These building blocks not only make products for the construction industry more sustainable, but also provide scratch resistance, flame retardancy or UV resistance. Besides these technological innovations, the partners in this B4 project also share knowledge with students, companies and governments to prepare them for and involve them in this raw materials transition. This will transform Western North Brabant into a hotspot for biobased building blocks for the construction industry.
The B4 project combines the entrepreneurship, knowledge and expertise of small and medium-sized companies (Relement, Impershield, Baril Coatings, Bodewes and Progression-Industry) and larger companies (Westlake Epoxy and Worlée) with the technologies and knowledge of TNO, VITO and Avans University of Applied Sciences. These partners show that biobased aromatics can successfully replace fossil aromatics in at least 6 applications for the construction industry, such as coatings, composites, acrylic and epoxy resins. And that these green alternatives are not only sustainable, but also commercially attractive.
Green Chemistry Campus as epicenter
The Green Chemistry Campus in Bergen op Zoom is the epicenter of this project. It is home to Shared Research Center Biorizon, an initiative of TNO and VITO that is working with partners on the technological development of bio-aromatics.
By the inclusion of all stakeholders a flywheel will be created that will make the transition to a climate-neutral economy a reality. Within the B4 project, the Campus therefore organises many meetings and workshops for a broad audience.
The B4 project has a total budget of €4.4 million and it is co-financed by the European Union under the Just Transition Fund (JTF), the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment and the Province of North Brabant.
See the websites of Biorizon and the Green Chemistry Campus for details.
Image: Fahroni/Shutterstock
