In the Netherlands, AkzoNobel has announced the 20 finalists for its Imagine Chemistry Initiative, which aims to identify sustainability solutions to the company’s chemistry challenges.
“We’ve received so many great ideas from all across the globe for novel chemistries and business concepts, ranging from new sources of bio-based products to potential breakthrough ideas for the circular economy,” says Peter Nieuwenhuizen, global research and development director for AkzoNobel Specialty Chemicals. Ideas were submitted from “across the globe” and ranged from biobased products to circular economy solutions. “It has been a challenge making a selection but we believe these final 20 all hold great potential to address customer needs and contribute to a safer, more sustainable world. This shows that there is tremendous innovation potential, even in seemingly mature chemistries.”
In cellulose-based alternatives to synthetics, finalists were Lindy Hensen of Peel Pioneers (Netherlands); Gertjan de Jong of MISCQ (Netherlands); Andrew Mwangi of Aquabax Enterprises (Kenya); and Charles Sanderson of Renmatix (United States). In biobased and biodegradable surfactants and thickeners, the finalists were Dan Derr, Logos Technologies (United States); Jeremy Minty of Ecovia Renewables Inc. (United States); and Ben Dolman of The University of Manchester (United Kingdom). In biobased sources of ethylene and ethylene oxides, the finalists were Derek Greenfield of Industrial Microbes (United States) and William Mackintosh of RISE (Sweden)
The finalists will now work with company R&D and business development experts at AkzoNobel’s Deventer, Netherlands facility to further develop the concepts. The Imagine Chemistry challenge was organized by AkzoNobel in partnership with KPMG.