Avient announces the launch of its latest bio-based healthcare solutions – Versaflex™ HC BIO thermoplastic elastomer (TPE).The initial Versaflex HC BIO BT218 product was developed as a more sustainable alternative for biopharmaceutical tubing, with a formulation containing nearly 40% of first-generation bio-based content, resulting in a lower carbon footprint compared to traditional alternatives.
Matt Mitchell, Global Marketing Director for Avient's Specialty Engineered Materials, stated: "Enhancing sustainability is a challenge for all industries, but it is particularly acute in the highly regulated healthcare sector. We are committed to leveraging materials science to meet this growing demand in various ways, and this product is a prime example. By creating low-emission specialty materials at the beginning of a product's lifecycle, we are helping our customers fulfill their sustainability commitments while maintaining critical performance requirements."
This material has a Shore hardness of 71A, providing key application properties such as weldability, anti-twisting, and tensile strength, comparable to leading medical tubing materials including silicone and standard TPE. In contrast, the bio-based grade has a greenhouse gas emission of 2.35 kg CO2e/kg, which is nearly 25% lower than the cradle-to-gate product carbon footprint (PCF) of Avient's standard Versaflex HC BT218. Avient's PCF calculation follows the ISO 14067:2018 standard and has been certified by German TUV.
The new Versaflex HC BIO BT218 brand has passed USP Class VI and ISO 10993 certifications, and the product is manufactured in the USA and sold globally.