UPM BioMotionTM Renewable Functional Fillers a new generation of plant-based, sustainable functional fillers, ready to replace fossil-based, highly CO2-intensive carbon-black and precipitated silica. UPM's RFFs offer a vastly reduced carbon footprint and they provide additional features that add significant value to rubber and plastic products. UPM BioMotionTM will be produced from sustainable hardwood at UPM's award-winning, first-of-its-kind biorefinery at Leuna, Germany. With RFF, the rubber and plastics industry will have one strong solution for taking the next step towards less CO2-intensive and more sustainable products.
Moving to a lighter future with Renewable Functional Fillers (RFF)
RFF – A New Sustainable Generation of Fillers for Rubber and Plastics Applications
RFF - A Truly Sustainable Product
UPM BioMotionTM Renewable Functional Fillers (RFF) are made from responsibly sourced hardwood from regional, sustainably managed forests. The wood is sourced exclusively from certified and sustainable forest operations and we build local value chains with strict responsibility standards. Sustainably managed forests combine industrial use of wood with ecosystem protection and forest growth and play a vital role in mitigating climate change. The unique properties of the RFF Fillers facilitate the transition towards a more sustainable rubber and plastics industry, helping to considerably reduce the environmental footprint of rubber and plastics applications. RFF contain more than 94% renewable carbon (certified bio-based content by DIN CERTCO):
- have a 90% lower carbon footprint, compared to standard furnace carbon black (see infograph),
- are at least 25% lighter than conventional fillers – lighter means higher material-efficiency and better fuel economy,
- are free of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH).
*current status of life cycle assessment is based on process simulation and precommercial trials and represents current best knowledge of the UPM Biorefinery process. A critical review with independent third party according to ISO 14044 is currently ongoing. Future improvemtens are expected to lead to significant carbon-negative CO2-footprint.
**reference global warming potential for furnace carbon black 2370 kg CO2 equivalent (source: GaBi 10.5 database)
RFF Applications
RFF are suitable for a broad range of elastomers, TPE, TPV, and plastics applications. They are perfect for automotive weatherstrip, hoses, seals, interior & exterior plastics parts, and other industrial rubber applications.
RFF Features
RFF is a truly sustainable alternative offering performance features significantly improve the environmental footprint while at the same time adding technical benefits not present in today's product mix.
RFF are 100% electric insulating
This feature effectively prevents electrochemical corrosion when in direct contact with light metal alloys like magnesium and aluminium and improves the lifetime of the metal parts.
Surface functionalities
Driven by a total oxygen content of greater than 25wt%, enable chemical bonding of RFF to polymer matrices.
Clean & safe
RFF is a PAH free product. The absence of carcinogenic substances banned by regulations, making it a safe solution to produce rubber and plastics products in contact with humans.
Current Product Range
Learn more about our current product portfolio and material handling and packaging, including the movement, storage, control, and protection of materials.
Rubber Lab – Application Development Center
We have equipped our UPM Rubber Lab with the most modern rubber & testing appliances. Our experienced technical experts are here to shape your ideas and evaluate your requirements to facilitate a ready-to-use solution from mixing to testing. We guide our customers to select appropriate grades, processing parameters and process techniques for various applications and provide after-sales services to solve technical problems.
Our Milestones
We plan to produce several thousand metric tons of RFF in our modern biorefinery located in Leuna, Germany. After the groundbreaking in 2020, the construction is in full swing. We expect the technical start-up for the end of 2022, with production ramped up in 2023.