API, an Italian company specialized in the production of thermoplastic elastomeric compounds and bioplastics that was acquired by global materials company Trinseo in July 2017, has announced a green partnership with EMS-Grivory, a leading Swiss manufacturer of high performance polymers and supplier of structural materials, in the eyewear industry. The partnership aims at developing a series of sustainable eyewear solutions with a lower environmental impact, providing customers with cutting-edge materials.

The demand to combine soft elastomeric compounds with hard substrates has been constantly increasing. Engineers from both companies will collaborate on combining the adhesion modified soft-touch TPE (Thermoplastic Elastomers) with the harder EMS Grilamid TR or Grilamid BTR materials, thereby fully complying with the VDI 2019 standard. API and EMS-Grivory will work on the development of specific bio-solutions, both on a fossil and renewable basis.

“We are excited to partner with EMS-Grivory as we focus our combined expertise serving a broader and greener product range”, says Giancarlo Busa, Business Unit manager, Footwear & Sporting Goods, API. “Our materials will satisfy social, economic and environmental benefits, without imposing performance limitations. We strongly believe in the future of innovative and sustainable solutions for eyewear”.