Apply for the Sustainable Plasticiser Challenge 2025!
ISC3 and NUVANT Launch New Corporate Challenge
ISC3 has joined forces with NUVANT to launch a joint Corporate Challenge!
They call upon innovators, start-ups, and researchers worldwide to contribute to the development of a sustainable, high-performance plasticiser for PVC emulsion plastisols.
The winning solution will enter a strategic partnership with NUVANT. This includes opportunities to collaborate with technical teams, access performance testing and technical feedback, and pursue a potential commercial pathway. Subject to successful development and validation, this may include an initial purchase target of up to 1 ton by 2027, with potential scale-up to 20 tons by 2030.
Applications are now open until the February 27th, 2026.
High-Performance Criteria
Proposed solutions must demonstrate performance comparable to state-of-the-art plasticisers such as DINP (Diisononyl Phthalate) and meet the following criteria:
1. Plasticisation Efficiency: Comparable to DINP.
2. Low Migration, Exudation, and Volatility: Stability within the PVC matrix.
3. Low-Temperature Performance: Withstand impacts at -30°C without brittle failure.
4. Thermal Stability: Act as a co-stabilizer, enabling PVC to endure 500 hours of thermal aging at 110°C without loss of flexibility or colour.
In addition, the plasticizer must be:
- Bio-Based: Ideally derived from waste-based sources.
- High-Performance: Matching or exceeding technical benchmarks of conventional plasticisers.
- Colourless and Transparent: To avoid altering blends.
- Low Odor: Free of unpleasant or unacceptable odours (e.g., fishy, mouldy, sulphur-like).
- Low-Toxicity: A safe substitute for restricted phthalates and SVHCs.
- Recyclability-Friendly: Preferably enabling recyclability or at least not hindering it.
