Clariant presents the EcoTain® life cycle for safer and more environmentally-friendly paints

Muttenz, March 19, 2013 - Clariant, a world leader in specialty chemicals, introduces the EcoTain® life cycle and labeling system to clearly identify its products offering "sustainable excellence at every step" to the paints and coatings sector.

The EcoTain life cycle and label developed by Clariant is driven by the commitment to protect human, environmental and ecological health without compromising on performance and efficiency. The EcoTain claim “sustainable excellence at every step” is a promise that every product carrying the EcoTain label delivers advantages and benefits at each of its four life cycle steps: sustainable design; responsible process; safe & efficient use; and eco-integration.

Paints & Coatings additives that carry Clariant’s EcoTain label fulfill a broad range of requirements that safeguard the health of the people who produce them as well as those that use them.

EcoTain products for paints and coatings are developed primarily for water-borne architectural paints and cover every step of the customer value chain. They include emulsifiers for emulsion polymerization (Emulsogen®), dispersing agents and humectants for pigment pastes (Dispersogen® and Polyglykol), and wetting agents (Genapol®) for paint formulations.

Examples of the specific life cycle phase benefits of EcoTain products fulfilling the four-step criteria include:

Sustainable design

Friendly, non-hazardous composition is a primary requirement for EcoTain products and involves the use of safe ingredients and renewable feedstocks wherever possible. The latter ambitious condition is fulfilled by EcoTain products Dispersogen MT200 and Polyglykol 300.

APEOs – alkylphenol ethoxylates have long been an issue in the industry as they are very persistent and do not degrade easily in nature. EcoTain additives are APEO-free.

Responsible process

As part of a responsible process, the focus is on efficient production and EcoTain additives ensure resource efficiency by generating the highest yield possible – often in excess of 85%. Ensuring that little waste is generated during the process contributes to an environmentally neutral load, while safety and quality certification testifies to overall optimized processes. All the sites that produce EcoTain products for paints and coatings have been certified for safety and quality (ISO 9001, ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001) and resource efficiency is exemplary for the Emulsogen emulsifiers as well as for Dispersogen dispersing agents with 100 percent yield.

Safe & efficient use

Safer, easier and more efficient handling is a significant advantage during product formulation and application. This ranges from improved human tox profiles, through low odor characteristics to features such as handling at lower temperatures, improved solubility in water or efficient dispersing at low concentrates. The wetting agent Genapol ED 3060, for example, complies with Blue Angel and Ecoflower criteria, and provides a higher tinting strength while at the same time reducing the amount of defoaming agents in the paint formulation.

Eco-integration

The environmental profile of a product defines how rapidly and easily it degrades as well as the impact it has on the environment. EcoTain additives are biodegradable and contain very low or no VOCs. The majority of EcoTain products for paints and coatings have low levels of VOCs at less than 1 percent, while some, such as Dispersogen ECS and Dispersogen PL 30 contain less than 0.1 percent VOCs. The environmental properties of EcoTain products are kept under continuous scrutiny to enable ongoing improvements.

Sustainable innovation

EcoTain represents Clariant’s approach to sustainability at the product level and is being systematically rolled out throughout the company. Clariant’s Paints & Coatings segment at Business Unit Industrial & Consumer Specialties (ICS) is one of the first to present its six most sustainable products under the EcoTain umbrella. Dispersogen PL 30, the most recent product development, and the other EcoTain products will be showcased at the European Coatings Show from March 19 to 21, in Nuremberg, Germany Booth #7-123 (Hall 7) and at Coatings for Africa from May 21-23, 2013 in Johannesburg, South Africa, Booth #29-31. New sustainable ingredients are also currently in the pipeline and will soon be launched under the EcoTain label.

“In paints and coatings, EcoTain acknowledges the need for beautiful and welcoming surroundings that do not pose health risks,” comments Silvia Ziebold, Global Marketing Manager at Clariant’s Business Unit Industrial & Consumer Specialties. “We are pleased to offer our customers an easy-to-follow labeling system that will help them to clearly identify products that support their development of safer and more environmentally-friendly paints and coatings.”

To find out more about EcoTain, please visit our website at: www.ecotain.clariant.com.

Or visit Clariant at ECS 2013 Booth #7-123 (Hall 7) and Coatings for Africa 2013 Booth #29 – 31.

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