- The international standard gives customers access to renewable alternatives
- Transparency through mass balancing creates customer confidence
Neuhaus am Rennweg, 20. December 2022 | Röchling Medical, a subsidiary of the Mannheim-based plastics processor Röchling, is taking the next step towards sustainability. ISCC PLUS (International Sustainability & Carbon Certification) is one of the world's leading certification systems for the use of bio-based and recycled raw materials. Röchling Medical has now achieved this certification at all of its German sites. The company already had the site in Neuhaus am Rennweg ISCC PLUS certified in 2021 and the site in Brensbach in June 2022. Now the certification of the third German Medical site in Waldachtal has been added.
Identical material properties as fossil-based products
"In such a highly regulated environment as the pharmaceutical and medical device industry, it is a challenge to drive the change towards more sustainable solutions for the pharmaceutical and medical industry," says Grit Pasche, Global Director Quality & Regulatory Affairs at Röchling Medical. That is why the option of using ISCC PLUS-certified materials was exactly the right choice for the company, she says. "These polymers, which are based on renewable raw materials, offer the same properties in terms of product performance as fossil-based alternatives. This means that we can offer our customers access to sustainable alternatives that have the same properties as fossil-based polymers in terms of product performance and regulatory approvals," emphasizes Grit Pasche. The same technical equipment can be used for the material production process as for purely fossil-based materials, which speaks for an efficient infrastructure and also supports the utilization of the production facilities, some of which are very investment-intensive.
High transparency creates trust
The principle of mass balancing that goes hand in hand with ISCC PLUS enables a high level of transparency and thus creates trust among customers. Bio-based and circular feedstocks are mixed with fossil raw materials. The proportion of bio-based raw material is mathematically assigned to the finished products. This systematically reduces the use of fossil raw materials and promotes the use of biobased and circular raw materials. In addition, ISCC PLUS certification ensures traceability along the entire supply chain. This is because all companies along the value chain must be ISCC PLUS certified. Mass balancing is carried out according to defined and transparent rules. As part of an ISCC PLUS-certified supply chain, Röchling Medical's customers can thus actively contribute to promoting sustainability and conserving resources.
Röchling Medical, with its nearly 1,500 employees in its six locations in the USA, EU, and China, offers its customers a wide range of high-quality, customized components and assemblies through to complete OEM products. The product portfolio also includes standard plastic products with special expertise in diagnostics, medical device, pharma, surgery & interventional and much more. These competences are complemented with extended services regarding development and regulatory affairs up to the approval of a complete medical product.
