Sustainability and R&D Key to Sustaining Export Growth
Sustainability and R&D Critical for Continued Exports
Polisan R&D Director Nuray Cıkcıklı, stating that "at our R&D center we are working to identify raw materials with the lowest carbon footprint," emphasized that ecolabels will become important in the international paint market and that sustainability and R&D work are critical in this regard.
In an increasingly competitive globalized world, R&D plays a key role. With this awareness, Polisan Kansai Paints operates an R&D center where expert units from different disciplines work in integration, developing environmentally friendly and health-conscious innovative products while also providing competitive advantage in domestic and international markets. Polisan R&D Director Nuray Cıkcıklı, noting that Polisan Kansai Paints' R&D Center ranks among the top 250 companies in Turkey by R&D expenditure, states that the foundation of their working strategies is sustainability, cost and performance.
"We Prioritize Both Innovative Products and Alternative Raw Material Development"
Polisan Kansai Paints' R&D center continues its work with the vision of being a leader in Turkey and worldwide with its innovative products, conducting collaborative studies with ministries, industry and universities. "Our work on new products that will shape Turkey's paint sector continues," said Polisan R&D Director Nuray Cıkcıklı, also emphasizing that they are conducting research into alternative raw materials and were therefore not affected by the raw material shortages experienced during the pandemic. "We have serious equipment facilities. We are not limited to just testing products; we control every stage from incoming raw materials to the finished product. Along with these efforts, one of our major characteristics is that our entire production is Industry 4.0," explained Cıkcıklı, adding that all raw materials are processed through automated systems using closed systems and production is carried out accordingly.
"As Polisan Kansai, We Use the Most Sustainable Titanium Dioxides"
Nuray Cıkcıklı noted: "The European Union Environment Commission has decided on a new harmonized classification of titanium dioxide (TiO2) as a carcinogenic, mutagenic and reprotoxic substance, which entered into force on 1 October 2021. The change is the European Commission's classification of TiO2 as a suspected carcinogen (carcinogen category 2) by inhalation (H351 Suspected of causing cancer if inhaled) and this classification is valid from 1 October 2021 onwards, limited to certain dust forms (aerodynamic diameter ≤10 micrometers). The relevant regulation is not yet in force in Turkey. When we look at titanium dioxide use in paint, being in liquid form means there is no carcinogenic risk on the agenda, but from a work health and safety perspective, the need for serious silo and software investments by paint manufacturers regarding titanium dioxide feeding during production will come to the fore in due course. As Polisan Kansai, while using the most sustainable titanium dioxides in terms of sustainability, we introduce titanium dioxide into our facility through closed systems thanks to automation systems and carry out production accordingly. Should any future regulation be implemented in Turkey, our production conditions are already prepared." he said.
"In LCA (LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT/PRODUCT LIFE CYCLE), there are two critical substances affecting carbon footprint. One is titanium dioxide and the other is the binder. If you look at binder types, we can use different types of binders as an industry. Similarly, titanium dioxide has its own classifications. We monitor every stage up to the waste from the production stage of the raw materials we use. That is, in order to understand the life cycle of the finished paint, we control stages from the production stage of the raw material through to when the paint reaches the final consumer, including waste, energy consumption and so on. The starting point of these tests is also the raw materials we use in R&D," said Nuray CIKCIKLI, adding that Polisan Kansai currently has 4 EPD certificates and that this is important in terms of being able to use green buildings called LEED certified buildings.
The Importance of R&D in Paints
Stating that R&D work has critical importance in the paint sector in terms of sustainability and continued exports, Polisan R&D Director Nuray Cıkcıklı, recorded the following on the subject: "In our R&D work, we can also differentiate paint properties. Looking at the sector from the past to today, there is a shift from solvent-based paints to water-based paints, but solvent-based paints are still used in industry and decorative paints in Turkey. We develop our own water-based products and substitute them in every way for solvent-based products. In this context, we conduct environmentally friendly and health-conscious work. If you look at the green environment concepts of recent days and the process in the European Union, we have 3 important focuses: sustainability, cost and performance. The raw materials used in terms of sustainability are very important. If we think about finding raw materials with the lowest carbon footprint and designing paints in accordance with their performance, R&D holds great importance here," he said.
Stating that sustainability and life cycles are in the forefront in the European Union, Nuray Cıkcıklı: "Not having environmentally friendly products can cause serious problems for you in the future. Ecolabeled products are entering our lives. They have certain criteria. You are not just making declarations. From titanium and binder ratios to many criteria, you must comply," he stated: "Many companies make water-based products, but for these water-based products to have a low carbon footprint in terms of sustainability is important. Reach regulations valid in Europe, regulations and changes in titanium dioxide and biocide use are at the top of the criteria we consider in paint design. Companies that do not take these processes into account will find it very difficult to grow in terms of exports," he said.
