Recycled Rubber Certification Program Launched
NAPLES, FL – Lehigh Technologies, Inc., a leading manufacturer of engineered rubber powder, today launched a certification campaign for manufacturers who replace petroleum-based chemicals with recycled rubber powder in their products.
Lehigh’s Planet Approved™ seal certifies that a product meets Lehigh Technologies’ standard for the highest quality of recycled content. This announcement comes off the heels of a study released by Malcolm Pirnie, Inc., one of the country’s leading environmental engineering firms that showcases the environmental benefits of using recycled rubber.
The seal of approval was established to help consumers easily identify products that are manufactured using recycled rubber refined through environmentally sound and earth-friendly processes. By seeing the Planet Approved seal on a company’s garment/product, consumers will instantly know that a particular product has been evaluated and verified by a reliable industry source. They can purchase the product with confidence that they are protecting the planet with recycled materials.
“The goal of Lehigh’s Planet Approved certification program is to recognize products that use an environmentally friendly process and represent the highest and most beneficial use of recycled rubber. It’s not just about using rubber powder, it is about using recycled materials as an alternative to petrochemicals and conserving oil,” stated Dennis Gormley, Chief Executive Officer of Lehigh Technologies. “Lehigh’s unique manufacturing process generates fewer greenhouse gas emissions and requires less electricity than comparable recycling or manufacturing technologies. Companies that incorporate our recycled rubber powders into their products are able to significantly reduce their own carbon footprints.”
The Planet Approved certification stemmed from the results Lehigh uncovered in its Malcolm Pirnie study. The two companies conducted a greenhouse gas inventory and life cycle analysis of Lehigh Technologies and its PolyDyne™ line of engineered rubber powders. The study showed that on average, for every 10 pounds of recycled rubber powder used over synthetic polymers, companies who use Lehigh’s rubber powder will prevent 10 pounds of carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere. At the same time, on average they will reduce primary energy consumption by the amount corresponding to a gallon of crude oil. The actual amount of carbon and oil saved will depend on the specific synthetic being replaced.
For more information on the study, see the Lehigh Technologies website.
