BASF, AkzoNobel, and Arkema collaborate to lower carbon footprint of superdurable architectural powder coatings using bio-attributed materials.
BASF, AkzoNobel, and Arkema have joined forces to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of architectural powder coatings, marking a major advancement in sustainable construction materials. AkzoNobel’s Interpon brand now offers superdurable architectural powder coatings with up to 40% lower carbon emissions, thanks to a strategic partnership that spans the entire value chain. This means that the Interpon D range can contribute even more effectively to reducing the embodied carbon associated with the full lifecycle of a building.
This improvement has been achieved by combining precise supplier-specific product carbon footprint (PCF) data with the use of bio-attributed raw materials. In the past, carbon footprint assessments for polyester resins relied on generic industry averages. By leveraging supplier-specific PCF data, the calculations now more accurately reflect key factors, including process efficiency improvements and the utilization of renewable electricity by the companies involved. This approach ensures a more realistic assessment of environmental impact and highlights the contribution of each partner to sustainability.
Additional benefits stem from incorporating bio-attributed raw materials supplied by BASF, which carry a zero carbon footprint. Arkema then processes these bio-attributed materials into low and standard temperature cure superdurable powder coating resins for AkzoNobel, further minimizing emissions. To provide transparency and guidance to the industry, the three companies have released a case study detailing the transition toward lower-carbon powder coatings, including insights into methodology and calculation approaches.
Vasilios Galanos, Senior Vice President of Intermediates Europe at BASF, emphasized the broader significance of this initiative: “This project demonstrates our commitment to sustainable solutions through innovation and collaboration. Our goal is to be the preferred partner for sustainable intermediates. By supplying NPG in a biomass-balanced version produced with renewable electricity (NPG ZeroPCF), we support our value chain partners in achieving their sustainability targets while also advancing our own environmental vision.”
Jeff Jirak, Director of AkzoNobel’s Powder Coatings business, added: “This collaboration represents a significant milestone for the paints and coatings sector. Customers increasingly demand solutions that align with their environmental objectives and green building certifications. By engaging across the value chain, we are taking tangible steps to reduce carbon emissions while demonstrating our ongoing commitment to sustainability.”
Richard Jenkins, Senior Vice President Coating Solutions and Executive Committee Member at Arkema, noted: “Utilizing renewable bio-attribution and sustainable innovations allows for continuous improvements in low-temperature cure, high-durability coatings. Our collective efforts are paving the way for broader decarbonization across the value chain and for the development of next-generation powder coatings with reduced emissions for the building sector.”
Interpon’s color collections and Low-E architectural powder coatings in Europe now incorporate these lower-emission, bio-attributed materials, reinforcing their role in reducing the carbon footprint of the built environment. Looking ahead, the three partners plan to deepen their collaboration and invite other industry stakeholders to join, accelerating the paint and coatings sector’s shift toward a more sustainable future.
