To enhance circularity: Arkema joins Spanish consortium
Arkema, together with a consortium of companies, is exploring and advancing the recyclability of post-consumer PET (from bottles and other plastic items) to regain monomers for reuse as raw materials for more sustainable polyester powder resins for the coating market.
According to the company, Arkema is a world leader in the offering for powder coatings, as part of the company’s low Volatile Organic Compounds technologies for the coating industry, together with waterborne, UV/LED/EB and high solid systems.
Powder coatings are very well positioned to further sustainability across many very demanding household and industrial applications, including home appliances and furniture, automobiles, sports stadiums and more. The coating process is optimised to produce a high quality finish while using the minimal energy, minimum waste and time. Additionally, powder that doesn’t end up on the product can be more easily collected and recycled, or even reused.
The new project, entitled Suschempol, is led by the Spanish Superior Council of Science Research (CSIC) and was founded by the Spanish “Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación” and the “Agencia Estatal de Investigación” as part of “NextGenerationEU” Initiative.
“Natural fit for Arkema”
“This project was a natural fit for Arkema,” Neil Tariq, Global Business Director for Coating Resins at Arkema, explained. “As a leading provider of polyester resin for the solvent free powder coating technology, we are constantly exploring new path, partnerships and scientific research that advance the circularity of our products. We are excited by the long term goals of this project and look forward to sharing more innovation with our customers and partners in the years to come.”
