ECOBIOFOR · Ecopaint bio-based formulations

The EU solvents market totalled 5.0 Million Tons in 2010. The bio-based solvent consumption was only 0.63 Million Tons (12.6%), mainly devoted to cleaning operations, however the consumption of biosolvents is estimated to grow annually 4.8% up to 1.1 million by 2020 (EU Innova-Biochem 2010).The Coatings/Inks/Adhesives Industry represents 58% of the global solvent consumption, since they use solvents as the main constituent in their formulations (50-70wt%), which will be released in fine to the atmosphere.The environmental/economic consequences are clear. EU Directives (IPPC, SE Solvents & Paints Directives) are pushing companies to develop greener solutions but up to now; despite this concern, only the 1.5% of biosolvents is used in paints. So, the Coatings sector emphasizes the need for new & specific biosolvents.ECOBIOFOR project aims to prepare solvents for coatings with 3 characteristics: bio-based (coming from renewable resources), synthesized according to the principles of Green Chemistry and new formulations with lower VOC emissions.Few large companies are devoted to the transformation of biomass into basic chemical products with established industrial uses. But the business model of a great number of chemical & biotechnological SMEs is based on the development of products ready to be used in specific markets.ECOBIOFOR supports this large group of EU SMEs, working in the goal to shift conventional productive processes into new ones based on renewable resources. Moreover, it profits from the impulse of coating SMEs, which are ready to introduce greener products in their own formulations.Succeeding in such a project requires a multidisciplinary & talented consortium. It consists of 11 organizations from 6 EU countries:- 5 SME-AGs 3 biotech & 2 paint associations with 1349 members (1009 SMEs),- 3 OTHERs: 1 Solvent Producer (LARGE) & 2 paint manufactures (SMEs),- 3 RTD performers with previous experience in green chemistry, organic & biotechnological synthesis and in coatings formulations.