Sustainability and bio-based coatings are on everyone’s lips in the industry. Consumers are demanding sustainable products, and regulations are becoming more and more stringent. However, the market share of bio-based systems is still relatively small. To better understand the status quo, we asked experts, how they see the market for bio-based coatings, where they see growth potential and limiting factors.

More than 160 respondents, 42？% of which are from coatings manufacturers and 38？% from raw material producers, completed our online survey in March 2024, providing a valid overview of the market. Other respondents included consultants and distributors, among others. 40？% of respondents worked in management, another 40？% in R&D, and 7？% in the laboratory.

In addition, we asked renowned experts from industry and academia for their opinions: Dr Markus Lettau, head of R&D at natural paint manufacturer Auro, Eric Brouwer, business development manager coatings and polymers at Cargill, Tom Vanheertum, marketing manager EMEA, Allnex, Berta Vega Sánchez, head of sales automotive and industrial coatings, Covestroand Ayowale Sotade Soyemi, research assistant, coatings research institute, Eastern Michigan University.

Definition of “bio-based”         

It’s interesting to note that a clear definition of bio-based coatings still doesn’t exist (Figure 1a). A large majority of 74？% of participants think that the product must be formulated predominantly with renewable, bio-based raw materials. But 17？% had a much stricter interpretation and chose “Formulated with 100？% renewable, bio-based raw materials”.

A further 9？% had another definition, such as: the product must contain a significant part of renewable, bio-based raw materials or raw materials with a bio-mass balance part, the product must have a significantly lower carbon footprint than existing products, bio-based mass balance, or: bio-based is a too general statement, produces a lot of misunderstanding and shall be categorised and structurised for the purpose of common knowledge. Other respondents stated that bio should be sustainable first. While for some respondents a share of 50？% renewable content would be sufficient, others demanded at least 80？%.

Ayowale Sotade Soyemi stresses that “regulatory frameworks and standards for bio-based coatings need further refinement and harmonisation to encourage widespread adoption”.“We formulate bio-based coatings in such a way that we use real biomass in the products and do not, for example, carry out mass balancing”, emphasises Markus Lettau, “which means that our customers will find truly bio-based products with us.”

Berta Vega Sánchez has a different opinion: “It is worth noting that mass-balanced solutions, with their drop-in nature, present an ideal opportunity for companies to test market demand without the typical financial or time constraints associated with new product development.” She thinks that in the context of the supply chain, the transition to a higher proportion of bio-based materials will drive a sustained increase in demand, ultimately fostering economies of scale – “a catalyst for enhanced supply security and reduced prices”.

Tom Vanheertum holds the view that “in the literal meaning of the word, these coatings should be based on biogenic components regardless of the level. Many coating technologies in the market are intrinsically bio-based and easily reach +50？% levels.” When their customers are asking for bio-based, they are typically looking for material with exceptionally high content for materials that are intrinsically bio-based or have a level of +25？% of bio-content at least, he states.

Market share

More than half of the respondents (53？%) believe that the current market share of bio-based coatings is less than 5？%. 33？% see the share between 5 and 10？%, and only 14？% of participants think it is over 10 or even 20？%.

When asked if the market share of bio-based coatings would increase significantly in the next five years, the vast majority of respondents agreed (74？%), 10？% said no, and 17？% were undecided (Fig. 1c).

“We are convinced that the share of bio-based coatings, encompassing both segregated and mass-balanced solutions, will experience significant growth”, says Berta Vega Sánchez. “This surge will be propelled by the scope 3 targets set by various stakeholders along the value chain. Owners of sustainable brands must take decisive steps towards achieving climate neutrality, and raw materials represent a pivotal lever for reducing the carbon footprint of coatings”. In Europe, the EU Green Deal is catalysing massive regulatory developments towards greater circularity, accelerating the transition to bio-based materials, she adds.

According to Tom Vanheertum, “there is a big driver because of climate change, corporate targets, and increased consumer awareness for this matter. Because of this, it will be easier to justify any type of investment in this area.” He expects that when availability improves, costs come down, and this will propel the industry forward. “Mass balance is another way in which capex can be kept under control, while still being able to provide positive contributions toward the climate and the environment.”