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In a significant stride towards a more sustainable future for the coatings industry, Arkema, AkzoNobel, and Omya have announced a groundbreaking collaboration. The three global leaders have successfully developed a range of innovative, low-carbon decorative paint formulations designed for widespread adoption in the mass market. These new paints boast a remarkable reduction of 30% or more in their carbon footprint, all while maintaining the high performance standards expected by consumers.

The ambitious project aimed to push the boundaries of sustainability in the paint sector, with initial experiments even achieving up to a 50% reduction in the carbon footprint of decorative paints. This joint effort directly addresses the growing demand from both the industry and consumers for more environmentally friendly solutions, aligning with stringent Green Deal regulations and green building certifications.

"As the industry is actively working on decarbonizing its value chain, we wanted to collectively accelerate the development of next-generation paints to meet increasing industry and consumer demand, Green Deal regulations, and green building certifications," stated Julie Haevermans, Chief Marketing Officer at Arkema Coating Solutions. "Our efforts have been driven by the common objective to make lower carbon footprint solutions the mainstream."

The newly developed paint formulations leverage the unique expertise and innovative raw materials from each of the collaborating companies. Arkema has contributed its bio-based and bio-attributed binders and additives, which significantly reduce the reliance on fossil fuel-derived components. Omya has incorporated its CaCO3-minerals, which not only enhance the opacity of the paints but also contribute recycled content, further lowering the environmental impact. AkzoNobel, with its advanced formulation expertise, played a crucial role in optimizing the paint composition and minimizing the use of high-carbon materials, most notably titanium dioxide (TiO2).

"Thanks to advanced lab automation and AI-driven experimental design, commercially relevant paint formulations with considerably reduced carbon footprint were achieved within a short time – with clear indications that even further reductions are possible going forward," commented Philipp Mueller, Vice President Construction at Omya. "Key to success is the willingness of companies along the value chain to work together in an open and collaborative way!"

The collaborative research has yielded paints that not only lessen their environmental impact but also uphold critical performance attributes. "This work demonstrates the potential to develop lower carbon footprint paints whilst maintaining performance in brightness, yellowing resistance, and wet scrub resistance," affirmed David Williams, Chief Innovation Officer at AkzoNobel. "These advances are another step in paving the way for widespread adoption and external recognition, which will help shape the future of lower carbon footprint paints and coatings."