International. AkzoNobel and Solvay have signed a three-year agreement with which the former will increase the use of renewable raw materials in its paints and coatings, based on an existing partnership between the two companies.
Under the terms of the agreement, AkzoNobel will progressively increase the use of Solvay's bio-based epichlorohydrin, or commercial norme Epicerol®, which is already found in many of the company's resins for its coatings. The agreement underlines the commitment of both parties to play a key role in sustainable development and expand the use of renewable raw materials.
Developed and patented by the international chemical group Solvay, Epicerol ® is used to produce bio-based epichlorohydrin from renewable glycerol. The product has a substantially lower carbon footprint compared to most fossil epichlorohydrins produced. In 2016, AkzoNobel aims to achieve 20% of the total demand for epichlorohydrin as a bio-based material.
"We are excited to expand our partnership with Solvay and take another step in our bio-based strategy," said Dick Bartelse, akzoNobel business unit director. "We are serious about encouraging our suppliers to invest in bio-based solutions that enable our customers to have cutting-edge sustainable products."
