AkzoNobel is investing in a new plant production centre at Vilafranca del Penedès in Spain to manufacture bisphenol-free coatings for the metal packaging industry in EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa).

The new facility, which is expected to be operational by mid-2025, will create around 40 new jobs and has been designed in line with the best possible eco-efficiency standards.

Jim Kavanagh, director of the company’s Industrial Coatings business, says the new facility will help the company respond to a strong need from the packaging industry. “The Vilafranca plant will allow us to offer leading-edge products to any customer and country in EMEA, responding to the most stringent bisphenol regulations in force in Europe. The investment is in line with our view that bisphenols of any kind are no longer required to create safe coatings.”

The announcement follows the recent launch of next-generation coatings technology including the first two products in its new Accelstyle range. This further illustrates the company’s commitment to giving customers the tangible support they need to transition to a new future: “Both new products – Accelstyle 100 and 200 – can be seamlessly introduced into existing production processes, allowing can makers to transition to coatings that are free from materials of concern, while remaining as commercially viable as possible,” Jim continues.

“The new technology we’ve developed can also reduce carbon footprint by around 30% compared with current epoxy alternatives, highlighting the fact that bisphenol-free metal packaging isn’t just circular, it also meets consumer expectations for sustainable packaging.”

The new Accelstyle products are designed for the exterior of conventional two-piece aluminium beer and beverage cans and are free from bisphenol, styrene and PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). They follow on from the May 2023 launch of Accelshield 700 – the first BPA-NI* (Bisphenol A non-intent) internal coating for beverage can ends – which complies with US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and EU regulations.

AkzoNobel’s approach to the bisphenol transition of metal cans prioritises consumer safety and sustainability with responsible material substitutions, while taking care to limit disruption to the value chain. The company is continuing to work closely with customers to help accelerate the adoption of bisphenol alternatives.

Learn more by visiting the AkzoNobel Packaging Coatings website, where you can also download our white paper on the transition to a bisphenol-free world.