Mass Balance Ingredients Deliver Sustainability Without Sacrificing Performance

In a move that reaffirms its commitment to climate action and product innovation, AkzoNobel has announced a strategic partnership with BASF to incorporate low-carbon, biomass balanced (BMB) ingredients into its decorative paints production across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). The collaboration will play a key role in reducing Scope 3 emissions—those generated across a company’s value chain—and contribute to AkzoNobel’s vision of mainstreaming lower carbon footprint products without compromising on quality or performance.

This partnership marks a significant milestone in the coatings industry, highlighting how joint efforts between manufacturers and material suppliers can accelerate progress toward net-zero targets and responsible product development.

A New Chapter for Low-Carbon Paints

The initiative centers on AkzoNobel’s integration of BASF’s biomass balanced (BMB) raw materials, specifically its acrylic binder, which is a key ingredient in decorative paints. These BMB materials are produced using renewable feedstocks—such as bionaphtha and biomethane—that replace traditional fossil-based sources via a mass balance approach certified by a third-party organization.

The result? A minimum 5% reduction in carbon footprint per paint formula when compared to versions made entirely from fossil-based raw materials—without altering the paint’s performance, application process, or final quality.

“Integrating BASF’s BMB ingredients into our higher volume consumer products will help us achieve a significant overall impact in terms of carbon footprint reduction,” said Wijnand Bruinsma, Director of Sustainability at AkzoNobel. “Our partnership means the carbon footprint of any paint we produce using the BMB approach will be cut by at least 5% to begin with.”

What is the Biomass Balance Approach?

The mass balance concept enables the mixing of renewable and conventional feedstocks during production. However, the renewable portion is mathematically allocated to specific products based on certified accounting methods, ensuring a traceable and transparent supply chain.

This approach allows AkzoNobel to retain its current formulations and manufacturing processes while delivering paints with measurable carbon reductions, making the adoption of eco-innovative practices both scalable and efficient.

“We’re proud to support AkzoNobel accelerate its sustainability agenda,” said Dr. Jörg Niebergall, Senior Vice President, Dispersions Europe, BASF. “Through our broad portfolio of sustainable and low carbon products, we’re enabling the company to offer its customers products with a lower carbon footprint. We also provide data, tools and expertise, empowering AkzoNobel to make informed decisions.”

A Scalable Strategy for Sustainability

What makes this initiative particularly impactful is its scalability. AkzoNobel plans to introduce the new BMB-based paint formulas across its high-volume consumer lines, with the first major release being the upgraded Dulux Easycare range in the UK, launching in Q2 of this year.

At the company’s Ashington manufacturing site, employees are already monitoring production using the new certified mass balance ingredients, marking a pivotal shift toward more sustainable mainstream paint solutions.

This is the first time AkzoNobel has used mass balanced raw materials for acrylic binders, a change that will eventually roll out across multiple markets and product lines.

Addressing Scope 3 Emissions Through Collaboration

While many companies have made strides in reducing Scope 1 and 2 emissions (those from direct operations and purchased energy), Scope 3 emissions—often from raw material production, supply chains, and product use—remain harder to manage. AkzoNobel’s partnership with BASF directly addresses this challenge.

“We can’t drive the reduction of Scope 3 carbon emissions by ourselves, that’s why collaboration is so important,” added Bruinsma. “Partnerships like this play a key role in making change happen quicker and teaming up with BASF will help us create a scalable approach to more sustainable solutions.”

By working closely with a trusted supplier like BASF, AkzoNobel is not only reducing the embedded emissions in its paints, but also enhancing its product-level sustainability transparency—a feature that’s increasingly important to environmentally conscious consumers, regulators, and corporate buyers.

Certification and Credibility

Both companies are committed to upholding independently verified sustainability standards. BASF’s mass balance approach is certified by third parties, ensuring transparency in the allocation of renewable feedstocks.

Meanwhile, AkzoNobel is actively working toward RedCert2 certification across all relevant production sites in Europe. This recognized standard verifies the sustainable sourcing and traceability of raw materials in the chemical industry—further reinforcing the credibility and integrity of the carbon footprint reductions being claimed.

The Business Case for Greener Paints

Sustainability is no longer just a corporate responsibility initiative—it’s a strategic business driver. Consumers and businesses alike are seeking environmentally responsible products, and governments across EMEA are tightening regulations on carbon disclosures and product labeling.

By introducing BMB-based products that maintain existing performance standards, AkzoNobel ensures that its green innovations are market-ready, economically viable, and aligned with evolving customer expectations.

At the same time, BASF’s role as a knowledge partner—offering data, life-cycle analysis tools, and sustainable product innovation—enables AkzoNobel to make data-informed decisions across its supply chain.

Toward a Net-Zero Future

This collaboration between AkzoNobel and BASF represents a new standard for climate-smart manufacturing in the coatings industry. It shows that meaningful carbon footprint reductions are possible without disrupting existing processes or compromising on quality—an essential factor for industry-wide adoption.

From raw materials to retail shelves, the focus on low-carbon products is becoming integral to the value proposition of global brands. AkzoNobel’s initiative proves that strategic partnerships and technological innovation can drive significant climate impact, even in complex industrial sectors.

A Colorful Path to Carbon Reduction

As AkzoNobel prepares to launch its new Dulux Easycare range featuring mass balance acrylic binders, the company sends a strong message: sustainable innovation is not just the future—it’s happening now.

By teaming up with BASF, AkzoNobel has taken a powerful step toward decarbonizing its product portfolio, offering a blueprint for how chemical-intensive industries can pursue climate leadership through collaboration.

In a world where carbon reduction is no longer optional, but essential, this partnership demonstrates how chemistry and conscience can come together—one tin of paint at a time.

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