AkzoNobel Partners with BASF to Reduce Carbon Footprint of Dulux Products

AkzoNobel is purchasing raw materials with a significantly reduced carbon footprint from BASF for its decorative paints production in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. This collaboration demonstrates the commitment of both companies to reduce Scope 3 emissions.

Under the agreement, AkzoNobel will use BASF’s biomass balance (BMB) raw materials without the need for new formulations or changes to existing paint manufacturing processes. This indicates that AkzoNobel intends to integrate more low-carbon products into the mainstream. The result of this approach is that AkzoNobel’s paints will maintain the same quality and performance but with at least a 5% reduction in carbon footprint. BASF replaces fossil-based raw materials in its supply to AkzoNobel with renewable resources, such as bio-based cotton oil and biomethane, using the quality balance method. This method is certified by an independent third party. This means that AkzoNobel can purchase BASF’s acrylic binders (one of the key components in decorative paints), significantly reducing the carbon footprint.

Wijnand Bruinsma, Director of Sustainability at AkzoNobel, said: “Integrating BASF’s BMB ingredients into our high-volume consumer products will help us achieve a significant overall impact in reducing carbon footprint. Our partnership means that any paint we produce using the BMB method will have a carbon footprint that is at least 5% lower compared to the same formulation made with 100% fossil-based materials.”

Dr. J?rg Niebergall, Senior Vice President of BASF’s European operations, added: “We are proud to support AkzoNobel in accelerating its sustainability agenda. Through our broad range of sustainable and low-carbon products, we enable companies to offer products with a lower carbon footprint to their customers. We also provide data, tools, and expertise to empower AkzoNobel to make informed decisions. This collaboration underscores both companies’ strong commitment to a more sustainable future.”

AkzoNobel is set to launch an upgraded version of its Dulux Easycare range in the UK in the second quarter of this year, featuring reduced CO2 ingredients. This marks the company’s first use of certified biomass balance products (substituting renewable raw materials for fossil fuels) in acrylic binders. Bruinsma added: “We cannot drive the reduction of Scope 3 carbon emissions alone, which is why collaboration is so important. Partnerships like this play a key role in accelerating change, and working with BASF will help us create a scalable approach to achieving more sustainable solutions.”

AkzoNobel is also working to achieve RedCert2 certification for all relevant production sites in Europe, which is the recognized quality balance standard in the chemical industry.