Covestro exhibited its portfolio of sustainable coating solutions at the recent 2022 American Coatings Show, helping pave the way for a shift to the circular economy. The company reports that its acquisition of the Resins & Functional Materials (RFM) business of Royal DSM was a major driver of this year’s offerings.

According to Covestro, another source of innovation has been its work with biotech company Genomatica to successfully produce the first significant volumes of a plant-based version of hexamethylene diamine (HMDA). HMDA is a key precursor for several coatings, adhesives, and a widely used type of nylon (nylon-6,6). The new process is expected to be able to produce ton-quantities of high-quality material in the near future, helping the automotive, construction, furniture, and textile industries become more sustainable going forward.

“Our partnership on this innovative technology allows us to significantly reduce our dependence on fossil feedstocks,” said Martin Vlak, head of Sales & Market Development for North America Coatings & Adhesives at Covestro. “With a purely plant-based HMDA, we can significantly advance our corporate objective of CO₂-neutral production.”

Several examples of Covestro’s sustainable products were on display in booth #2529 at the American Coatings Show, including Desmodur^® eco N 7300, an isocyanate clearcoat hardener whose carbon content is 70% sourced from biomass instead of fossil fuels. This sourcing reportedly reduces the carbon footprint of the hardener by around 30%, with no compromise in performance or quality and with the same application process as conventional solutions.

“The emerging line of sustainable and plant-based products of Covestro is the result of our long-term goal of becoming the leading provider of sustainable coating solutions,” Vlak said. “Markets are increasingly asking for more environmentally compliant products based on renewable raw materials without compromising functionality. But it’s about more than growth from a margin perspective. It’s about growing sustainably with the right kind of product innovation that brings us to carbon-neutral production. A truly circular economy is within our reach if we remain committed to this level of focus and innovation.”

Find more information at www.covestro.us. Details regarding the American Coatings Show are available at https://american-coatings-show.com.