First ISCC PLUS certifications pave the way for renewable plastics at Sartorius
The life science group Sartorius has earned its first certificates from the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) for its production sites in Aubagne, France, and Stonehouse, UK. Further plants in Germany and Finland are to follow. The ISCC PLUS certification allows Sartorius to transparently source renewable, certified raw materials for the production of plastic components, significantly reducing the proportion of fossil-based materials.
At its certified sites, Sartorius produces Ambr® bioreactor vessels, Vivaflow® filters, and selected Flexsafe® bags for the manufacture of biopharmaceuticals. ISCC’s transparent accounting system allows for the integration of renewable and recycled feedstock into existing processes, with usage tracked and documented across the entire value chain. By using a mass balance approach, this certification enables us to contribute to a circular economy without the need for additional product revalidation. In the three product lines, ISCC Plus-certified materials now cut the share of fossil-based compounds by an average of 50 percent.
”By using renewable materials, we are actively reducing fossil raw materials in our products, offering sustainable alternatives that our customers can easily adopt,” says René Fáber, Head of the Bioprocess Division and Member of the Executive Board at Sartorius. “For years, our technologies have helped customers to replace energy-, water- and chemical-intensive manufacturing processes for biopharmaceuticals with more resource-efficient single-use options, thereby reducing their environmental footprint. The ISCC Plus certification reinforces our ongoing commitment to advancing more sustainable practices.”
In addition to supporting its customers’ sustainability efforts, Sartorius aims to further reduce its own ecological footprint and pursues significant climate ambitions: By 2045, Sartorius intends to fully decarbonize its business activities, achieve net-zero CO2 emissions and thus become climate neutral. By 2030, 100 percent of the electricity purchased worldwide should come from renewable sources.
More information about Sartorius’ sustainability ambitions at www.sartorius.com/sustainability
Plastic Mass Balance Approach
Figure 1: Schematic supply chain from cradle to grave, showing the mass balance allocation of the renewable feedstock to the resin. Using 1 kg of r-Polymer obliges the manufacturer to use an additional equivalent amount of renewable oils into their Steam Cracker, decoupling polymer manufacturing from fossil resources
ISCC PLUS certification ensures traceability, allowing us to track the origin and production process of our materials. This transparency will help us maintain the integrity of our supply chain and enhance environmental sustainability.
At Sartorius, we believe that sustainability is not just a goal but a responsibility. By adopting ISCC PLUS certified materials, we’re aiming to support you in your sustainability goals, and promote sustainable practices across biopharmaceutical manufacturing.
Frequently Asked Questions
ISCC PLUS is a voluntary certification that focuses on leveraging renewable energy sources to improve the bioeconomy and circular economy of food, feed, chemicals, plastics, packaging, textiles, and renewable feedstock. You can read more about the certification on the ISCC website.
We’re dedicated to reducing the carbon footprint of our products and supporting the transition to a circular economy. ISCC PLUS certification will enable us to use biobased, biocircular, and recycled content materials in production at our sites in Stonehouse and Aubagne, meaning we can source our products more sustainably and contribute toward a circular economy.
The mass balance approach makes it possible to mix renewable and fossil feedstock-derived materials in production, as well as allocate and track a specific proportion of the output as renewable, ensuring flexibility and traceability in the supply chain.
Using ISCC PLUS certified materials with renewable content ensures that we source our materials sustainably, contributing to a circular economy and reducing our overall environmental impact without having to revalidate our products. By following the mass balance approach, we’ll be able to leave all materials and components unchanged. Our products will maintain the same technical and performance specifications, and ISCC PLUS certification will have no impact on their fit, form, or function.
ISCC PLUS certifies the entire supply chain through independent audits and rigorous documentation. This ensures transparency and accountability at every step, from raw material sourcing to the finished product.
ISCC PLUS certification verifies responsible sourcing and processing, supports carbon emission reduction, and promotes resource circularity. By guaranteeing traceability, this certification protects the integrity of our supply chain and helps us meet our goals in environmental sustainability.
By certifying recycled and biocircular feedstock, ISCC PLUS enables the use of recycled plastics, helping reduce plastic waste and promote resource efficiency.
Independent audits verify mass balance accuracy and compliance with sustainability standards and provide an objective assessment of adherence to ISCC PLUS requirements.
Yes, particularly to plastics that incorporate recycled, biobased, or biocircular content.
Mass balance allocation integrates recycled, biocircular, or biobased content into production without altering product specifications. This enables a scalable sustainability approach without changing the fit, form, or function of our products.
Ambr® bioreactor vessels and Vivaflow® SU tangential flow filtration cassettes will be the first to use biocircular ISCC PLUS certified materials. Additional products will be onboarded in a stepwise approach, and we will proactively inform existing customers about new product certificates in a dedicated information letter via email.
The polymer of our products will not change, meaning that the products won’t be biodegradable.
The term "bioplastic" doesn't have a single definition and can mean different things depending on how it's used. It can refer to plastics made from renewable materials like plants instead of oil, which are called biobased plastics. It can also mean plastics that are safe to use in the body, known as biocompatible plastics, like those used in medical implants or patches. Lastly, it can describe plastics that break down naturally in the environment, called biodegradable plastics. The meaning of "bioplastic" can vary based on whether we're referring to what it's made from, how it's used, or how it breaks down.
