Celanese and SharpCell partner to use CCU technology in airlaid nonwovens, reducing emissions and advancing sustainable, lower-carbon consumer product manufacturing solutions.
Celanese Corporation has entered into a strategic collaboration with SharpCell Oy to introduce carbon capture and utilization (CCU) technology into the production of airlaid nonwoven materials. This partnership marks a notable advancement in efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions within the nonwovens industry, particularly in the manufacturing of everyday consumer and hygiene products.
SharpCell Oy, a family-owned company based in Finland, is recognized for producing high-quality airlaid materials used in applications such as wipes, tabletop products, and hygiene solutions. Through this collaboration, the company is incorporating raw materials derived from captured carbon dioxide (CO2), transforming industrial emissions into valuable inputs for production. By doing so, SharpCell aims to significantly lower the carbon footprint of its products while maintaining the same level of performance and quality expected by customers.
Celanese brings to the partnership its proprietary expertise in CCU technology, which enables the conversion of captured CO2 emissions into chemical building blocks. According to Kevin Norfleet, Senior Director of Global Sustainability at Celanese, the company has developed the capability to transform emissions into a diverse range of chemical products. He highlighted that extending this innovation to airlaid nonwovens represents a meaningful step toward expanding the application of circular and low-carbon solutions. The collaboration also supports Celanese’s broader sustainability objectives, including increasing the use of recycled or circular content in its product portfolio.
At its facility in Clear Lake, Texas, Celanese produces vinyl acetate ethylene (VAE) binders using CCU-based inputs. These binders are essential components in the production of binder-bonded airlaid nonwoven materials. Compared to conventional alternatives derived entirely from fossil fuels, these CCU-based binders contribute to a reduced product carbon footprint (PCF). Importantly, Celanese employs a mass-balance accounting approach, allowing CCU-derived and traditional feedstocks to be blended during production while still ensuring accurate tracking of sustainable content.
The integration of CCU binder technology into SharpCell’s manufacturing processes is expected to utilize more than 400 metric tons of captured CO2 annually. This environmental impact is substantial; based on estimates from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s greenhouse gas equivalency data, it is roughly equivalent to the emissions generated by burning around 45,000 gallons of gasoline. Such figures underscore the tangible benefits of incorporating CCU technology into industrial applications.
Pekka Pollari, CEO of SharpCell Oy, described the initiative as a significant milestone in the company’s sustainability journey. He emphasized that adopting Celanese’s CCU-based binders demonstrates a strong commitment to offering environmentally responsible product solutions. Pollari also noted that SharpCell is proud to be the first manufacturer in the airlaid nonwovens sector to implement this innovation, positioning the company at the forefront of sustainable material development.
Overall, the collaboration between Celanese and SharpCell highlights the growing role of carbon capture technologies in enabling more sustainable industrial processes. By turning emissions into usable resources, the partnership sets a precedent for reducing environmental impact without compromising product performance.
