BUILDING EXPANSION JOINTSSwedish sealing specialist Trelleborg has introduced two new grades of EPDM rubber produced using bio-based raw materials, marking a notable step toward reducing the petrochemical dependency of industrial sealing compounds. The feedstocks involved include used cooking oil (UCO), forestry residue, and tall oil — a by-product of the wood-pulping process — positioning these grades within the growing category of circular and bio-derived elastomers.
EPDM rubber is one of the most widely specified materials in building and infrastructure sealing applications, valued for its resistance to UV radiation, ozone, weathering, and a broad temperature range. Its use spans expansion joint seals, façade gaskets, glazing profiles, roofing membranes, and waterstop systems. The introduction of bio-sourced EPDM grades is therefore of direct relevance to construction product manufacturers and material specifiers who are under increasing pressure to demonstrate environmental responsibility across their supply chains.
The use of UCO and tall oil as feedstocks is significant because both are classified as waste or residue streams under many sustainability frameworks, including those referenced by the European Union's renewable energy directives. This classification can improve the lifecycle carbon profile of finished rubber products without competing with food-grade agricultural resources — an important distinction when making environmental claims.
While Trelleborg has not disclosed detailed mechanical or chemical data in the announcement, the expectation in the industry is that bio-derived EPDM grades must meet equivalent performance standards to their conventional counterparts to gain traction in specification-driven markets. For construction applications in India, where EPDM seals are subject to demanding conditions including monsoon exposure, thermal cycling, and UV intensity, performance parity will be the critical test before bio-based variants achieve widespread adoption.
The development also reflects a broader industry trend of raw-material diversification in polymer manufacturing, driven by both regulatory pressure and corporate sustainability commitments. Manufacturers of extruded profiles, co-extruded sealing systems, and prefabricated expansion joint products may find that bio-based elastomer availability opens new avenues for green building certifications and environmentally preferable product declarations.
For Indian specifiers of expansion joint systems, EPDM seals, and aluminium-integrated sealing profiles, the emergence of credible bio-based EPDM grades signals that sustainable material choices in sealing technology are moving from concept to commercial reality.
Compiled by Dseal from industry sources. Original: Oils & Fats International.