Arkema Unveils 100% Renewable PVDF Grades for Lithium‑Ion Batteries

Arkema has introduced a new line of 100% renewable polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) grades specifically engineered for lithium‑ion battery binders. These Kynar CTO PVDF grades are sourced from crude tall oil—a bio‑derived residue of the Kraft pulp process—making them fully carbon‑neutral under a mass‑balance calculation validated by the ISCC+ certification framework.

The breakthrough technology cuts the climate‑change impact of Kynar PVDF binders by almost 20 % (kg eq. CO₂ / kg) per ISO 14040 standards, while simultaneously reducing reliance on upstream petroleum feedstocks. Importantly, the raw material is a non‑food crop by‑product, ensuring no competition with food supply chains and zero contribution to deforestation.

Production will commence at Arkema’s Pierre‑Bénite plant in France, serving the European market first. In a subsequent phase, the renewable grades will be manufactured at all Arkema PVDF sites worldwide, expanding availability to the broader PVDF market. Arkema also plans a U.S. project that will convert agro‑chemical fluorine by‑products into PVDF, eliminating the need for dedicated fluorspar mining.

Anthony Bonnet, Arkema’s Global R&D Director for Fluoropolymers, noted, “Arkema has long been a pioneer in advanced bio‑circular polymers. With these 100% renewable PVDF grades, we’re taking a decisive step toward fully bio‑sourced fluoropolymers, meeting the growing demand for sustainable battery materials.”

The new Kynar CTO grades will serve as functionally equivalent alternatives to Arkema’s flagship binders, Kynar HSV900 and Kynar HSV1810, and are expected to reach the market by mid‑2022.