Interview: “The use of bio-based raw materials is not the end of the line”

The demand for bio-based materials is growing nowadays. In which application fields do you see the greatest needs for new, bio-based materials?

Toine Biemans: Society as a whole puts more emphasis on sustainable solutions and is increasingly demanding ecological alternatives (megatrend neo-ecology). Even though sustainability is much more than only “bio-based”, for many consumers this connection is still the easiest to comprehend. 

In the coatings business the demand for bio-based products is therefore most noticeable in areas where the end consumer is greatly aware of the use of coatings. This is especially the case for the decorative segment, due to the inherent fact that these coatings are in plain sight and hence are most easily recognised. Most pronounced is this of course in the DIY segment where consumers come in direct contact with paints. 

But there are many other areas that would benefit greatly from more sustainable solutions and bio-based materials. For example, in some industrial applications where the protective function of a coating system plays an important role, durability and consequently the cost of maintenance are some of the aspects that need to be considered and that factor into sustainability. Here, the incorporation of bio-based raw materials in resins for such durable protective coatings can still pose a significant challenge.

Furthermore, already nowadays it is evident in the paints and coatings market that the use of bio-based raw materials is not the end of the line. Rather, other factors such as regionality, renewability and the use of recycled materials are aspects that are already being considered.

Which challenges but also advantages will the change to a higher amount of bio-based materials evolve in the future?

Biemans: One of the challenges that come with the increased use of bio-based raw materials is that customers do not want to compromise on quality. Since many of these raw materials are not drop-in solutions, a lot of research efforts go towards compensating for the properties they bring to a coating resin. This is especially challenging due to the lack of bio-based aromatics, as in general the bio-based raw materials are aliphatic compounds.

Another challenge that comes from the increased use of bio-based materials is their availability. Natural resources are finite, and we have to be careful how to use arable land: for food production or the production of bio-based raw materials. This is an important aspect of sustainable behaviour. At Worlée we are making our own sustainable contribution by regionally growing Camelina oil plants in a mixed cultivation with peas (intercropping) as well as using fallow land. Both methods have environmental benefits like contributing to biodiversity.

Obviously, it will make our industry less dependent on the petrochemical industry for raw materials.  And, as long as sustainability aspects are respected, the increased use of bio-based raw materials could also lead to more optimised production and hence lower prices. This would quickly make them more competitive, especially in the current market. This in turn could create new application opportunities and increase demand even further.

Event tip

The two EC Conferences “Bio-based Coatings” and “Water-based Coatings” will take place this year from 22-23 November in Berlin. Providing the latest results from research and development as well as state-of-the-art solutions, they offer impulses for daily work as well as perspectives from the academic environment.