AkzoNobel and Solvay expand renewable raw materials agreement

AkzoNobel and Solvay have signed a three-year agreement, whereby AkzoNobel will increase the use of renewable raw materials in its paints and coatings, building on an existing partnership between the two companies.

Under the terms, AkzoNobel will progressively increase the use of Solvay’s bio-based epichlorohydrin or Epicerol, which is already contained in many of the company’s resins for its coatings products’ sustainable development and expand the use of renewable raw materials.

Epicerol is the process used to produce bio-based epichlorohydrin from renewable glycerol. It has a much lower carbon footprint compared with most fossil-produced epichlorohydrin. By 2016, AkzoNobel aims to source 20% of its total epichlorohydrin demand as bio-based material.