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Innovation & Technologie Anfrage

Manufacturer of coatings is looking for solutions for optimizing the use of material resources across the full coatings value chain

Country of Origin: Netherlands
Reference Number: TRNL20190128002
Publication Date: 28 January 2019

Summary

In the transition to a circular economy the Dutch multinational is searching for solutions that optimise the use of materials across the value chain of their coatings; like alternative sources for raw material, avoiding waste creation, formulations that increase product life and new business models e.g product as a service. A research or a technical cooperation agreement can be proposed. This Technology Request refers to an innovation challenge published on the website of the company.

Description

The Dutch multinational company is a leading supplier serving

the world’s market for paints and coatings. Trying to “do more with less” is a constant challenge for society considering a population growth of two billion people in the next 30 years. The company makes efforts to do their part in the transition to a circular economy and sees many opportunities for optimizing the use of material resources across the full coatings value chain.  



Traditionally paints and coatings are linear production systems capturing only obvious recycling opportunities. Waste paints – along with the substrates they protect – and packaging are often disposed of in incinerators and landfills. Transitioning to the circular economy could change that. 



Transformation to a circular model is not the same as only promoting the recycling of paints and coatings. Circular economy means finding alternative sources for raw materials, as well as extending the functionality of the materials in paints and coatings after their use. It requires a different mindset to recognize the potential for circular solutions, while overcoming legal and practical hurdles.



When looking at the full value chain for their paints and coatings products, they know there are many opportunities to close the loop of materials. But they need the help of others to:

-	Find new ways to avoid waste creation throughout the value chain

-	Adopt alternative sources (including bio-based) for their raw materials

-	or through new formulations that guarantee the product life extension and new business models e.g product as a service. 

As an example; the company has a successful experience in a cooperation with a company that can harvest carbon black from used car tires, used as a pigment in powder coatings.  



Concepts looked for: 

•	Contribute to the circularity of materials without increasing other environmental impacts (such as climate change, biodiversity, toxicity, etc.)

•	Are innovative solutions that impact one of the following areas:

-	Use of bio-based or secondary raw materials

-	Reduction of paints and coatings waste, or high value repurposing

•	Are cost-effective and help the company offer competitive and more sustainable solutions to their customers

The company is looking for cooperation with partners that can help find solutions with a clear proof of concept for improving the use of material resources across the full coatings value chain. Cooperation with partners such as institutes, universities and companies would be in the frame of a research or a technical cooperation agreement.



IMPORTANT: This Technology Request refers to an innovation challenge published on the internet platform of the company. If an organization expresses interest before closing date, it will be guided towards this open innovation platform. After registration participants can browse free through other submissions and engage in discussions. All submissions will get feedback by the company on this open platform. The challenge closes on March 1th, 2019. Mind that posts on this platform are not confidential.

Beside open discussions on the platform, sharing of confidential information will be made possible on demand. After that, the firm will select the SME's with whom they would like to cooperate in the development of a solution. Once the challenge is closed, EOI's for this technology request will be treated in the traditional way.

Expertise sought

When looking at the full value chain for their paints and coating products, the company knows there are many opportunities to close the loop of materials upstream and downstream at customer end.

They strive to be resourceful, inventive and sustainable in enabling the circular use of materials and their products – and need the help of others.

Together they want to find new ways to avoid creation of waste throughout the value chain; adopt alternative sources for their raw materials; create innovative products which will contribute to the circularity of the substrates coated. Ultimately, their aim is to deliver achieve new, improved or more sustainable functionalities for their paints and coatings.

It’s an innovative solution that impacts one of the following areas:

o	Use of bio-based of recycled or secondary raw materials

o	Avoid creation of paints and coatings waste, or high value repurposing

New businesses models to guarantee product life extension or product ownership e.g product as a service, leasing, etc.

Stage Of Development

Available for demonstration

Stage Of Development Comment

There should at least be a clear proof of concept which is ready to be further developed for this purpose.

Requested partner

Type of partners:

The company is especially looking for global innovators, start-ups, scale-ups, early stage tech companies and institutes that want to grow by jointly developing their products into the companies markets

Type of partner collaboration:

The Dutch multinational wants to work together as equal partners, under shared-IP conditions, this could be in the form of a: 

-	technical cooperation agreement

-	research agreement

-	any other kind of agreement that suits the purpose.