Arkema Joins Carbone 4’s Net Zero Initiative for Sustainability

In line with new market and regulatory expectations, Carbone 4 developed the Net Zero Initiative, a methodology for calculating avoided emissions, in collaboration with the WBCSD (World Business Council for Sustainable Development). The initiative aims to provide companies with the tools they need to transition their operations toward making a fair contribution to global carbon neutrality.

Recognized internationally since 2018, this methodology makes it possible to assess the CO2 avoidance of an innovative solution compared with a standard alternative. The NZI offers a common language and methods for all stakeholders who wish to rigorously, ambitiously, and transparently manage their climate action. Arkema's goal in using this approach is to provide its customers with practical tools to measure and improve their environmental impact.

Kercoat^®
Since 2023, Arkema has applied this methodology to its Kercoat products. These ultra-fine protective coatings are used by bottlers to extend the life of returnable glass bottles. By reinforcing the bottles' resistance to abrasion during washing and transport cycles, Kercoat increases the number of possible reuses.

According to the methodology and Arkema's knowledge of customer bottlers' current practices — particularly the conditions of bottle reuse — as well as standard market assumptions, this solution enables customers to avoid up to 30% of CO2 emissions compared with the reference scenario (returnable bottles without Kercoat). This corresponds to nearly 300,000 tons of CO2 emissions avoided by Arkema's customer bottlers over the lifetime of several hundred million bottles sold, which is estimated to be double the amount in the reference scenario.




Cecabase^® RT Bio 10
In 2025, Arkema renewed its collaboration with Carbone 4 to evaluate the environmental impact of Cecabase RT Bio 10, an innovative road construction solution, compared to market standards.

This 56% bio-sourced solution, based on the NF EN 16785_2 method, significantly reduces the production temperature of asphalt mixes and allows for the incorporation of up to 50% recycled asphalt while maintaining optimal performance.

"Cecabase RT Bio 10 is added in very small quantities (2 ppm) to a mix of 5% bitumen and 95% gravel, reducing the application temperature from 160°C to 120°C," explains Gilles Barreto, Arkema's R&D Director for Surfactants.

By incorporating a higher proportion of recycled asphalt and reducing energy requirements, using Cecabase^® RT Bio 10 can reduce CO2 emissions from asphalt production by up to 30% compared with a reference situation that incorporates 0% recycled asphalt. Arkema developed a digital tool to assess these gains more precisely and calculate the emissions avoided by using Cecabase RT Bio 10. The tool is freely accessible on the Specialty Surfactants website.

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