“The mindset at Bugaboo is similar to Polykemi’s: ‘Let’s see if this works! And then try it out.’”
- Ruben Kempes, Sustainability Engineer på Bugaboo
Material transition with a clear goal
Looking to reduce their carbon footprint, Bugaboo set out to find a material solution that combined lower emissions with uncompromising standards of safety and quality. Through a material transition, Bugaboo reduced the carbon footprint of the affected material by 68%.
Early on, Bugaboo expressed an interest in testing Polykemi’s PP materials.
“A common misconception is that recycled plastic is required to reduce a product’s carbon footprint. When we first started discussing the project with Bugaboo, we were able to show quite quickly that recycled content is not the only path to significant reductions, and that reductions can also be made by replacing one virgin material with another” says Johan Sonesson, Area Sales Manager at Polykemi.
With Bugaboo’s R&D and design teams based in the Netherlands and production located in Xiamen, China, Polykemi Asia became an important part of the implementation process.
Polykemi’s PP materials account for 39% of the material used in Bugaboo’s Dragonfly Plus stroller. Glass-fiber reinforcement levels range from 0–30%.
“A positive result that we did not anticipate was that the PP material proved to be stiffer than expected. PP is naturally a more flexible material, so this came as a pleasant surprise,” says Ruben Kempes, Sustainability Engineer at Bugaboo.
“Our technicians visited Bugaboo’s production facility in China and provided on-site support to help optimize the tooling for the new PP material,” says Michael Cao, Chief Commercial Officer at Polykemi Asia.
The project was characterized by shared objectives and regular follow-up meetings throughout the process.
“We have had, and continue to have, good direct contact where we can discuss material performance in great detail, both before and during production,” says Ruben Kempes, Sustainability Engineer at Bugaboo.
Objective
Lowering plastic componets’ carbon footprint without compromising quality or safety standards.
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The average carbon footprint of the plastic materials used in one Dragonfly Plus stroller was reduced from 21.9 to 7.1 kg CO₂e/kg material.
REsult
-14.8
kg
CO₂-e/kg
Approach
Transitioning from glass-fiber reinforced virgin PA6 to glass-fiber reinforced virgin PP.
“This collaboration is a typical example of Polykemi’s long-term commitment to sustainable development and reducing carbon emissions.”
– Michael Cao, Chief Commercial Officer at Polykemi Asia
A model of international cooperation
The collaboration brought together teams from Europe and Asia, combining local support with global expertise throughout the project.
“In contact with Polykemi, you can tell they are a family-owned company. They have a personal approach despite not being a small company, and they deliver high-quality materials. You get direct contact combined with the strength of a global organization. A very nice combination. This is different from many other companies, and from our perspective, the direct contact is highly appreciated,” says Ruben Kempes.
The project also demonstrated how close cooperation across continents can accelerate both innovation and implementation.
“At Polykemi, we live by the principle of being a global supplier and a local producer. In the Bugaboo project, we clearly saw how that ambition enables this type of international collaboration,” says Michael Cao.
Improving sustainability while maintaining high quality
Reducing carbon footprint is a core commitment for Bugaboo. The material transition from PA6 to PP supports that goal without compromising the company’s high standards for quality and safety.
“We develop products that are designed to perform and remain safe over a long period of time. In a material transition, we need to ensure that the materials meet the required technical standards, not just in theory, but in real-world applications. The fact that we continue to use Polykemi’s PP material in production proves that it works,” says Ruben Kempes.
With the material transition, Bugaboo reduced the carbon footprint of the affected components by 68%.
“In many applications, PA6 offers more performance than is required. With the right adjustments, PP can do the job just as well. In this project, we challenged each other and achieved a strong result.”
– Johan Sonesson, Area Sales Manager at Polykemi