Sustainably binding the industry together

"We are working continuously to integrate more bio-based materials and recycled content into our product formulations."

What are the main trends that you are noticing in the industry now; what are your customers asking for?

Sustainability is a leading trend for customers within the coatings industry as they look to suppliers that can help them meet their long-term sustainability goals while balancing government regulations. These regulations span a variety of applications, including those in the packaging, construction and adhesives industries.

Going hand in hand with sustainability, customers are also looking for products that improve the efficiency of materials usage. Trinseo is meeting this demand by offering higher-performance latex that uses fewer materials without impacting performance requirements.

Specific to Building & Construction applications, the industry is investigating ways to reduce labour usage as job sites are historically very labour intensive. Efficient and high-performing latex binders can help customers complete a project faster without impacting their applications.

Sustainability is obviously a priority. How does Trinseo try to make its products more sustainable? What do you focus on?

To improve the environmental impact of all of our products, Trinseo aims to develop sustainability advantaged solutions and focuses on a variety of methods to help us reach this goal.

We are working continuously to integrate more bio-based materials and recycled content into our product formulations. Our reformulated solutions can offer lower TVOC and CO₂ emissions compared to their prime equivalents, in addition to featuring reduced and eliminated problematic materials, such as formaldehyde.

Several of our plants have been ISCC certified for mass balance to allow Trinseo to trace the flow of sustainable materials when mixing sustainable and non-sustainable materials in production. This chain of custody model is helping us as accelerate the update of sustainable feedstock into our existing value chains. It also provides Trinseo with the ability to trace sustainable content in our products and validate our sustainability claims.

Additionally, we use life cycle assessments (LCAs) to assess the environmental impact of our products throughout every stage of their life cycle. LCAs serve as quantifiable evidence of our material’s impact and can be entered into industry-wide eco-profiles.

Do you have any specific sustainability goals, or are there any projects you are working on that you can tell us about?

Sustainability is at the core of Trinseo’s business strategy and we regularly invest in product innovations to help improve the impact of our solutions. To guide us in this process, we established 15 sustainability goals that drive our operations, products and partnerships within our value chains. Our goals align under five categories: Climate Change, Responsible Operations, Supplier Responsibilities, Sustainable Product Portfolio, and Sustainable Workforce.

Within the Sustainable Product Portfolio category, we have set a goal to have 30% of our technology and innovation efforts aimed at circular economy solutions. We are also working to make 40% of our products sustainability advantaged – defined as products that have recycled, renewable or degradable content contributing to a circular economy model – by 2030. In an effort to meet global sustainability efforts, we are also aiming to have 50% of our products used in applications that align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and improve our environmental impact worldwide.

These Product Portfolio goals were a driving force behind the development of our CO₂NET™ products. CO₂NET™ solutions are designed to generate at least 50% fewer carbon emissions than their fossil-derived counterparts, as confirmed by life cycle assessment. Latex Binder solutions with the CO₂NET™ designation are used in a variety of applications across several industries, can be manufactured using recycled or renewable sources and can carry an International Sustainability & Carbon Certification.

Beyond increasing the sustainability of our product portfolio, Trinseo is also striving to optimise operations to reduce energy used from fossil-based resources. We have begun to develop a multistep decarbonisation plan across our company. Trinseo’s path to decarbonisation also includes reducing greenhouse gas emission rates, waste and water usage.

Sustainability aside, what are the key performance issues that these binders tackle? 

Designed to improve the performance of liquid applied membranes (LAM), our LIGOS™ C 3013 and C 3343 binders provide impressive water resistance and low water vapour transmission rates to meet demanding performance requirements. LIGOS™ polymers also provide LAMs with excellent film flexibility and durability, allowing for extended performance in wet areas to minimise water penetration into the substrate below. This key performance property reduces the need for repairs. Trinseo’s LIGOS™ M 3000 and M 3010 help provide a strong and flexible membrane for 2k cementitious applications. These binders work to provide seamless waterproofing while also preventing damage from water infiltration. Additionally, the LIGOS™ S family provides an easy-to-use solution with a durable application for classical to high-performance sealants.

Within adhesives applications, our innovative LIGOS™ A 3003 and A 3009 Binders offer excellent adhesion to corrugated cardboard with films and onto paper respectively. These binders improve the performance of flexible or rigid packaging lamination. Trinseo’s LIGOS™ A 3215 solves key performance challenges for pressure-sensitive applications. LIGOS™ A 3215 provides high shear performance and can be formulated to adjust loop tack on high values. Additionally, this polymer can be formulated to compete with other technologies, such as standard all acrylics. Trinseo also produces LIGOS™ A & C binders to meet the needs of demanding construction adhesives, such as flooring and ceramic tile mounting. These binders help provide a long-lasting application.

Which areas of sustainability do you think will be the most prominent over the next 10 or 20 years?

Sustainability will remain a key topic for the foreseeable future, with material diversification and government regulations influencing the coating industry’s efforts. Companies will look to expand access to sustainable feedstocks for their products, moving beyond bio-based and biodegradable formulations to also increasingly incorporate recycled content. Industry players will also continue to invest in recycling technologies to ensure they have access to high-quality recycled feedstocks that can be used alongside bio-based materials.

Government regulations will continue to drive sustainability as companies look to meet these requirements. Guidelines have either been introduced or made into legislation for the Packaging, Building & Construction and Adhesives industries. Regulations, like the European Union’s Green Deal, will likely continue to target waste and emissions. Companies must and will continue to produce products that cut down on waste and are more recyclable while taking a closer look at what chemicals are being used to adapt to guidelines.

We seemed to have just recovered, mainly, from the COVID pandemic when the war in Ukraine happened. What impact has this period of disruption had on Trinseo, and your customers? 

The events of the last few years have played a role in how Trinseo and our customers operate. As material shortages, world events and changing guidelines impacted companies around the world, customers are looking for a partner that has a global perspective but can offer regional support. Trinseo meets this need as we continue to be a company with global reach and local expertise.

Our plants around the world ensure that we can develop products for several key markets and provide customers with the solutions that they need. Our expertise within these areas allows us to offer specific support based on the region in which our customers work.

"We have begun to develop a multistep decarbonisation plan across our company. Trinseo’s path to decarbonisation also includes reducing greenhouse gas emission rates, waste and water usage."

Sustainability aside, what are the key performance issues that these binders tackle? 

Designed to improve the performance of liquid applied membranes (LAM), our LIGOS™ C 3013 and C 3343 binders provide impressive water resistance and low water vapour transmission rates to meet demanding performance requirements. LIGOS™ polymers also provide LAMs with excellent film flexibility and durability, allowing for extended performance in wet areas to minimise water penetration into the substrate below. This key performance property reduces the need for repairs. Trinseo’s LIGOS™ M 3000 and M 3010 help provide a strong and flexible membrane for 2k cementitious applications. These binders work to provide seamless waterproofing while also preventing damage from water infiltration. Additionally, the LIGOS™ S family provides an easy-to-use solution with a durable application for classical to high-performance sealants.

Within adhesives applications, our innovative LIGOS™ A 3003 and A 3009 Binders offer excellent adhesion to corrugated cardboard with films and onto paper respectively. These binders improve the performance of flexible or rigid packaging lamination. Trinseo’s LIGOS™ A 3215 solves key performance challenges for pressure-sensitive applications. LIGOS™ A 3215 provides high shear performance and can be formulated to adjust loop tack on high values. Additionally, this polymer can be formulated to compete with other technologies, such as standard all acrylics. Trinseo also produces LIGOS™ A & C binders to meet the needs of demanding construction adhesives, such as flooring and ceramic tile mounting. These binders help provide a long-lasting application.

Which areas of sustainability do you think will be the most prominent over the next 10 or 20 years?

Sustainability will remain a key topic for the foreseeable future, with material diversification and government regulations influencing the coating industry’s efforts. Companies will look to expand access to sustainable feedstocks for their products, moving beyond bio-based and biodegradable formulations to also increasingly incorporate recycled content. Industry players will also continue to invest in recycling technologies to ensure they have access to high-quality recycled feedstocks that can be used alongside bio-based materials.

Government regulations will continue to drive sustainability as companies look to meet these requirements. Guidelines have either been introduced or made into legislation for the Packaging, Building & Construction and Adhesives industries. Regulations, like the European Union’s Green Deal, will likely continue to target waste and emissions. Companies must and will continue to produce products that cut down on waste and are more recyclable while taking a closer look at what chemicals are being used to adapt to guidelines.

We seemed to have just recovered, mainly, from the COVID pandemic when the war in Ukraine happened. What impact has this period of disruption had on Trinseo, and your customers? 

The events of the last few years have played a role in how Trinseo and our customers operate. As material shortages, world events and changing guidelines impacted companies around the world, customers are looking for a partner that has a global perspective but can offer regional support. Trinseo meets this need as we continue to be a company with global reach and local expertise.

Our plants around the world ensure that we can develop products for several key markets and provide customers with the solutions that they need. Our expertise within these areas allows us to offer specific support based on the region in which our customers work.

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