Anodyne announces collaboration with Beckers to develop world-first renewable specialty chemicals

By working to develop renewable Hexahydrophthalic Anhydride (HHPA), Beckers Group and Anodyne aim to lay the foundation for advanced coating solutions with an essential low-carbon feedstock.

HHPA is an essential component in high-performance coating formulations. However, its carbon intensity is a significant contributor to the carbon footprint of Beckers’ high-performance coatings and it is fully derived from petrochemical feedstocks. There are currently no sustainable HHPA alternatives on the market.

Pioneering more sustainable solutions

Anodyne is pioneering a sustainable way to produce HHPA from CO₂ by using engineered enzymes which Anodyne calls Anozymes. This innovative process uses renewable electricity to power Anozymes, replacing carbon-intensive energy and significantly lowering the environmental impact of HHPA production.

Anodyne’s research and development will take place in Vancouver, Canada. Blending compatibility tests will be conducted at Beckers’ FutureLab innovation centre in Liverpool, UK, which is developing the next generation of coil coatings.

“Over the last couple of years, we have worked with partners to identify critical targets and expand our chemical catalogue,” said Manou Davies, Chief Technology Officer at Anodyne. “Our innovative reaction pathway can engineer enzymes capable of converting CO2 into HHPA.”

“We are focusing on HHPA as it is an essential chemical for the coatings industry that currently has no sustainable production route based on renewable carbon,” explained Gavin Bown, Chief Technology Officer at Beckers. “In order to defossilize this essential feedstock, we need new catalysts and processes that unlock new reaction pathways. Whilst HHPA is the highest priority target, we also see opportunities for other paint raw materials using the highly innovative Anodyne Chemistries process. Our collaboration with Anodyne is part of our broader sustainable innovation strategy at Beckers Group, where we are actively working with suppliers and start-ups upstream in our raw materials value chain, with the aim of accelerating the commercialization of innovative new sustainable technologies.”