Now our markers are made from Bio-PVC. This means that they have extremly similar properties as before, but with significantly reduced carbon footprint. Everything has changed, nothing is different.

Partex Marking Systems in Gullsp?ng is a world-leading manufacturer of industrial marking systems for the identification of wires, cables, pipes, and components. Production takes place in Gullsp?ng, Sweden, where the company was founded 75 years ago. They have subsidiaries in 13 countries.

In recent years, Partex has been working diligently and strategically to set goals for its sustainability efforts. This work is on-going.

"We started by assessing the current situation deciding where to focus our efforts and set goals to have the greatest impact. Finding an alternative material was identified as to be a priority to future-proof our products and reduce carbon footprint," explains Peter Johansson, CEO of Partex's production company in Gullsp?ng.

"We will never be able to choose materials that degrade or have diminished properties over time. Our markings have to be fit for purpose. That's why PVC plastic is hard to beat," Peter continues.

In 2022, Partex conducted a project in collaboration with, among others, Chalmers Industriteknik to identify more sustainable materials for the production of their marking systems. An important requirement for any potential new material was that it had to be both more environmentally friendly and be at least as good as the material it would replace

The project has been successful, and Partex is now commencing the launch of its products based on more sustainable materials. Johan Bengtsson, Director of Materials at Chalmers Industriteknik, comments:

"We are delighted to see that Partex is now introducing products made from more sustainable raw materials as a result of the successful joint project Partex conducted in collaboration with Chalmers University of Technology, RISE, and us at Chalmers Industriteknik. It shows that Partex is serious about its sustainability efforts and is not waiting to introduce these products to the market in response to regulatory or commercial reasons."

"Our Bio-PVC is made from renewable raw materials, for example from pine oil from the forestry industry, explains Peter Johansson. The renewable raw material has very similar properties as its fossil predecessors. It is so similar that we have been able to maintain our existing machinery, which again is a huge plus for the companies sustainability efforts.

When the change is fully implemented, the CO2 impact from Partex's products will have decreased by 80%.