Clariant chooses renewable raw materials for high-performance pigments

Clariant has announced it is incorporating renewable raw materials into Quinacridone pigments produced at its Frankfurt-Hoechst facility in Germany. The achievement makes Clariant the first pigment producer to offer high performance pigments that are based on bio-succinic acid solutions.
In 2014, a significant share of Quinacridone pigment production at the plant will use bio-succinic acid supplied by Myriant, a recognised leader in the development of renewable chemicals. Made from renewable raw materials, Myriant’s bio-succinic acid is a reliable substitute for fossil-based succinic acid. It can directly substitute fossil-based succinic acid, reducing the environmental footprint of the end products being manufactured without any impact on the production process or pigment quality.
Clariant’s decision is in keeping with its global sustainability efforts to use more renewable raw materials, and follows intensive R&D by Clariant and Myriant. Importantly, it will enable customers serving a wide range of industries to improve the sustainable profile of their products. Clariant’s Quinacridone pigments cover all application areas for the pigments industry. The broad portfolio includes high-performance pigments to meet the exacting demands of the automotive, architectural and plastics industries as well as colorants used in printing applications tailored to individual needs.
"Optimising our own pigment production processes to incorporate renewable raw materials is part of our strategy to help address global challenges and megatrends. We are very excited about what this achievement means both in terms of improving the ecological footprint of our products and in helping our customers to be more sustainable,” commented Marco Cenisio, Senior Vice President and Head of Clariant’s Business Unit Pigments.