Elkem receives sustainability award for recycled silicones

Elkem, a provider of silicon-based materials, received recognition from the Business Intelligence Group (BIG) for Silcolease Re, its first range of 100 percent recycled silicones, which was named 'Sustainability Product of the Year.' 

'Receiving the BIG Sustainability Award is a great honor and an affirmation that our innovation delivers genuine impact,” said Joséphine Munsch, R&T sustainability leader. 'The jury recognized Silcolease Re range not only for its sustainability-driven formulations, but because it reflects our deep understanding of market needs, showcasing the dedication of our R&T teams in delivering a recycled silicone solution that can seamlessly be used into existing processes and equipment without any compromise on performance.'

The Silcolease Re range is a commercially available, fully recycled, silicone-based, solvent-free release liner technology for the label and tape markets. Silcolease Re benefits from one of the lowest carbon footprints in the industry due to a low-energy recycling process. These products now reach a new milestone with 1.1 kg CO₂e per kg, far under the global average of 6 kg CO₂e per kg.

Developed through months of collaborative research with academic and local partners, the Silcolease Re technology rapidly evolved, from an R&D project, to the launch of a pilot unit at Elkem’s site of Saint-Fons, France. The development received support from France 2030 and NextGenerationEU, the French government’s and EU’s recovery initiatives supporting forward-looking investments. The scalable pilot line enables industrial liner coating machine trials and early commercial deployment.

Elkem’s method transforms silicone waste into new, high-performance silicone release coatings, validated through extensive benchmarking for anchorage, reactivity and release, even at high line speeds. The technology empowers customers to advance their environmental strategy without compromising operational efficiency.

Visitors attending the Labelexpo Europe 2025 show from Sept 16-19 in Barcelona will be invited to explore this technology. Elkem’s team will be available for discussions at Booth 4C42.

The BIG Sustainability Awards honor the companies, products, projects and individuals proving that purpose-driven strategies can fuel growth. Winners are selected by a panel of business leaders who evaluate performance, innovation and quantifiable outcomes across environmental, social and governance (ESG) pillars.