Exclusive Report by Baspar / From Bio-Based Polymers to Smart Composites: Material Innovations Unveiled at K2025

Iranpolymer/Baspar  The K 2025 International Exhibition ,held from October 16 to 23, 2025, in Düsseldorf, Germany, once again stood as the world’s largest and most influential exhibition for the plastics and rubber industries. For eight days, the Messe Düsseldorf fairgrounds became the global epicenter of polymer innovation, where machinery manufacturers, material producers, and technology developers showcased their latest achievements.

The K 2025 once again became the global arena for competition among leading companies in the field of advanced polymer materials.
This edition of the exhibition placed particular emphasis on three strategic pillars: sustainability, advanced recycling, and intelligent material performance.
Below is an overview of the most significant new materials and product innovations presented at this landmark event.

Bio-Based Materials and Non-Fossil Alternatives

CovationBio: Introducing bioPTMEG from Renewable Sources

CovationBio presented bioPTMEG, the bio-based version of polytetramethylene ether glycol (PTMEG), marking a new milestone in the reduction of fossil dependency.
Produced from non-food biomass such as corn residue, bioPTMEG was designed for seamless integration into existing production processes and is fully compatible with spandex and polyurethane elastomers.

WACKER: Green and Durable Silicone Elastomers

WACKER unveiled three new silicone-based materials that reflected its commitment to renewable chemistry and environmental durability:

• POWERSIL® 1900 A/B, designed for high-voltage insulation with superior weather resistance,
• ELASTOSIL® R 531/60, tailored for battery encapsulation in electric vehicles,
• ELASTOSIL® eco LR 5003, a bio-based liquid silicone rubber derived from plant methanol, certified for food-contact applications.
  Together, these products showcased WACKER’s strategic transition toward renewable-origin silicones with uncompromised performance.

Mitsui Chemicals: Chemistry for a Feel-Good, Green Future

Mitsui Chemicals emphasized bio-based, PFAS-free materials, merging optical science and clean chemistry to define its vision for a sustainable and health-conscious future.

Chemical Recycling and Closed-Loop Systems

Polyplastics: AI-Enhanced Recycling and the DURACIRCLE Platform

Polyplastics introduced its DURACIRCLE Sustainable Solutions, a three-pronged approach to circularity encompassing:

1. AI-assisted mechanical recycling,
2. Chemical recycling of polyoxymethylene (POM), and
3. Solvent-based recycling of polybutylene terephthalate (PBT).
   The company also unveiled DURAFIDE PPS featuring a precisely engineered spherical morphology optimized for lithium-ion battery components.

BASF: Circular Chemistry and Carbon Footprint Reduction

BASF showcased its rPCF product family, achieving a 30% reduction in carbon footprint through material optimization.
Additionally, BASF unveiled its polyurethane depolymerization system, which produced recycled polyols, marking a tangible step toward closed-loop manufacturing.

Dow: Recyclable and Mono-Material Packaging Solutions

Dow, in collaboration with Macchi and ITP, launched the Mono-PE pouch — a mono-material packaging structure incorporating over 50% chemically recycled content.
The pouch offered high barrier performance and complete recyclability, representing a model for the next generation of sustainable packaging.

Functional Additives and Performance Enhancers

BYK Additives: Next-Generation PFAS-Free Additives

BYK Additives introduced two innovative, environmentally safer additives designed to meet evolving global standards:

• BYK-MAX LS 4128, providing enhanced UV protection,
• BYK-MAX P 4110, a processing aid for polyolefins that improved durability and environmental safety.
  These products underlined BYK’s long-term strategy toward PFAS-free, sustainable additive chemistry.

Arkema: High-Performance Additives for Durability and Functionality

Arkema exhibited a comprehensive portfolio of impact modifiers and reinforcing additives under its Durastrength, Clearstrength, and Biostrength brands, all aimed at enhancing toughness, clarity, and longevity in engineered plastics.
Its Bostik subsidiary showcased smart lamination adhesives specifically developed for recyclable packaging structures, combining mechanical performance with circular design principles.

LANXESS: Flame Retardants, Plasticizers, and Advanced Pigments

LANXESS presented several new developments, including:

• Levagard 2100 and Emerald Innovation 5000 — new halogen-free flame retardants,
• Mesamoll, a low-carbon-footprint plasticizer,
• and new high-performance pigments, Macrolex Orange HT and Bayplast Orange TP, engineered for electric vehicle components with high thermal and color stability.

SI Group: Bio-Based Antioxidants and Accelerators

SI Group introduced its new generation of bio-based stabilizers and antioxidants, featuring:

• WESTON™ 705,
• LOWINOX™ 1790, and
• NAUGARD BIO-XL™.
  All were PFAS-free, offering optimized performance across automotive, packaging, and elastomer applications, while supporting the transition toward renewable additive chemistry.

Innovative Materials and Compounds

Benvic: Reinventing Polymers for a Green Future
Benvic introduced a range of compounds containing recycled, bio-based, and specialty materials for diverse industries. The company focused on life cycle analysis and designing low-carbon polymers.

Mingshen New Material: Next-Generation Nucleating Agents
Three products—NA-1085, NA-1098, and CA-1012—were presented as nucleating agents for polyester, polypropylene, and polyamide, significantly enhancing mechanical strength, gloss, and thermal stability.

Modern Dispersions: PFAS-Free Black Masterbatches
The company showcased GM-540-7UVS and NY-40NG masterbatches, which provided high light stability and deep black coloration for films and cables.

Kisuma Chemicals: Magnesium-Based Additives for Improved Recyclability
New Kisuma additives maintained melt flow indices while reducing odor and gel formation, improving the quality of recycled polymers.

Covestro: A New Generation of Advanced Materials
At K 2025, Covestro unveiled its new generation of advanced materials under the slogan “The Material Effect,” bridging the gap between materials science and industrial application. The company presented innovative thermoplastic polycarbonates and polyurethanes that enhanced performance, sustainability, and efficiency simultaneously. The Bayblend® family offered high strength, thermal resistance, and flame-retardant properties, making it ideal for automotive, electrical, and medical industries. The Desmopan® range, especially Desmopan® CQ, demonstrated exceptional flexibility, durability, and wear resistance, representing a significant step toward a circular economy. These products utilized recycled and bio-based feedstocks without compromising quality, leaving a reduced carbon footprint and highlighting the future of smart, sustainable plastics.

Multi-Component and Sustainable Structures

LEONHARD KURZ: Natural Fibers and Sustainable Decoration
The company introduced three key innovations:

• NFPP multi-component materials combining polypropylene with natural fibers (hemp and flax),
• The in-house recycling system RECOSYS for producing high-purity rPET,
• EcoLayer FX surface decoration technology that preserved recyclability while enhancing visual appeal.

Color and Functional Additives

Sun Chemical: Durable and Smart Colorants
Sun Chemical showcased a broad portfolio of color materials and PPS polymer solutions for a wide range of applications. The product range included innovations in plastic coloration, functional effects, fiber coloring, and electric vehicle components. Highlighted products included:

• FASTOGEN Super Red BBF, offering high translucency and thermal resistance,
• Spectrasense Black 0089 FK, providing solar heat control and compatibility with LiDAR systems.

ECO PASSPORT-certified colorants were also presented for polypropylene, polyester, and polyamide fibers.

Summary
K 2025 presented a new generation of materials where bio-based plastics, smart additives, and chemical recycling replaced traditional solutions. From plant-based rubbers and oriented polymers to mono-material films and PFAS-free masterbatches, all these innovations supported cleaner, lighter, and more sustainable production. The exhibition demonstrated that the future of plastics lay not in elimination, but in the intelligent reinvention of materials for a more sustainable planet.