Sustainable Products.
OMNOVA's new product development efforts are guided by technical and marketing assessment tools that consider current and emerging market preferences, identify sustainable options and possible trade-offs, and provide key inputs to innovation decision-making. As part of the development process, and consistent with our Vision 2014 sustainability goals, commercial and technical teams seek to reduce environmental impacts by, for example:
- Incorporating bio-based and recycled content
- Reducing or eliminating heavy metal content where possible
- Reducing product VOC emissions (indoor air quality)
- Reducing the use of solvents in manufacturing our products
- Developing product reclamation programs where practical
- Reducing packaging and using recycled packaging materials
Recent OMNOVA innovations include:
- EFX™ 3D Laminates exhibit the same functional and decorative characteristics as traditional 3D laminates in an alternative non-PVC construction.
- Wallcoverings made from RECORE™ Recycled Wall Technology, featuring 30% recycled content (20% post-consumer minimum) and post-consumer recyclable through the OMNOVA Reclamation Program.
- Wallcoverings featuring ECORE™ Advanced Wall Technology, which offer all the performance of traditional Type II wallcoverings in a non-PVC construction and are also post-consumer recyclable through the OMNOVA Reclamation Program.
- GREENGUARD INDOOR AIR QUALITY CERTIFIED® commercial wallcoverings with reduced VOC emissions.
- OMNOVA's E-CHEMISTRY™ designation signifies that a product manufactured by its Performance Chemicals business contains significant environmentally preferred attributes valued by customers. The E-CHEMISTRY designation exemplifies OMNOVA's Vision 2014 goals to reduce the environmental impact of its operations and increase its offering of products with sustainable features. Here is a list of products that have recently received this designation:
- SUNCRYL® 4338 primer coating polymer consists of approximately one-third renewable raw materials (excluding water), providing tape and label release liner customers with a more environmentally preferred solution.
- NM™-128 floor care polymer facilitates third party registrations (Green Seal, Design for Environment, etc.) when utilized in polish formulations.
- OMNAGLIDE Au™ 4203 and 4204 paper coating lubricants contain significant renewable raw materials and do not hinder biodegradability.
- XL-4341 paper binding polymer contains significant renewable raw materials.