Beckers Group announced its collaboration with Anodyne Chemistries to develop first-of-its-kind renewable chemicals, particularly Hexahydrophthalic Anhydride (HHPA.)
Anodyne is pioneering a sustainable way to produce HHPA using CO₂ by engineering entirely new enzymes. Their innovative process also uses renewable electricity to power these enzymes, replacing carbon-intensive energy and significantly lowering the environmental impact of HHPA production.
Anodyne’s research and development will take place in Vancouver, Canada. Blending compatibility tests will be conducted at Beckers’ FutureLab Innovation Center in Liverpool, UK.
“We are focusing on HHPA as it is an essential chemical for the coatings industry that currently has no sustainable production route based on renewable carbon,” said Gavin Bown, Chief Technology Officer at Beckers. “In order to defossilize this essential feedstock, we need new catalysts and processes that unlock new reaction pathways. Whilst HHPA is the highest priority target, we also see opportunities for other paint raw materials using the highly innovative Anodyne Chemistries process. Our collaboration with Anodyne is part of our broader sustainable innovation strategy at Beckers Group, where we are actively working with suppliers and start-ups upstream in our raw materials value chain, with the aim of accelerating the commercialization of innovative new sustainable technologies.”