Enerkem Inc., a waste-to-biofuels and chemicals producer, recently announced it has signed an agreement with AkzoNobel, a leading global paints and coatings company and a major producer of specialty chemicals, to develop a project partnership to explore the development of waste-to-chemicals facilities in Europe.

"Enerkem's global expansion follows the launch of our waste-to-biofuels and chemicals full-scale commercial facility in Edmonton, which sent a strong signal that our technology is ready to be deployed around the world," said Vincent Chornet, president and CEO of Enerkem. "We are pleased to work with AkzoNobel to develop new facilities and products in Europe.  With our lower-cost alternative to incineration and landfilling, we help chemical producers offer more sustainable products derived from waste and renewable sources rather than petroleum and we contribute to the transition to a circular economy."

"By making synthesis gas from waste, we will have a sustainable and cost-effective feedstock for the chemical industry which would be fully in line with our Planet Possible approach to sustainable manufacturing," explained Peter Nieuwenhuizen, director of innovation and partnerships at AkzoNobel.

In this new project partnership, Enerkem will license its exclusive breakthrough technology to convert municipal and other waste feedstocks into chemicals. The final business structure and sites are under discussions and will be announced at a later time.