Evonik uses green electricity to advance sustainable production of specialty acrylates

Evonik’s Coatings and Adhesive Resins business line uses electricity from renewable sources to power the production of DEGACRYL® specialty acrylates in Darmstadt, thereby significantly reducing carbon emissions. The initiative, which took effect at the beginning of this year, will reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 1,400 tons per year.

The shift to renewable energy is in line with the business line’s commitment to sustainability. “In addition to focusing on products that provide customers with more sustainable solutions through handprint, this also includes reducing the carbon footprint of DEGACRYL®,” said Dr. Claudia Meister, Director of Specialty Acrylics.

“With lower CO2 emissions, this business line is helping to achieve its own sustainability goals while also meeting market requirements: Our customers are increasingly demanding sustainably manufactured products. We can now provide better support to our customers in this area and reduce our Scope 1/2 emissions at the same time,"Meister said.

Electricity supply from renewable sources is guaranteed through green power certificates and special supply contracts called power purchase agreements (PPAs).

Integrating green electricity into the production process is another component of more sustainable production of specialty acrylates. For many years, the steam required for production has come from local waste-to-energy plants, using waste heat to generate added value.

DEGACRYL® specialty acrylates produced in Darmstadt are used in a wide range of applications. In the packaging industry, they are essential for heat sealing varnishes used in dairy packaging, etc., facilitating the creation of environmentally friendly packaging solutions. In addition, these acrylates play a vital role in the medical field as raw materials for denture and bone cement and adhesive applications.