Ascend Performance Materials has begun production of nylon 6/6 resins and related feedstocks derived from used cooking oil.
The resulting nylon 6/6 has a 25 percent lower carbon footprint than nylon 6/6 made from fossil fuel derived feedstock, officials with Houston-based Ascend said in a news release.
In addition to nylon 6/6, Ascend is converting used cooking oil into acrylonitrile, hexamethylene diamine (HMD) and adipic acid. The new materials are part of the firm's Bioserve-brand portfolio.
Ascend uses an ISCC Plus-certified mass-balance approach that allows for industrial-scale production of sustainable materials without sacrificing performance, officials said. The firm's U.S. production facilities are all ISCC Plus certified to handle bio-based, circular and bio-circular materials.
"We're focused on finding technical solutions for our customers' challenges," performance chemicals vice president Alex Mihut said. "Using the mass-balance approach allows us to meet the growing need for sustainable materials at scale while continuing to offer reliable performance and quality."
Senior Sustainability Director Chris Johnson added that part of Ascend's sustainability strategy is a pillar called Operating Without Compromise. That pillar "is based on a commitment to find well-rounded solutions that meet the needs of our customers and help them achieve their goals," he said.
Ascend ranks as the world's largest fully integrated nylon 6/6 maker. In recent years, the firm has broadened its portfolio with long-chain nylons, mechanically recycled nylon 6 and 6/6 and multiple flame-retardant nylons.
Ascend has annual sales of more than $3 billion and is a unit of New York-based investment firm SK Capital Partners. The firm aims to have its carbon footprint reduced by 90 percent vs. 2018 levels by 2030. Ascend has spent more than $200 million on sustainability efforts over the last several years.