Palm Oil

WACKER SILICONES and WACKER POLYMERS use palm oil in the form of various fatty acid derivatives. Palm (kernel) oil is facing criticism for its association with frequent violations of human rights and environmental protection guidelines. For this reason, WACKER decided in 2018 to favor the use of fatty acid derivatives certified according to the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). We have begun implementing this commitment in a production facility at the Burghausen site, and the proportion of these materials stemming from RSPO-certified sources is to be increased to 100 percent over the medium term.

The RSPO initiative is accelerating the implementation of sustainable practices in the global palm oil industry. In order to become certified, manufacturers have to demonstrate that they have a material flow control system. In addition, certified producers commit to complying with human rights standards, to reducing emissions and to refraining from clearing forests for plantations and from planting in peatlands with biotopes for protected species.

Silicones

General term used to describe compounds of organic molecules and silicon. According to their areas of application, silicones can be classified as fluids, resins or rubber grades. Silicones are characterized by a myriad of outstanding properties. Typical areas of application include construction, the electrical and electronics industries, shipping and transportation, textiles and paper coatings.

Polymer

A polymer is a large molecule made up of smaller molecular units (monomers). It contains between 10,000 and 100,000 monomers. Polymers can be long or ball-shaped.