Formerra, Pioneering Sustainable Performance Materials

Formerra is a global high-performance materials distributor with a dedicated focus on sustainability and business development. The company has found a niche in sustainable packaging, materials, and solutions.

The company, primarily in North America but with resources in Asia, Latin America, and Europe, offers end-to-end solutions, from product development to supply chain management, helping clients meet their sustainability goals. Its capabilities include material selection, prototyping, commercialization, and managing supply chain complexities.

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Material Selection for Sustainable Solutions

Formerra aids clients in selecting sustainable materials, transitioning from post-industrial recycled content to post-consumer and bio-based materials. Clients seek materials that are compostable, biodegradable, and compliant with FDA regulations. Formerra collaborates closely with suppliers to innovate and bring sustainable solutions to market. Recently, they achieved the ISCC PLUS certification for their U.S. legal entity. This milestone supports the circular economy and bio-based solutions. Moreover, it helps customers access more sustainable material solutions.

Sustainability by Choice

Michael Balasko, Director of Sustainability and Business Development at Formerra, says the trend is that manufacturers want sustainability by choice. “They want to ensure they have post-consumer recycled content, FDA materials, and natural materials instead of black. They want bio-based materials and compostable and biodegradable materials at the end of life”. There is a shift from sustainability by chance in the post-industrial to sustainability by choice with the post-industrial, PCR, and bio-based materials.

Technical Expertise and Industry Focus

Formerra leverages its technical expertise to support clients in various industries, including healthcare, automotive, and packaging. They assist with product selection, processing, and design, acting as an extension of the client’s technical resources. They found a niche in sustainable packaging. Sustainable materials and solutions have a smaller subset, ordering more complex materials. As a distributor, they bring sustainable materials to this market. They start with industry knowledge and expertise, then add technical expertise in product selection, processing, and design. They act as an extension of the customer’s technical resources to help create finished products for the marketplace.

Also, the relationship with suppliers plays a leading role in delivering innovative solutions to clients. They provide suppliers with information about unmet market needs. The suppliers then develop material innovations, some of which are sustainable solutions specific to that supplier. Other innovations come from fossil fuel or virgin-based material suppliers expanding into sustainable solutions. They bring market information to the supplier, the supplier handles innovation development, and then they connect the two for a solution.

Healthcare and Automotive Industries

In the healthcare sector, trends are shifting towards bio-based materials due to contamination concerns with recycled content. This shift has led to increased demand for certified sustainable materials, exemplified by the adoption of ISCC Plus certification. Similarly, the automotive industry sees a growing preference for post-consumer recycled materials, particularly among electric vehicle manufacturers. These trends highlight the need to simplify supply chain complexities while promoting sustainability. This focus on eco-friendly practices reflects a broader industry move towards sustainable development and resource efficiency.

Future Directions

Formerra aims to enhance its sustainability efforts, including exploring opportunities in the additives market. It acts as a connector, helping clients recycle scrap materials by linking them with compounders and resin suppliers. As legislation and industry mandates drive demand for sustainable materials, Formerra is poised to expand its role in the sustainable performance materials market, providing innovative solutions and supporting clients’ sustainability initiatives.