Henkel Corporation, a global leader in adhesives, sealants, and functional coatings, has teamed up with Celanese Corporation, a prominent chemical and specialty materials company, to boost circularity in emulsion production.
The partnership aims to utilize carbon capture-based materials, contributing to a more sustainable production process.
Celanese’s Carbon Capture Technology
Earlier this year, Celanese launched a carbon capture and utilization (CCU) project at its Clear Lake, Texas site. This initiative is part of its Fairway Methanol joint venture with Mitsui & Co., Ltd.
The CCU technology captures industrial CO2 emissions and, through a process involving hydrogen, converts them into methanol. This methanol makes up 35% of vinyl acetate monomer, a key component in producing polymers for adhesives.
Water-Based Adhesives from CO2 Emissions
As a result of this collaboration, Henkel will begin producing water-based adhesives using captured CO2 emissions.
This innovative approach opens up new possibilities for customers in the packaging and consumer goods sectors.
By incorporating CO2 emissions into the production loop, Henkel enables customers to increase the renewable content in their products, aligning with the growing demand for sustainability.
Sustainability in Various Industries
These CCU-based adhesives are set to play a critical role in driving sustainability across multiple industries.
The paper and board, envelopes and graphic arts, E-commerce, labelling, and tissue and towel sectors are expected to benefit the most from this partnership. With an increasing focus on reducing environmental impact, these adhesives offer a more sustainable alternative for a variety of applications.
Commitment to Sustainable Packaging
Pernille Lind Olsen, Global Head of the Packaging and Consumer Goods Adhesives division at Henkel, said, “Our purpose is to pioneer packaging solutions that benefit both people and the planet,” she stated. “This partnership takes a holistic approach to sustainability, offering cost-effective technologies that help our customers improve their environmental impact”.
Circular Economy
Celanese is equally enthusiastic about the partnership, with Kevin Norfleet, Global Sustainability Leader at Celanese, highlighting the significance of their collaboration.
“We are excited to partner with Henkel to demonstrate how Celanese ECO-CC products can advance the transition to a circular economy,” said Norfleet. “Our CCU platform provides a scalable solution to infuse sustainability into the adhesives market, and we’re continuing to develop solutions for a wide range of applications.”
Moving Toward a Sustainable Future
Henkel and Celanese are investing in innovative technologies like CCU to meet the demand for more renewable content in packaging. This approach also makes sustainability more achievable for consumer goods manufacturers.
As per the press release, together, they are paving the way for a more circular and environmentally friendly future.
