AkzoNobel and Solvay have announced a new partnership to advance the use of sustainable raw materials in coatings
AkzoNobel, the world’s largest paints and coatings manufacturer announced today that it is has a new partnership with the international chemical group Solvay which will increase the use of sustainable raw materials in its products.
The partnership has been agreed for a three year term and builds on a supply relationship between the two companies which was announced three months ago.
Under the terms of the deal, AkzoNobel will progressively increase the use of Solvay’s bio-based epichlorohydrin, or Epicerol®, which is already used as a chemical intermediate to make epoxy resins in many of AkzoNobel’s products.
Epicerol® is produced in an innovative process which makes bio-based epichlorohydrin from renewable glycerol with a substantially lower carbon footprint than most fossil-produced epichlorohydrin. By 2016, AkzoNobel aims to source 20% of its total epichlorohydrin demand as bio-based material.
Dick Bartelse, AkzoNobel director purchasing at AkzoNobel said the company is happy to be extending its partnership with Solvay. “We are serious about encouraging our suppliers to invest in bio-based solutions and enabling our customers to have cutting-edge, sustainable products.”
Peter Nieuwenhuizen, AkzoNobel’s director of future-proof supply chains added: “This isn’t just about Solvay and AkzoNobel, but about working in partnership along the supply chain, including with our resin producers. It’s exciting to see how, together we can make bio-based chemicals a reality for our customers.”
AkzoNobel is in the process of building a £100m new factory in the UK. The Ashington facility will consolidate business from existing UK locations and advance its broader sustainability and efficiency strategy.
The new build plant is expected to reduce AkzoNobel’s energy consumption per litre of paint produced by 60% through investment in new manufacturing automation technologies, recycling and reuse initiatives and the latest concepts in environmentally efficient building design.
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