BASF, AkzoNobel and Arkema join forces to lower architectural powder coatings carbon footprint

BASF will supply neopentyl glycol with a product carbon footprint of zero to Arkema

The carbon footprint of superdurable architectural powder coatings supplied by AkzoNobel’s Interpon brand is up to 40% lower due to an ongoing value chain partnership with Arkema and BASF. It means the superdurable Interpon D range can now make an even bigger impact in helping to reduce embodied carbon over the whole lifecycle of a building.

The improvement has been made possible through a combination of using supplier-specific product carbon footprint (PCF) data and sourcing bio-attributed raw materials. Previously, the carbon footprint calculations were made on the basis of generic industry averages for polyester resins. By using supplier-specific PCF data instead, these calculations are now more accurate, as they better reflect important variables, such as investments made in process efficiencies and the use of renewable electricity by the partners involved.

Further benefits are gained by using bio-attributed raw materials from BASF, which have a PCF of zero. Arkema transforms these bio-attributed raw materials to reduce the carbon footprint of low and standard temperature cure superdurable powder coating resins for AkzoNobel.

The three partners have published an industry case study to offer further insights into the transition to lower carbon footprint powder coatings, including details of the methodology and calculations used. 

The color collections and Low-E architectural powder coatings produced by Interpon in Europe – all of which are superdurable – now use reduced emission bio-attributed material. This means they can play a major role in helping to lower the carbon footprint of the built environment.

The three parties are planning more collaboration across the value chain and welcome a broader network of partners to accelerate the paint and coatings industry’s transformation towards a more sustainable future.