At Nestlé, LCA is one of the assessments used in a customer focused innovation
approach. Nestlé created an overall dashboard for innovation decisions that is
available for everyone involved. Within this multi-criteria assessment there’s a clear
role for LCA in combination with other impacts.
4 Innovative Partnership to Promote Credible
and Sustainable Bio-based Materials Through
the Value Chain [3]
Bio-based materials derived from plant residues open up exciting opportunities for
environmentally-responsible products. Trendsetters such as bio-based epichlorohydrin (ECH) can provide more sustainable alternatives for traditional raw materials. To this end, AkzoNobel, Advanced Biochemical (Thailand) Co., Ltd.
(ABT) and EY (Ernst & Young) have joined forces to develop a monitoring system
which could track and quantify the use of renewable raw materials in paints,
coatings and further applications. The partnership built on a previous agreement,
whereby AkzoNobel would progressively increase the use of epoxy resins derived
from Epicerol
® , a bio-based ECH, in its coatings products.
Throughout 2017, the partnership will roll out an online system which will
support a comprehensive bio-based certification. ABT, AkzoNobel and EY have
developed a ‘chain of custody’ methodology to ensure that even in situations where
no physical segregation of petro and bio-based materials is practiced, volumes may
still be assigned and reported.
Rather than buying ECH directly, AkzoNobel is sourcing epoxy resins from a
number of intermediate producers. The company then uses epoxy resins as ingredients in various coatings. By creating market pull through e-certification, the
partnership promotes bio-based materials through the value chain.
Epicerol
® is an ECH based on 100% renewable glycerine, a by-product from the
transformation of vegetable oils. Manufactured by ABT using an innovative and
patented process, the drop-in was developed and commercialised because of
demand for a truly sustainable ECH.
A comparative Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) benchmarked Epicerol
® against
state-of-the-art propylene-based processes. It showed that incorporating 1 MT of
Epicerol
® can reduce a product’s carbon footprint (defined as the global warming
potential (GWP) from cradle-to-gate, including biogenic CO 2 ) by 2.56 MT CO 2
equivalent.
The technology also reduces the volume of chlorinated by-products from the
process by over 80%, while another distinctive technology enables brine recycling
and drastically reduces liquid effluents.
A wider rollout is targeted before end-2017. By promoting sustainable alternatives through pro-active procurement of bio-based feedstock and a transparent
transfer of e-certificates across the value chain, this innovative project will
demonstrate a credible approach to sourcing better materials.
442
E. Mieras and A. Wathelet
approach. Nestlé created an overall dashboard for innovation decisions that is
available for everyone involved. Within this multi-criteria assessment there’s a clear
role for LCA in combination with other impacts.
4 Innovative Partnership to Promote Credible
and Sustainable Bio-based Materials Through
the Value Chain [3]
Bio-based materials derived from plant residues open up exciting opportunities for
environmentally-responsible products. Trendsetters such as bio-based epichlorohydrin (ECH) can provide more sustainable alternatives for traditional raw materials. To this end, AkzoNobel, Advanced Biochemical (Thailand) Co., Ltd.
(ABT) and EY (Ernst & Young) have joined forces to develop a monitoring system
which could track and quantify the use of renewable raw materials in paints,
coatings and further applications. The partnership built on a previous agreement,
whereby AkzoNobel would progressively increase the use of epoxy resins derived
from Epicerol
® , a bio-based ECH, in its coatings products.
Throughout 2017, the partnership will roll out an online system which will
support a comprehensive bio-based certification. ABT, AkzoNobel and EY have
developed a ‘chain of custody’ methodology to ensure that even in situations where
no physical segregation of petro and bio-based materials is practiced, volumes may
still be assigned and reported.
Rather than buying ECH directly, AkzoNobel is sourcing epoxy resins from a
number of intermediate producers. The company then uses epoxy resins as ingredients in various coatings. By creating market pull through e-certification, the
partnership promotes bio-based materials through the value chain.
Epicerol
® is an ECH based on 100% renewable glycerine, a by-product from the
transformation of vegetable oils. Manufactured by ABT using an innovative and
patented process, the drop-in was developed and commercialised because of
demand for a truly sustainable ECH.
A comparative Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) benchmarked Epicerol
® against
state-of-the-art propylene-based processes. It showed that incorporating 1 MT of
Epicerol
® can reduce a product’s carbon footprint (defined as the global warming
potential (GWP) from cradle-to-gate, including biogenic CO 2 ) by 2.56 MT CO 2
equivalent.
The technology also reduces the volume of chlorinated by-products from the
process by over 80%, while another distinctive technology enables brine recycling
and drastically reduces liquid effluents.
A wider rollout is targeted before end-2017. By promoting sustainable alternatives through pro-active procurement of bio-based feedstock and a transparent
transfer of e-certificates across the value chain, this innovative project will
demonstrate a credible approach to sourcing better materials.
442
E. Mieras and A. Wathelet