Emerald Kalama Chemical, a division of Emerald Performance Materials, LLC and a supplier of additives for food and beverage, flavor and fragrance, household and industrial applications, has entered into an agreement with Criterion Representação, Participações e Consultoria Ltda. for its K-Flex products in South America, with a focus on the Mercosur region. The K-Flex product line is manufactured at the company’s ISO-9001:2008 certified operations in Kalama, Wash., U.S.

K-Flex products act as plasticizers in adhesives, PVC compounds, caulks, sealants, coatings and other latex polymer applications. They enhance film formation, adhesion, processing characteristics and improve the resistance of the end-product to oil, grease and water. Emerald said K-Flex products are equally appealing as a more environmentally friendly alternative to phthalates and traditional coalescents because they are low VOC, readily biodegradable, non-SVHC, have certain FDA clearances and are REACH-pre-registered materials.