Syensqo expands circular portfolio with certified Fomblin Y

Syensqo has expanded its portfolio of circular high-performance materials by achieving UL Environmental Claim Validation (UL 2809) for its Fomblin Y specialty fluids. This certification responds to increasing industrial demand for resource-efficient solutions and aligns with the European Union's Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) by promoting the circular use of strategic raw materials.

Fluorine recovery and mass balance accounting
Building upon previous certifications for its elastomers and lubricants in 2025, Syensqo’s newly certified Fomblin Y fluids incorporate a significant proportion of recycled feedstock. Utilizing a mass balance accounting approach, approximately 40 percent of the fluorine content allocated to these products is derived from post-industrial recycled (PIR) hydrofluoric acid. Fluorspar, the primary mineral source for fluorine, is designated as a critical raw material in Europe. By actively recovering fluorine from post-industrial waste, the company mitigates dependency on virgin mineral extraction and strengthens the resilience of regional value chains.

Manufacturing investments at Spinetta Marengo
To support the commercial scale-up of these circular high-performance fluorinated fluids, Syensqo is actively investing in its Spinetta Marengo manufacturing facility in Italy. This investment enhances the site's recycling infrastructure, increasing the localized recovery of fluorine from production waste. According to Tom Wood, Vice President and Head of Product and Asset Management at Syensqo, recovering and reusing fluorine locally allows the company to reduce reliance on virgin resources while building a more resilient European fluorine supply chain. This localized recovery eliminates external logistical stages, supporting the continuous development of circular fluorinated materials without compromising the thermal stability and chemical resistance required for demanding industrial applications.

Additional Context: Mass balance accounting in chemical recycling
In the chemical industry, transitioning complex legacy manufacturing facilities to utilize 100 percent recycled feedstocks is often technically and economically prohibitive. The mass balance approach solves this by allowing manufacturers to mix virgin and recycled raw materials within the same existing production infrastructure. The exact volume of recycled input—in this case, post-industrial hydrofluoric acid—is rigorously tracked and mathematically allocated to the final commercial products, verified by independent standards such as UL 2809. This chain-of-custody methodology allows companies like Syensqo to gradually scale up recycling capacity, reduce virgin fluorspar consumption, and offer certified circular specialty fluids without altering the final chemical properties or performance specifications of the product.

Edited by an industrial journalist, Lekshman Ramdas, with AI assistance.

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