Covestro, ABB partner on renewable polycarbonate for light switches, sockets

Covestro’s Makrolon RE polycarbonate is being used in the manufacturer of light switches, plugs, and multimedia sockets for the first time, the company has announced. ABB, a Switzerland-based automation company, is using the polycarbonate with at least 80% renewable attributed content in its SAGATM product range.

Covestro first launched the Makrolon range in 2021. The polycarbonate grade is carbon neutral according to a verified crade-to-grate life cycle assessment based on ISO standards 14040/14044. The calculation takes biogenic carbon sequestration into account.

The Makrolon RE variant used by ABB is made of over 80% bio-attributed content, according to a ISCC Plus-certified mass balance method. The feedstock is largely derived from organic waste and residues such as cooking oils and fats. The polymer grade is coloured in signal white (RAL 9003) and is characterised by excellent UV stability, according to Covestro. It has passed a test that simulates two years of horizontal, two-dimensional UV exposure under northern European light conditions. In addition, its electrical properties – such as high dielectric strength and tracking resistance – meet all electrical safety requirements.

"Currently, around 75% of our SAGATM range is manufactured with attributed bio-circular materials,” said Sven Werdes, global product line manager at ABB. “In the long term, this will reduce annual emissions by around 400 tons of CO2 equivalents. We want to further increase the proportion of these attributed bio-circular plastics in the future,” he added.