Strengthening sustainability together > Achieving together
Achieving together
Understanding the monumental task of creating a sustainable future, we've harnessed the collective strength of our suppliers, partners, and customers. This collaborative ecosystem is crucial for achieving our sustainability milestones, impacting our entire value chain through:
- CO₂ emission reduction: Our strategies are focused on reducing emissions from all operational phases, emphasizing our front-end processes.
- CO₂ emission avoidance: We continue to innovate in our product usage phase to mitigate CO₂ emissions effectively.
- Sustainable lifecycle management: Our commitment has deepened in developing end-of-life solutions that emphasize reuse, recycling, and extending the lifecycle of aramid products.
- Renewable resources: We are intensifying our efforts in utilizing renewable raw materials alongside enhancing our recycling capabilities.
- Renewable content products: Our roadmap includes the introduction of products with significant renewable content, setting a benchmark in the market.
Strengthening sustainability together > The raw materials transition
The raw materials transition
Reaching our sustainability targets is a collaborative effort. The role of our suppliers is vital: they supply the essential raw materials for our high-performance aramids.
While we have traditionally relied on fossil-based resources, our ongoing mission is to explore renewable alternatives. We are investigating raw materials from sustainable sources like biomass, plastic waste, or recycled aramid products.
Renewable raw materials
Over the last year, we've thoroughly evaluated renewable raw materials sourced from biomass, working with several suppliers. Our focus has been identifying materials that meet our production standards for quality, scalability, and availability and align with our sustainability goals. This involves a rigorous comparison of the lifecycle assessments (LCAs) of these renewable options against their fossil-based counterparts. As we progress, we plan to initiate small-scale laboratory tests of these materials, expanding to industrial-scale trials once we have secured a sufficient supply.
This strategic shift toward renewable raw materials is a significant step forward in reducing our reliance on fossil-based inputs.
Strengthening sustainability together > ARAMAZING Consortium
ARAMAZING Consortium
Advancing circular solutions through chemical recycling
Since 2019, we've collaborated with a partner to develop technology for depolymerizing aramid materials into valuable monomers and resources. While still in the early stages, this technology has demonstrated potential for high yields and conversion rates.
Recognizing the challenges of scaling this process, we created the ARAMAZING consortium in 2023 to establish a pilot plant that bridges the gap from laboratory experiments to industrial applications. Our collaboration with industrial and academic partners fuels our confidence in advancing toward a new era of aramid recycling.
The strength of collaborative innovation
Achieving true circularity and sustainability, both within our company and on a global scale, is a collaborative endeavor. It requires the collective expertise and dedication of multiple stakeholders. That's why we’re actively involved in several research consortia beyond the ARAMAZING project. Our participation in projects like InRep, 3CRA, Aromatics, and ReBlocs aims to harness renewable and recycled feedstock.
Through these collaborative efforts and partnerships, we’re committed to transitioning from fossil-based to renewable raw materials.
Strengthening sustainability together > Partnering for circularity
Partnering for circularity
Embracing circularity includes forging strong partnerships across product redesign, take-back logistics, and material preparation for recycling. The Sustainable Value Chain Alliances (SVCA) embody our commitment to a collaborative and sustainable future.
Together with our partners, we’ve increased the retrieval of pre- and post-consumer aramid waste by 24% compared to 2022.
We bring together every partner in our ecosystem, from customers to end-users and recycling hubs. These partnerships are crucial, guaranteeing that every step of our product's journey, from creation to rebirth, is seamless and sustainable.
Recycling hubs play a pivotal role in the lifecycle of our products. They’re essential in sourcing and preparing materials for re-entry into production. By establishing long-term agreements with these hubs, we ensure consistent quality and supply of materials. Moreover, enhancing the collection of end-of-life materials minimizes waste and significantly reduces our carbon footprint.
Strengthening sustainability together > Take-back program
Take-Back program
Our Take-Back program, a key element of our sustainability endeavors for over two decades, underscores our commitment to waste minimization and resource efficiency.
Our aramid fibers are integral to various industries. Recognizing that these applications have a limited lifespan, we’ve taken proactive steps to manage end-of-life aramid waste. Our Take-Back initiative encompasses the entire reverse supply chain, handling pre- and post-consumer materials from collection to reuse.
Thanks to our dedicated team and enhanced collection strategies, we achieved a significant year-on-year increase in reclaimed aramid materials, surpassing 50% in 2023: a new benchmark.
Strengthening sustainability together > Sustainable procurement initiatives
Sustainable procurement initiatives
Commitment to ethical supply chains
Ensuring integrity within our supply chain is paramount. We seek to collaborate with suppliers who reflect our values, embracing high ethical standards and principles.
Our Purchasing department diligently cultivates our network, selecting suppliers for their reliability, cost-effectiveness, innovation, and commitment to sustainability. We value professionalism, teamwork, challenge, and trust in our partnerships. Moreover, we require our suppliers to commit to our Code of Conduct, adhere to the Suppliers Corporate Social Responsibility Declaration, and follow our Sustainable Purchasing Policy, reinforcing our dedication to ethical and sustainable business practices.
Strengthening sustainability together > Trees for All: Reforestation efforts
Trees for All: Reforestation efforts
Teijin Aramid has renewed our partnership with Trees for All, securing the 2023 certificate. This reaffirms our dedication to environmental sustainability and the fight against climate change.
Jan Roos
Chief Sustainability Officer, Teijin Aramid
"We’re proud of our new Trees for All certificate – it not only symbolizes our ongoing commitment to mitigating climate change but also highlights our partnerships that help to create a sustainable future for all."
Partnership with Trees for All
Since 2018, our alliance with Trees for All has led to significant contributions to reforestation projects across the globe, including in the Netherlands, Bolivia, and Mexico. Highlighted on the Dutch TV program "3 Op Reis," our collaborative CO2 compensation project in Bolivia has gained recognition for its positive environmental impact.
This year, we've offset 2385.87 tons of CO2 emissions from our business travels: a substantial increase from the previous year.
A shared vision for global sustainability
Trees for All's projects, certified by CBF and ANBI, align with our goals for environmental protection and sustainability. Their dedication to supporting eco-friendly forestry practices resonates with our global perspective on addressing the climate crisis.
Together, we are committed to making a meaningful impact on a global scale, acknowledging that the path to a sustainable future requires concerted efforts across borders.
Strengthening sustainability together > Partner with us
Partner with us
Achieving a circular economy within the tire industry requires a collaborative effort that extends beyond just recycling aramids. It demands partnerships across the entire tire value chain, seeking innovative solutions to these recycling challenges.
As part of a collective endeavor, the industry must unite to advance toward sustainability, acknowledging that while recycling aramid is a vital component of this journey, broader industry participation and action are crucial for meaningful progress.
