Beckers Group Announces Partnership with Anodyne Chemistries
Working together to develop renewable Hexahydrophthalic Anhydride (HHPA), Beckers and Anodyne Chemistries aim to lay the foundation for advanced coating solutions with a key low-carbon raw material.
Working to develop renewable hexahydrophthalic anhydride (HHPA), Beckers and Anodyne Chemistries aim to establish the foundation for advanced coating solutions based on fundamentally low-carbon feedstocks.
HHPA is a key component in high-performance coating formulations. However, its carbon intensity contributes significantly to the carbon footprint of Beckers' high-performance coatings and is derived entirely from petrochemical feedstocks. Currently, no sustainable HHPA alternatives exist on the market.
Pioneering more sustainable solutions
Anodyne is pioneering a sustainable pathway to produce HHPA using CO₂ by developing entirely new enzymes. The innovative processes also replace carbon-intensive energy by using renewable electricity to power these enzymes, substantially reducing the environmental impact of HHPA production.
Anodyne's research and development work will take place in Vancouver, Canada. Compatibility testing will be conducted at Beckers' FutureLab innovation centre in Liverpool, UK, which develops next-generation coil coatings.
"Over the past few years, we have worked with partners to identify critical targets and expand our chemical catalogue," said Manou Davies, Chief Technology Officer at Anodyne. "Our innovative reaction pathway can develop enzymes capable of converting CO₂ into HHPA."
"We are focusing on HHPA because it is a fundamental chemical for the coatings industry and currently there is no renewable carbon-based sustainable production route," explained Gavin Bown, Chief Technology Officer at Beckers. "To defossilise this key feedstock, we need new catalysts and processes that unlock new reaction pathways. While HHPA is the highest priority target, we see opportunities for other coating feedstocks using Anodyne Chemistries' highly innovative process. Our collaboration with Anodyne is part of our broader sustainable innovation strategy at Beckers Group, where we are actively working with suppliers and start-ups upstream in the raw materials value chain, aiming to accelerate the commercialisation of innovative new sustainable technologies."
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