DSM Engineering Materials Announces Partnership with DiFOLD

DSM Engineering Materials announces its partnership with startup DiFOLD to developing foldable reusable products. The startup has chosen DSM Engineering Materials’ Arnitel® Eco – a bio-based thermoplastic copolyester – to manufacture its flagship Origami foldable water bottle.

DiFOLD’s Origami Bottle Made From DSM Engineering Materials’ Arnitel® Eco
The patented and award-winning design of DiFOLD’s Origami Bottle has inspired by the Japanese art of paper folding.

Origami Bottle it can fold down to less than 10% of its original volume – greatly improving user convenience and reducing the carbon footprint of shipping. And also it provides a durable, reusable, and recyclable alternative to single-use water bottles – helping to avoid plastic packaging waste. The bottles are made from DSM Engineering Materials’ Arnitel® Eco, the environmental benefits are even greater.

Reduces Material CO₂ Emissions

Arnitel® Eco is a bio-based thermoplastic copolyester, partially derived from renewable rapeseed oil. This greatly reduces material CO₂ emissions and reduces its carbon footprint by up to 50% compared to conventional copolyesters.

This measurement is based on an in-depth life cycle assessment (LCA), which includes every stage of the material’s production, from the growing of the feedstock crops to the finished product that leaves the factory. These qualities make Arnitel® Eco a perfect fit for DiFOLD’s Origami Bottle.

Cofounders of DiFOLD, Radina Popova and Petar Zaharinov commented: “We wanted a bio-based material that could be recycled, as well as having the specific mechanical properties required by the folding design. We are happy to say that Arnitel® Eco offers the perfect balance of elasticity, plasticity, and circularity.”

Arnitel® Eco provides high performance with very low environmental impact. It is BPA free and can withstand temperatures between -30°C and +100°C. At the same time, it does not absorb the odors or tastes of liquids, giving it a long service life.

Arnitel® Eco can be recycled without any loss of quality in the recovered material. In addition to supplying Arnitel® Eco material, DSM Engineering Materials also provides sustainability advice, technical advice and regulatory compliance services to DiFOLD.

“Arnitel® Eco Contributes to Creating a Circular Economy for Materials”

Pim Janssen, Marketing Manager for Food Contact, Water Contact, and Appliance markets at DSM Engineering Materials, said: “We are pleased that our services and materials could help DiFOLD in their mission to minimize the impact of packaging on the environment – a topic which is also close to our hearts. By helping to de-fossilize the value chain, Arnitel® Eco contributes to creating a circular economy for materials.”