Diab achieves mass balance certification, introduces bio-based PVC

PVC materials. Source | Diab

Sandwich core materials company Diab Group (Laholm, Sweden) has announced that its facility in Laholm has obtained ISCC Plus certification. As a first step, Diab now introduces mass-balanced polyvinyl chloride (PVC) in its Advanced kits — pre-cut foam core parts offering optimized mold fit with reduced resin consumption and improved cosmetics for infusion and prepreg applications. The certification is part of Diab’s journey toward reaching net-zero according to its long-term target approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).

Mass-balanced material — with circular, bio-circular, and/or bio-based feedstocks — resembles renewable energy. By purchasing mass-balanced material, customers acquire a sustainability declaration from the supplier stating the amount of mass-balanced feedstock produced in its processing unit to represent the amount in every specific supply received.

All parts in the supply chain, including processing units and sales offices, must be certified to handle sustainability declarations. Diab has chosen ISCC, a global sustainability certification system that covers all sustainable feedstocks, including agricultural and forestry biomass, biogenic wastes and residues, circular materials and renewables. With more than 9,000 valid certificates in over 130 countries, ISCC is considered to be among the world’s largest certification systems.

As part of this development, Diab now offers to reduce carbon footprint through the use of its ISCC Plus mass-balanced fossil-free PVC (derived from bio-based waste), producing the foam with 100% renewable energy.

The ISCC Plus certification guarantees full traceability throughout the mass-balanced material supply chain to the finished kit at the Diab processing unit, and then further via its certified sales offices, including a sustainability declaration upon delivery. All new Advanced kits will include an estimated global warming potential (GWP)/carbon footprint value for each kit. When transitioning from traditional kits to Advanced kits, the quotation will also present a comparison of resin consumption and GWP.

Starting March 3, all Advanced kits will be based on mass-balanced fossil-free PVC and will initially be introduced in Diab’s European markets.

Those interested can learn more about Diab’s mass-balanced material at JEC World 2025. On Wednesday, March 5, at 4:30 p.m. at the Composite Exchange (Agora Stage 5) Eva-Lotta Petersson, group sustainability and EHSQ manager, and Peter Norlin, technical manager for Europe, are presenting how Advanced Kits and mass-balanced plastics can achieve the most sustainable solution and lowest carbon footprint for a composite application. Or, visit Diab at Booth L50 in Hall 5.