Susterra PDO used in new artificial leather application

The new eco-friendly artificial leather was developed using a polyester polyol-based on PDO succinate with the crosslinker being Susterra 1,3-propanediol. Susterra is certified 100 % bio-based by the US Department of Agriculture, making it attractive for companies seeking to add renewable content to their products. A peer-reviewed life cycle assessment (LCA) demonstrates that the production of bio-based PDO offers significant environmental benefits including up to 40 % less greenhouse gas emissions and 40 % less non-renewable energy used in its production vs. petroleum-based glycols.

“The new artificial leather from Flokser is a unique product, combining bio-based technology with the highest standards of performance and quality”, said Steve Hurff, marketing and sales vice president, DuPont Tate & Lyle Bio Products. “We are excited about this new Susterra based material and strongly believe that Flokser, being the industry leader, will make it a big success.”

Ekin Tükek, Flokser Group board member, underlines that careful steps need to be taken to sustain collaboration across the chemical industry and adds; “We believe that the collaboration with DuPont Tate & Lyle Bio Products will develop the industry and bring fresh ideas. Both of our divisions, Sertex and Poliser, are proud to work with DuPont Tate & Lyle Bio Products’ experienced and expert teams.”

Flokser Group, founded in 1982 in Istanbul, Turkey, is a global leather, suede, fabric and polyurethane producer and exporter. The company carries out its production activities in Istanbul under the Sertex brand for its fabrics and the Poliser brand for its polyurethanes. Flokser uses the latest technologies and exports to more than 54 countries. Poliser, a division of the Flokser Group, is a manufacturer of slipper-sole, rigid, coating and coagulation polyurethane for synthetic leather and it is the first and only company to produce solvent-based polyurethane resin in Turkey.