Our Sustainability Journey
Kraton strives to make a Positive Difference to our customers, in our jobs and to the world. We achieve this through a commitment to safe, compliant, socially- and environmentally-sound operations that help create long-term value in a resource-constrained world.
Sustainability is at the core of our company, as we deliver on our promise of Sustainable Solutions. Endless Innovation.™ It is embedded across the organization, allowing us to grow our business, improve productivity and manage risks – and enable our customers to do the same. Through a relentless focus on product quality and sustainability, we help meet market demands, advance the bioeconomy and promote a more sustainable future for everyone.
Global Trends
By 2050, the United Nations expects the global population to reach approximately 9.5 billion people. The expectations are that millions of people will be lifted out of poverty, increasing living standards and driving demand for our products. How can we meet the growing population’s need for food, housing, infrastructure and mobility when we have a fixed resource base?
Kraton believes our role is to
- become more efficient in our resource use;
- produce safer, sustainable products with less environmental impact; and
- offer a wide variety of biobased alternatives to our customers.
The use of resources to support a growing population drives environmental impacts like climate change. These impacts raise concerns about economic and human health that regulators and governments tackle through new policies, commitments and regulations relating to Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) issues. Complex and globalized supply chains present risks relating to human rights, labor, environmental and anti-corruption issues. That is why responsible supply chain management is a strategic priority area in Kraton’s sustainability strategy.
Across the globe, sustainability is high on the agendas of governments, investors, customers and other stakeholders. There is a demand for companies to proactively manage ESG issues, work toward more sustainable outcomes and transparently report about our actions – with the ultimate goal of driving more sustainable economies that support a highly-populated future. Kraton is well positioned to create exceptional value by delivering on tomorrow’s innovative products and solutions.
Market & Business Segments
Kraton operates in a complex environment. To conduct our business, we depend on a wide variety of stakeholders for materials, maintenance, freight forwarding, warehousing, tolling and more. Many factors impact our ability to compete, including breadth of product offering, supply reliability, market cycles and operational sustainability. Customers value a supplier’s ability to design and produce customized products and the availability of technical support. We compete against a broad range of alternative materials throughout our product groups including petrochemical and vegetable-based substitutes. Major competitors include large domestic and international companies. New megatrends present not only opportunities on which to capitalize, but also risks to manage, mitigate and avoid. Customers appreciate our biobased-certified products and our progress in corporate sustainability management. We achieved the EcoVadis Silver Rating with a higher level of sustainability performance than our industry’s average.
Kraton operates through two major segments: Polymer and Chemical. Our Polymer Segment is known for its styrenic block copolymers (SBC) – a class of thermoplastic elastomers offering excellent flexibility, high impact resistance, safety and recyclability. The segment also includes isoprene rubber and isoprene rubber latex, which are recognized industry-wide as an ideal alternative to natural rubber. Our Chemical Segment pioneered the process for refining crude tall oil (CTO) and crude sulfate turpentine (CST), into biobased chemicals that provide high-performance capabilities with renewable attributes. CTO and CST are byproducts of the kraft pulp industry.
Kraton in Everyday Life
Kraton provides innovations that allow chemical formulators and consumer brands to touch lives in the most imaginative ways. Whether the market demands a longer lasting asphalt or more sustainable paint, Kraton enables the development of groundbreaking innovations that change the way we live. Whether you are at home or on the road, our products improve the quality of countless everyday items that enhance your way of life.
Surgical Gloves
Natural rubber was traditionally used to develop surgical gloves but that material presented inherent risks of users developing life-threatening Type 1 allergic reactions. If patients or medical staff are allergic to natural rubber, it can lead to severe health concerns and require staffing changes or operation room sanitization that results in costly delays. Our Cariflex™ polyisoprene products were developed to enable the medical industry to reduce the risks of these allergies. Our technology is intended to deliver extreme purity, comfort, exceptional protection and consistent high quality. These properties enable the development of soft and comfortable surgical gloves that healthcare professionals can depend on.
Road Markings
The yellow and white stripes that line the streets are known as road markings and are there to help drivers navigate safely to their destination. They must be highly visible, especially during night time, rain or foggy weather. Kraton’s biobased innovations enable road markings to achieve high retroreflectivity for excellent visibility, dry quickly so lanes are opened to traffic sooner, and extend service life to reduce maintenance costs and road closures.
Steering Wheel Airbag Covers
Airbag safety is critical, especially when deployed after impact. If the part is too brittle – which can occur during cold temperatures – the airbag cover pieces can turn into shrapnel during deployment, causing serious bodily harm. Kraton polymers are designed to enhance flexibility and enable safe airbag deployment in the event of a car accident.
Cereal Boxes
Consumers like their food packaging to look good, enhancing their appetite. The packaging industry has high regulatory demands for food applications. Kraton solutions are designed to enable the development of high-quality adhesives with strong adhesion, stable performance and light color – enabling formulators to meet consumer expectations and stringent food contact regulations.
Baby Diapers
From newborn babies to active toddlers, diapers must offer a safe, snug and comfortable fit to a wide variety of body shapes and sizes. Kraton innovations enable the production of elastic films and solvent-free adhesives that offer soft elasticity and low odor in baby diapers. Our innovations provide the excellent recovery to withstand repeated pull up-and-down cycles along with stretch, fit and breathability so young ones can continue to be on the move.
Asphalt Roads
Concrete can take up to a month to fix when it cracks or fails. This results in lengthy construction times that create hazardous roadblocks while generating high emissions due to increased traffic. Alternatively, asphalt can be repaired or replaced overnight when needed. Unmodified asphalt is susceptible to harsh weather conditions, rutting and cracking. Kraton innovations allow for the development of highly modified asphalt designed to withstand extreme hot or cold weather as well as high traffic. Furthermore, cracks can lead to potholes that damage tires, so our biobased solutions enable the development of cold patches that can quickly fill those holes. A longer lasting road and shorter reconstruction time allow for a safer driving experience while reducing carbon footprint.
Fiber Optic Cables
In a constantly connected world, we rely on fiber optic cables to keep our cellphone data and internet lines running. These cables are often placed underground, so water prevention is critical. If water touches the fibers transferring the data, it degrades the data connectivity speed. Kraton polymers protect the cable’s fiber by reducing the likelihood of water penetration, allowing for fast and continuous contact with everyone around you.
Wood Coatings
A fresh coat of paint adds new life to a house, whether it’s a new home or one with new beginnings. A protective layer of alkyd-based coating or varnish will protect your wooden floors and stairs while keeping them looking new. Exterior wood coatings ensure that your woodwork withstands wind, rain and UV while keeping its color. Kraton solutions enable paint to dry faster while minimizing scratch and corrosion for long lasting aesthetics. Our biobased material also significantly reduces the carbon footprint of every paint job.
