Sanitized® delivers a unique long-lasting antimicrobial solution to protect PVC with bio-based plasticizers

SANITIZED AG is supporting the PVC market's use of sustainable processing ingredients with the launch of a new Sanitized® antimicrobial additive for bio-based plasticizers. The unique innovation, from Switzerland's world-leading producer of antimicrobial hygiene function and material protection for textiles and plastics, is the first of its kind to offer long-lasting protection to PVC with bio-based plasticizers.

Plasticizers are used in PVC processing to help the material achieve a full spectrum of flexibility ranging from rigid through to fully supple. Bio-based plasticizers can reduce green house gasses by up to 40% to improve the overall sustainability of PVC. However, as fully biodegradable products derived mainly from vegetables, they are constantly at risk from microbial attack and therefore being biologically decomposed. This can drastically limit effective lifetime of the PVC material, leading to an increase in waste and reducing an application’s overall sustainability.

The new Sanitized® antimicrobial additive prevents premature deterioration of the bio-based plasticizer caused by microbial attack from bacteria and fungi. As a result it helps the PVC application to maintain its desired performance over its lifetime, for a full useful life and more ecological solution. Sustainable PVC compounds can be used in applications that range from automotive interior trim to vinyl flooring and wall coverings, fabric coatings, wire and cable, footwear and the highly-demanding medical and food markets.

“This pioneering sustainable protection development is part of SANITIZED AG’s on-going support for manufacturers in their trend towards the use of natural materials. Our tailor-made solution for the PVC market positions Sanitized® products as the natural choice for sustainable effects in the protection of PVC with bio-based plasticizers, helping to improve the environmental impact of the vast PVC market segment that continues to grow year on year,” comments Maria Toscan, Product Manager Polymer at SANITIZED AG.