Speciality materials provider Arkema has achieved the mass balance ISCC+ (International Sustainability and Carbon Certification) at its powder coating resins facility in Sant Celoni, Spain.

ISCC+ is a voluntary scheme for biomass, waste and residues, non-biological renewables and recycled carbon materials. Mass balance is the principle of balancing inputs and outputs to track materials.

The certification supports the company’s complete portfolio of bio-mass-balance coating solutions, including waterborne, UV/EB [ultraviolent/electron beam] advanced liquid resins and powder resins for packaging.

The site also produces polyester liquid resins which can now achieve up to 25% bio-attributed content and an up-to-20% PCF (pounds per cubic foot) reduction to decarbonise packaging coatings.

Arkema's larger initiative is to decarbonise the global coating value chain. The market is an area of strategic growth due to the sustainability of solvent-free applications which produce almost zero waste and consume low energy.

The company continues to invest in powder coating technology, recently announcing a new manufacturing process that integrates up to 40% post-consumer recycled content from end-of-life packaging products into powder coating resins.

Arkema global business director Neil Tariq commented: “We are committed to supporting our customers worldwide with the materials they need to further decarbonise their offers and ensure they can meet their sustainability goals.”

In early May 2024, Dow divested its flexible packaging laminating adhesives business to Arkema for $150m.