Project: EPIC (Emulsion Polymers with Improved Circularity)
Stahl is actively engaged in developing emulsion polymers with improved circularity, reinforcing our broader commitment to advancing sustainable and circular polymer technologies across the coatings industry.
Acrylic and polyurethane polymers have traditionally been designed for durable, long‑lasting applications, which has made them highly effective in protecting and enhancing a wide range of surfaces. However, this same durability also creates clear gaps at the end of life, where recycling and degradability remain major challenges. The EPIC project aims to address these gaps by exploring new pathways toward circular, degradable, and bio-based coating materials. This approach aligns with recent EU policies that restrict the intentional use of polymer microparticles and target a 30% reduction in microplastic pollution by 2030.
EPIC is a three‑year TKI‑funded initiative supported by the Dutch government, bringing together industry and academia to accelerate innovation within a designated top sector through co‑financing and collaboration.
By joining the EPIC consortium, Stahl will contribute to the development of innovative emulsion polymers designed for improved circularity. The project will focus on biobased acrylic resins with carefully controlled durability and degradability, ensuring service lifetimes of 5–20 years depending on application, while significantly reducing environmental persistence at end of life. This approach not only aligns with Stahl’s responsible coatings strategy but also strengthens our position in key markets where customers increasingly demand renewable and biodegradable materials.
As part of the consortium, Stahl’s main in-kind contributions will lie in Work Package 3 (Polymerization to non-persistent acrylics) and Work Package 4 (Application performance testing).
In Work Package 3, Stahl will co‑develop high‑molecular‑weight polyacrylates through emulsion polymerisation in collaboration with Wageningen Food & Biobased Research (WFBR), a research institute of Wageningen University & Research in the Netherlands. The work will focus on scaling up promising formulations to kilogram scale and ensuring that the materials are suitable for downstream performance testing.
In Work Package 4, Stahl will assess these new polymers in leather finishing, performance coatings and packaging coatings. Testing will include key performance indicators such as gloss, colour, haptic attributes and durability. These contributions require dedicated R&D expertise, as Stahl’s deep knowledge of emulsion chemistry, analytical characterization, and application testing is critical for bridging laboratory-scale polymer design with real-world performance.
“EPIC gives us a unique opportunity to rethink polymer design from the ground up. By combining bio‑based raw materials with smart molecular engineering, we can create emulsion polymers that deliver the performance our customers rely on while dramatically improving their circularity. This project allows us to bridge fundamental research and real‑world applications, exactly the kind of innovation needed to make sustainable coatings the industry standard.”
— Frank Brouwer, Renewable Chemistry Specialist R&D, Stahl
Are you looking for more information?
Please get in touch with us.