Polymers in Liquid Formulations (PLFs) are a big deal, raking in about $125 billion each year and finding their way into countless consumer and industrial products. Unfortunately, the way we produce, use, and dispose of them isn't exactly sustainable.
To tackle this issue, the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) has kicked off the Sustainable PLFs 2040 initiative, aiming to steer the industry toward a more sustainable future.
Experts from top UK universities and major global players like Unilever and BASF are teaming up to spark innovation, create new eco-friendly materials, and build the necessary infrastructure to support these changes.
Experts from some of the biggest names in the industry, like Unilever and BASF, have teamed up with top academics, trade associations, research institutes, and policymakers in a groundbreaking initiative led by the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). Their goal? To significantly cut down the environmental footprint of millions of household and industrial chemicals.
Polymers in Liquid Formulations (PLFs) play a crucial role in a wide array of products, from paints and coatings to cosmetics, personal care items, and household cleaners. The members of the Sustainable PLFs 2040 initiative are set to work together to transform the way PLFs are produced, utilized, and disposed of, with the aim of achieving full sustainability by 2040.
Despite their importance, nearly all of the 36 million tonnes of PLFs produced each year go unrecovered and unrecycled after use.
Professor Anju Massey-Brooker from the RSC remarked:
*”We come across PLFs every day, yet in the realms of research and development, they often get overlooked. There’s a pressing need to enhance their sustainability by developing biodegradable alternatives and creating a circular economy framework to stop these valuable chemicals from being wasted, frequently just going down the drain.
The scale of this challenge cannot be overstated. That’s why it’s incredibly uplifting to see so many leading producers and users of these ingredients dedicating their expertise and resources to find solutions that benefit not just businesses, but also the environment and society at large.”*
As part of the Sustainable PLFs 2040 initiative, a foresight and coordination group will guide the implementation of a previously established roadmap. This group will promote collaboration across sectors, ensure inclusive decision-making, and coordinate actions to achieve a long-lasting, sustainable transformation.
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Here’s the text we’re looking at: The founding members of the group include:
- Professor Anju Massey-Brooker (Royal Society of Chemistry)
- Professor Andreas Künkel and Dr. Martin Klatt (BASF)
- Dr. Paul Jenkins (Unilever)
- Professor Gill Reid (University of Southampton and former RSC President)
- Professor Matthew Davidson (University of Bath)
- Dr. Jen Vanderhoven (Bio-Based and Biodegradable Industries Association, BBIA)
- Dr. Damian Kelly (Croda)
Professor Gill Reid shared her thoughts:
“This is an incredibly exciting field for innovation. The Royal Society of Chemistry’s distinctive approach will play a crucial role in achieving real results—from groundbreaking research to products ready for the market. What stands out is the development of sustainability assessment and reporting tools that will be available to everyone on a pre-competitive basis, which will drive progress across the industry and speed up the shift to a sustainable future by 2040.”
Dr. Damian Kelly from Croda added:
“Polymers for liquid formulations are essential chemical products used in a variety of industries. Traditionally, these polymers have been designed with a focus on performance and cost, often overlooking their production processes or what happens to them at the end of their life. The Sustainable PLFs 2040 initiative aims to bring together leading companies from across the supply chain to innovate, scale, and commercialize new polymers that have significantly better environmental credentials.”
The launch of Sustainable PLFs 2040 builds on efforts that began in 2017. Motivated by the need to enhance plastics sustainability, the RSC established the Sustainable PLFs Task Force in 2021 to outline a strategic roadmap for the industry. This roadmap provides a clear direction for transitioning from fossil fuel-based PLFs to sustainable alternatives by 2040.
Key missions on our agenda are:
- Creating and expanding biodegradable PLFs by 2030
- Enhancing circular economy infrastructure for PLFs by 2030 These missions are essential steps toward realizing fully sustainable PLFs.
If you want to learn more about the Sustainable PLFs 2040 initiative, check out:
👉 Royal Society of Chemistry – Sustainable PLFs Initiative 2040
