AkzoNobel & BASF want to reduce the CO2 footprint of coatings
AkzoNobel wants to source raw materials from BASF for the production of coatings and paints in the EMEA region that have a significantly lower carbon footprint. In this way, both companies aim to reduce Scope 3 emissions.
AkzoNobel and BASF have agreed to bring more low-carbon products to the market. To do this, AkzoNobel will use biomass-based (BMB) ingredients from BASF that do not require new formulations or changes to existing paint manufacturing processes. The end result of this approach is a paint from AkzoNobel with exactly the same quality and performance, but with a carbon footprint reduced by at least 5%. BASF replaces the fossil raw materials in the ingredients it supplies to AkzoNobel with renewable resources such as bionaphtha and biomethane via a mass balance approach. This mass balance approach is certified by an independent third party. This means that AkzoNobel can source BASF's acrylic binder (one of the main components of decorative paints) with a significantly reduced carbon footprint.
Reducing the CO2 footprint of AkzoNobel paints
"The integration of BASF's BMB ingredients into our high-volume consumer products will help us to significantly reduce our overall carbon footprint," says Wijnand Bruinsma, Director of Sustainability at AkzoNobel. "Our partnership means that the carbon footprint of any paint we produce using the BMB approach will be reduced by at least 5% from the outset, compared to the same formula made from 100% fossil-based materials." Dr. Jörg Niebergall, Senior Vice President, Dispersions Europe, at BASF, added: "We are proud to support AkzoNobel in driving its sustainability agenda forward. Through our broad portfolio of sustainable and low-carbon products, we enable the company to offer its customers products with a lower carbon footprint. We also provide data, tools and expertise that enable AkzoNobel to make informed decisions. The collaboration demonstrates the strong commitment of both companies to a more sustainable future."
Launch of mass-balanced decorative paints
AkzoNobel in the UK is already preparing for the launch of its enhanced Dulux Easycare range, which uses the CO2-reduced ingredients, in the second quarter of this year. This is the first time the company has used certified mass-balanced products (replacing fossil fuels with renewable raw materials) for an acrylic binder. AkzoNobel is working to achieve RedCert2 certification for all relevant production sites in Europe - a recognized mass balance standard for the chemical industry.