Arkema, a leader in specialty materials, has launched ENCOR® bio-based waterborne dispersions, designed for textile printing and finishing applications. These innovative binders contain up to 30% bio-based content and can reduce carbon footprints by up to 40% compared to traditional textile resins, marking a significant step toward sustainability in the textile industry.

The textile sector is responsible for 6-8% of global emissions, and with growing demand for textiles, the need to reduce its environmental impact has never been more pressing. Bio-based solutions, like Arkema's ENCOR® binders, are crucial for lowering the carbon footprint of textile products, helping manufacturers meet sustainability and carbon reduction goals.

Elene Pernot, Global Sustainability Marketing Director at Arkema’s Coating Solutions, emphasizes, “As the textile value chain accounts for a significant portion of global emissions, it’s essential to transform and lower the carbon footprint of the industry. Bio-based solutions represent the future of sustainable textiles, enabling our customers to reduce their environmental impact.”

Arkema’s comprehensive approach covers the entire lifecycle of textile products, ensuring safety and sustainability. The company offers formulations free from harmful chemicals like formaldehyde and APEO, compliant with Oeko-Tex® Eco Passport standards and suitable for food contact applications. The focus extends beyond production, with Arkema working to improve biodegradability, durability, color fastness, and washing resistance of future textile grades.

Patricia Beurdeley, Global Market Manager for Nonwovens & Textiles at Arkema, adds, “We are committed to enhancing the biodegradability of our future products and improving their performance. Our goal is to not only reduce carbon footprints but also extend the lifecycle of textiles, making them more sustainable at every stage.”

Through these innovations, Arkema is supporting the textile industry’s transition to more sustainable practices, helping customers produce textiles that are not only high-performing but also environmentally responsible.

Leveraging its expertise in materials science, Arkema provides a portfolio of advanced technologies to meet the growing demand for sustainable and innovative materials. With the goal of becoming a pure player in Specialty Materials by 2024, the Group is organized into three complementary, resilient, and highly innovative segments: Adhesive Solutions, Advanced Materials, and Coating Solutions. These segments represented approximately 92% of the Group's sales in 2023, alongside a competitive and strategically positioned Intermediates segment. Arkema delivers cutting-edge solutions to tackle key global challenges, including new energy sources, water access, recycling, urbanization, and mobility, while maintaining continuous collaboration with its stakeholders. In 2023, Arkema reported sales of around €9.5 billion and operates in 55 countries with a workforce of 21,100 employees worldwide.