Green tie-ups: Henkel/Celanese to co-develop adhesives using captured CO₂ emissions; Avantium/SCGC to pilot PLGA polyester production

Henkel, a producer of adhesives, sealants and functional coatings, has partnered with US speciality materials company Celanese to develop water-based adhesives using carbon capture-based materials.

This initiative will offer the packaging and consumer goods sectors new opportunities to incorporate renewable content into their products by reutilising CO₂ emissions in the production process.

Earlier this year, Celanese initiated a carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) project at its site in Clear Lake, Texas. The CCU technology captures CO₂ emissions from industrial processes and converts them into methanol using hydrogen.

The project is part of Fairway Methanol joint venture owned by Celanese and Mitsui & Co.

Methanol is a key component of vinyl acetate monomer, which constitutes 35% of the polymers typically used in adhesive formulations.

The latest collaboration between Henkel and Celanese will enable the production of adhesives from captured CO₂ emissions.

This development aligns with the increasing consumer and market demands for products with reduced environmental footprints.

The use of CCU-based adhesives is expected to be particularly advantageous for industries such as paper and board, envelopes and graphic arts, e-commerce, and labelling.

In other news, Dutch renewable materials firm Avantium is partnering with Thailand’s SCG Chemicals Public Company Limited (SCGC) in a multi-year collaboration to pilot the production of PLGA (polylactic-co-glycolic acid).

Avantium’s Volta Technology uses electrochemistry to convert CO₂ to high-value products and chemical building blocks including glycolic acid.

Glycolic acid, combined with lactic acid, can be used to produce PLGA polyester in existing manufacturing assets. PLGA is a biodegradable, recyclable polyester with barrier and mechanical properties, making it a sustainable alternative for conventional fossil-based polyesters.

Building on the initial success of their partnership, Avantium and SCGC have spent the past year thoroughly exploring the properties of PLGA to perfect its formulation for large-scale polymer applications, with a focus on barrier properties, recyclability, and environmental impact.

SCGC and Avantium have now committed to a multi-year collaboration to pilot the production of PLGA from CO₂ feedstock. Under this agreement, SCGC will provide support for all stages of technology development. Additionally, SCGC will work with Avantium on developing various PLGA applications, aiming to bring these sustainable solutions to market.

As part of this collaboration, Avantium grants SCGC an option to negotiate license deal to utilize its Volta Technology, including PLGA production, within Southeast Asia. This strategic collaboration is expected to accelerate the adoption of Avantium’s innovative technologies in the region.

Furthermore, the PLGA piloting initiative welcomes other synergistic industrial collaborators. Avantium and SCGC invite interested parties to join this groundbreaking effort to explore and expand the applications of PLGA, driving innovation and sustainability in the polymer industry.

Dr. Suracha Udomsak, Executive Vice President/Chief Innovation Officer of SCGC, comments: “SCGC is committed to advancing Green Innovation to tackle low carbon challenges. Our goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2030. Together with Avantium, SCGC has evaluated PLGA samples and we are highly impressed with the sustainability and performance characteristics of this innovative material. We look forward to further advancing PLGA production with Avantium in the years to come.”

Gert-Jan Gruter, Chief Technology Officer at Avantium, comments: “We are pleased to partner with SCGC in this groundbreaking initiative. This collaboration not only highlights the potential of our Volta Technology but also reinforces our shared commitment to sustainability and innovation. By deepening our collaboration with SCGC, a cornerstone investor in Avantium through SENFI Ventures and a partner in our FDCA and PEF technology, we aim to make a significant impact on the global materials market.”

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