Arkema has joined a Spanish consortium to advance the use of monomers regained from post-consumer PET as raw materials for more sustainable polyester powder resins.
Within the framework of the project SusChemPol, 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.
The project 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.
“This project was a natural fit for Arkema. 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”, explained Neil Tariq, Global Business Director for Coating Resins at Arkema.
Powder coatings are very well positioned to further sustainability across many demanding household and industrial applications, including home appliances and furniture, automobiles, sports stadiums and more. This coating process is optimized 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.