When designing a sustainable composite application, your choice of core material plays a critical role—not only in environmental impact but also in performance, lifecycle costs, and overall value. Sandwich composite cores provide a practical path toward sustainability, combining low weight, high strength, and recyclability to enhance the environmental credentials and efficiency of your application.
Low weight equals lower environmental impact
A sandwich composite core offers an exceptional strength-to-weight ratio, resulting in lighter yet robust structures. Reduced weight directly translates into significant environmental benefits, including lower fuel consumption, reduced emissions, increased payload capacities, and extended range in transportation applications. Beyond fuel savings, the streamlined assembly and reduced number of components also lower costs and shorten installation times.
Compared to traditional materials like steel, sandwich composites can be precisely engineered for their intended load, ensuring maximum performance with minimum material. This leads to further savings and a smaller carbon footprint throughout the application's lifecycle.
Sustainable materials drive real progress
Choosing sustainable sandwich cores made from PET, PES, PEI, or PVC significantly enhances the environmental performance of your applications. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), for instance, is among the most recyclable plastics available. Disposed of adequately, PET can be continuously recycled into new products, effectively eliminating plastic waste. Furthermore, PET foam has a lower carbon footprint compared to other plastics and requires less energy to produce, benefiting both the environment and the bottom line.
Similarly, PVC foam, especially when produced using renewable energy sources and mass-balanced bio-based raw materials, represents a sustainable choice with a substantially lower environmental impact than conventional alternatives, such as steel or aluminum, throughout its entire lifecycle.
Lower density, less material, lower footprint
Sandwich composites inherently require less raw material due to their low density. This not only reduces the environmental impact associated with material sourcing and transportation but also enables more aerodynamic and fuel-efficient designs. Applications such as wind turbine blades, marine vessels, and transport vehicles can achieve significantly lower emissions and higher energy efficiency through the lightweight advantages offered by sandwich composites.
Reducing lifecycle costs and carbon footprint
The right core material choice significantly reduces costs and environmental impacts throughout the application's life. Sandwich composites, notably used in the renewable energy sector, enhance the competitiveness of wind energy by allowing lighter, longer, and more efficient rotor blades. This reduces the cost of electricity production, making renewable wind energy economically viable.
Moreover, sandwich composites are highly durable, resisting rot, corrosion, and harsh environmental conditions. Structures built with these materials require minimal maintenance and boast significantly longer lifespans compared to traditional alternatives. This long-term reliability translates directly into lower lifecycle costs and a reduced overall carbon footprint.
Your committed sustainability partner
Diab strives to lead the market in sustainable foam cores, achieving the lowest possible carbon footprint. As the first global composite materials provider to have a CO₂ reduction plan approved by the Science Based Targets initiative, Diab demonstrates unmatched transparency and accountability. Our commitment includes the provision of detailed Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for all products, adherence to ISO 14001 and ISO 9001 standards, and continuous improvement aligned with the principles of the UN Global Compact.
Choosing Diab means selecting a partner equally committed to sustainability, transparency, and measurable progress, placing both performance and environmental responsibility at the core of your solution.
