Evonik Enhances Sustainable Manufacturing by Using Green Electricity for Specialized Acrylates

Evonik's Coating & Adhesive Resins Business Line has significantly reduced carbon emissions by using electricity from renewable sources to power DEGACRYL specialized acrylate manufacturing in Darmstadt. This effort, which has been in place since the beginning of the year, saves around 1,400 metric tons of CO2 per year.

The shift to renewable energy aligns with the business line's commitment to sustainability. "In addition to a strong focus on products that provide our customers with more sustainable solutions through the handprint, this also includes reducing the carbon footprint of DEGACRYL," says Dr. Claudia Meister, Head of Specialty Acrylics.

With lower CO2 emissions, the business line is helping to achieve its own sustainability goals and at the same time meet market requirements: "Our customers are increasingly asking for sustainably manufactured products. We can now support our customers even better in this area and reduce our Scope 1/2 emissions at the same time," says Meister.

Green power certificates and Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) assure the supply of electricity generated by renewable energy sources.

The use of green power into the manufacturing process is another step toward more sustainable manufacture of specialized acrylates. For many years, the steam required for manufacturing has been obtained from a nearby waste-to-energy facility, which uses waste heat to produce more value.

DEGACRYL specialized acrylates, manufactured in Darmstadt, are utilized in a variety of applications. In the packaging sector, they are critical for heat-sealing lacquers used in dairy product packaging, among other things, enabling the development of eco-friendly packaging options. Furthermore, these acrylates play an important role in the medical industry as a raw ingredient in dental prosthesis, bone cement, and adhesive applications.

Source: Evonik