve stiffness, dimensional stability, and barrier properties allowing manufacturers to reduce wall thickness, improve production output and lower their formulation costs. Our microlamellar talcs are solutions of choice for the nucleation of inherently lightweight foamed products. Used in film production, our engineered minerals improve the impact and tear strength of film allowing density reductions.

Biopolymers are also experiencing strong growth in markets traditionally dominated by conventional oil-based thermoplastics. Imerys is helping these eco-friendly alternatives to gain ground with engineered minerals - including our Pioneer-certified Jetfine® 3 C talc mentioned earlier - which can boost the mechanical and barrier properties of resins such as polylactic acid to such an extent they can be used to replace traditional oil-based plastics.

Last but by no means least, manufacturers are seeking to improve the properties of recycled plastics. The mechanical properties of these materials tend to deteriorate during the recycling process. Our fine engineered talcs and calcium carbonates can be added to recycled plastic compounds to restore mechanical performance, rendering them suitable for more demanding end applications.

 

#6. Are there any other solutions you will be showcasing at the K Show?

Yes, in addition to our high aspect ratio HAR® range and Jefine® 3 C Pioneer solutions, there will be three more stars at the trade fair:

 

• Our new low-carbon solution for PP compounds. Sourced in Europe, Jetfine® T2 C meets increasingly stringent impact and scratch resistance specifications while reducing the overall CO₂ footprint of the end product.
• Our unique  for breathable hygiene films developed in close cooperation with customers and new innovations to enable better performance and higher throughput.
• Our new ImerShield® range of flame retardant (FR) synergists specially designed for use in plastic flame retardant systems. Used in cell phones, computers, electric vehicles and household appliances, ImerShield® allows for similar or improved flame retardant ratings at reduced part thicknesses and at lower FR addition rates, hence formulation costs.

#7. Is Imerys working on other innovations to support its customers' sustainability goals?

Imerys is constantly working closely with customers to help develop circular solutions that improve the ecoprofile of their products, make better use of primary resources and extend the lifespan of their products—to support them in the transition to a low-carbon economy. Spurred on by strong competition and armed with decades of technical expertise, we are in a very strong position to innovate and create new market-driven products that help meet global environmental and societal challenges. At K 2022, our experts will be happy to explain our SustainAgility™ Programme, and to discuss how our products can contribute to supporting your own sustainability targets and the circular economy.

All because we care.

 

About Jelena

Dr Jelena Arsic van Os is Vice President of Polymers, Paints, Adhesives & Rubber at Imerys Performance Minerals EMEA. She worked as a senior executive with more than 20 years of progressive experience in the Chemical Industry. Prior to Imerys, Dr Jelena Arsic van Os was holding several General manager positions in AkzoNobel managing complex global and regional businesses in both developed Western Europe, China, and the US and developing South America.

She demonstrated strong track record in growing the market share of well-performing business as well as leading business turnarounds with successful large organizational transformations. She is the member and Chairman of the board of several legal entities.Interested in talking or advising in areas of change management, profitability acceleration, business turnarounds, go-to market models, growth strategies, and organizational design.

Find out more about Imerys' solutions for Plastics and Rubber (https://www.imerys.com).