Bio-Based Powders Deliver Durability and Sustainability
Interest in bio-based powder coating alternatives is growing. Whether parties are manufacturers or individuals who frequently purchase coatings for industrial tasks, they understand the need to develop or use products with little environmental impact. Although there are many avenues to explore, bio-based ingredients are particularly enticing. They could relieve existing supply chain pressures by revealing different ingredients to use that are more plentifully available. What are the possibilities so far?
Utilizing Industrial Side and Waste Streams
Mass production often includes side streams, which are by-products that could get turned into other products. Additionally, there are waste streams, which the involved parties discard. However, some investigations into bio-based powder coatings explore using both side and waste streams to make new items. Successes could lead to better powder coating, interior and exterior paints, and even improved packaging.
Eleven industrial companies and seven research institutes and universities participated in the SUSBINCO project, which began in Finland in 2021 and lasted through the end of 2023. One of the main goals was that binders and coatings should be at least 80% bio-based and versatile enough for numerous applications. Estimates suggested the worth of the markets that could use these innovations far exceeded €1,000 billion, showing participants the abundant potential use cases.
This project arose due to the coating industry’s pressing need to find sustainable, safe and effective alternatives to the fossil fuel-based raw materials used to make current binders and coatings. Progress in this aim should also reduce associated emissions. Some of the work connected to this initiative examined side streams and waste from the Finnish wood industry — such as bark and biomass — as suitable substitutes.
If decision-makers could extract value from materials that people typically discard, that could improve supply chain security while simultaneously making measurable improvements that highlight a commitment to the planet’s future.
As of December 2022, a group research and development manager for one of the participating companies said he believed those involved had nearly developed a toolbox for creating bio-based coatings and binders. However, he thought some other efforts under the SUSBINCO umbrella — such as packages that contact food — would take longer.
Reducing Emissions Through a Commercially Available Product
Some leaders who frequently purchase powder coatings may find it difficult to feel enthusiastic about bio-based options unless they can buy and try them. Although researchers learn important things during early processes, many people are curious about commercial possibilities and want to invest. The United States’ powder coating industry’s worth will reach about $3.2 billion by 2026, according to projections.
Those who work with the associated products know they can provide aesthetically pleasing and durable finishes, which make this finishing process perpetually popular. However, people must take several steps to get the desired results, including preparing the surface and selecting the appropriate powder.
Those parties will be more likely to try bio-based powder coating products if they believe they will provide equal or better results than what they currently use. Fortunately, some options are on the market now, so people can try them to compare the outcomes.
One new collection of bio-based powder coating products from Axalta features nonfood organic waste as raw materials. It produces up to 25% fewer CO2 emissions than polyester resins. These offerings were available after the manufacturer became the first in the powder coating industry to receive ISCC PLUS accreditation for bio-based feedstock sourcing practices. This voluntary certification program validates sustainability characteristics and positions companies as committed to making meaningful changes.
These bio-based powder coatings offer the same properties and performance as their traditional counterparts, which should prompt industrial users to try them. These products also provide accessible ways for companies to reduce emissions throughout the value chain and are historically harder to control than those firmly within the entity’s influence.
Catering to Emerging Needs
Many industrial workplaces use advanced sensors to measure air quality, knowing it impacts productivity and employee health. Workers may need to wear protective items when products such as wood shavings end up in the environment due to industrial processes.
Additionally, supervisors may determine when specific activities occur, staggering them to reduce pollution. A significant advantage of powder coatings is that they emit negligible volatile organic compounds and do not cause air quality issues once cured.
Some leaders already use powder coating due to its numerous benefits, and many would like to transition to bio-based alternatives to meet sustainability goals. Once manufacturers realize a clear market desire for these products, they become more motivated to offer a broader range of options.
Such activities can create more competitiveness and encourage producers to emphasize unique selling points to make their products stand out from others. In one case, Arkema received several Mass Balance ISCC PLUS certifications in the United States, Europe and Asia. The Mass Balance methodology provides manufacturers with a framework to track certified products as they move through the value chain and understand how certain sustainable inputs translate to improved outputs.
In one year, nine Arkema production sites received this certification. Although some make downstream products, such as bio-attributed powder coating additives, others create upstream acrylic monomers. This transition across locations indicates the company’s decision-makers see bio-based products as significant parts of their future business aims.
Responding to a Growing Market
The recent activity in bio-based powder coating products is part of a broader trend caused by attempts to move away from fossil fuels. In addition to the environmental benefits of using fewer petroleum-based products, many leaders become enticed by the possibility of being less dependent on the countries that dominate the oil industry. Economic events can increase prices and strain supply chains, driving interest in stabilizing businesses for the future.
One research report indicates the bio-based coatings market will reach $18.2 billion by 2027, representing a 9.5% compound annual growth rate from 2022. The analysts also mentioned that a lack of awareness about these products restricts their usage. However, the examples provided here and elsewhere show that these offerings are no longer niche, and people are making significant efforts to research, develop and market them.
The research also noted that groups have uncovered various bio-based building blocks that allow the creation of new resins for powder coating. Such discoveries help people see the possibilities and urge them to find the most feasible formulations for widespread use.
As participants learn more about bio-based powder coating products, they may also pay attention to related innovations that would also advance sustainability.
One example occurred when two companies collaborated to create powder coating material made from waste plastic. Polyester is the chemically recycled raw material used to make this product. The producers say this work will get them closer to a circular plastic ecosystem that facilitates the transition to a more sustainable society.
Excellent Outcomes From Bio-Based Powder Coating
These examples show how users can achieve excellent performance while prioritizing sustainability in powder coating. Ongoing support for these products will show manufacturers there is a genuine interest and encourage them to continue producing these options.
Learn more about the evolution of powder coatings here.
