The bio-based coatings market is evolving rapidly, but challenges such as performance expectations, pricing, and misconceptions about raw materials still exist. Karin van der Helm, Lead Applications Scientist at Cargill Bioindustrial, provides insights into current market trends, regulatory impacts, and innovation strategies. She also highlights why public education and transparent communication are key to long-term success in the industry.

生物基涂料市场正在迅速发展,但诸如性能期望,定价和对原材料的误解等挑战仍然存在.Karin van der Helm是 Cargill Bioindustrial (嘉吉生物工业公司)的首席应用科学家,她提供了对当前市场趋势、监管影响和创新战略的见解.她还强调了为什么公众教育和保持沟通和透明性是行业长期成功的关键.

Karin van der Helm: The market for bio-based coatings varies significantly across different regions. Europe is currently leading the way in the bio-based industry, benefiting from a combination of regulatory support, consumer awareness, and a strong commitment to sustainability. With the growth of the electronics market, including electric vehicles, interest in bio-based coatings for high-performance applications is increasing. In the United States, this interest is driven by advanced technological capabilities. At Cargill, with our global presence in the coatings market, we closely monitor the needs of customers in different regions. That’s why we are developing a complete range of 100% bio-based dimer-based polyester polyols to meet market demands.

Karin: 生物基涂料方面,不同地区的市场差异很大. 欧洲目前在生物基产业中处于领先地位,这得益于监管支持、消费者意识和对可持续发展的坚定承诺.

而随着包括电动汽车在内的电子市场的增长,人们对高性能应用的生物基涂料的兴趣正在增加.在美国,这种兴趣是由先进的技术能力驱动的.嘉吉作为全球涂料市场的成员,密切关注不同地区客户的需求.目前正在开发全系列的100%生物基二聚体聚酯多元醇,以满足市场需求.

Van der Helm: Performance is always the top priority when developing new coatings, including those using bio-based or recycled ingredients. However, price can be a significant barrier. The mineral oil industry has had decades to optimize and scale up its processes, making it difficult for new bio-based raw material producers to compete. This creates a chicken-and-egg situation where companies may cease production before gaining a foothold in the market. The availability of bio-based raw materials can also be an obstacle, especially when companies require a second supplier for security. Another challenge is the misconception that bio-based raw materials for coatings compete with food resources. This perception can negatively influence public opinion. That’s why public education and transparent communication about the sources and benefits of bio-based materials are essential to overcoming this barrier.

Karin:在开发新涂料时,性能始终是最重要的,生物基或回收成分的涂料在性能方面受否有足够优势,是个问题;此外,价格可能是一个重大障碍.矿物油行业已经有几十年的时间来优化和扩大其工艺,这使得新的生物基原材料生产商很难与之竞争.企业可能在市场站稳脚跟之前就得停止生产,这就造成先有鸡还是先有蛋的局面;第三,生物基原材料的可用性也可能是一个障碍,毕竟公司往往出于安全考虑,得有备份供应商,市场增加了难度.另一个挑战是误解,毕竟有些生物基涂料原料,原本是食品资源.将食物资源用于化工原料,往往会对公众舆论产生负面影响,因此对生物基材料的来源/益处的公共教育和透明沟通,对于克服这一障碍至关重要.

Van der Helm: After the pandemic, both consumers and companies have become more aware of the importance of safer and healthier products. Various initiatives, such as industry agreements and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, are encouraging companies to enhance their ESG strategies. However, regulations play a crucial role in accelerating the growth of the bio-based products industry. Key regulatory frameworks shaping this journey include REACH (EU), TSCA (USA), EPA (USA), China’s Air Pollution Control Law, and the Bureau of Indian Standards. At the same time, research and development are essential to unlocking the unique properties of bio-based coatings, enabling them to justify a higher price through enhanced performance. Innovations in bio-based coatings can lead to products with superior characteristics, including better durability and resistance.

Karin：疫情过后,消费者和企业都更加意识到更安全、更健康产品的重要性.各机构协会,也都出台了各种举措,如<欧洲行业协议>和<联合国可持续发展目标>等,鼓励企业加强其ESG战略.其次,各国出台的各种法规, 如REACH（欧盟）、TSCA（美国）、EPA（美国）、中国的《空气污染控制法》和印度标准局等,在加速生物基产品行业的发展方面发挥着至关重要的作用.此外,对生物基涂料的研发创新(R&D,Innovation)至关重要,研发释放生物基涂料的独特性能,增强其性能,让其具备更好的耐久性和耐受性,让他们更物有所值。

Van der Helm: There are significant opportunities in high-performance markets that can tolerate higher prices. This includes coatings that are:

·         Chemical-resistant

·         Hard yet impact-resistant

·         UV-resistant

·         Capable of withstanding extreme temperatures

Beyond this, we must explore how bio-based products can be combined with other sustainable solutions to enhance their benefits. That’s why one of our innovation projects focuses on combining recycled raw materials with bio-based ingredients to create a novel polyester polyol for use in CASE applications (coatings, adhesives, sealants, and elastomers).

Van der Helm：以下有高性能需求的市场,可以承受更高的价格：

•耐化学系

•坚硬且耐冲击

•防紫外线

•能够承受极端温度

除此之外,我们也必须探索,如何将生物基产品与其他可持续解决方案相结合,以提高其效益.因此,我方专注于将回收原料与生物基成分相结合,以创造一种用于CASE应用（涂料、粘合剂、密封剂和弹性体）的新型聚酯多元醇。

Van der Helm: It’s important to be cautious about greenwashing. Companies must balance emotions and data when communicating with end users and be transparent about their goals and claims. Greenwashing can undermine consumer trust and damage the credibility of genuinely sustainable products. Transparency and honesty are crucial for building and maintaining trust in the industry. Progress in the bio-based coatings market often comes in small steps, but these incremental advancements are essential for long-term success. By focusing on continuous improvement and transparent communication, the industry can build a more sustainable future.

Karin：在环保方面,有个词语“漂绿”（Greenwashing,组织以某些行为宣示自身对环保的付出,实际上却反其道而行）.建议行业参与者对“漂绿”持谨慎态度.“漂绿”会破坏消费者的信任,损害真正可持续产品的可信度,而透明和诚实是建立和维持行业信任的关键.故而在与终端用户沟通时,公司必须平衡情感和数据,对目标和要求开诚布公.生物基涂料市场的进步往往是跬步进行的,但这些渐进式的进步对于长期的成功至关重要.专注于持续改进和透明的沟通,该行业可以建立一个更可持续的未来.

备注:
本文章原文来自欧洲涂料网站:

https://www.european-coatings.com/news/interview-progress-in-the-bio-based-coatings-market-often-comes-in-small-steps/

最初发布时间:17.03.2025

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