Teknos, UP Catalyst to Advance Sustainable Carbon Materials for Coatings

Teknos Group Oy and UP Catalyst, an Estonian deep-tech company converting CO₂ emissions into valuable carbon materials, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to advance sustainable carbon materials for paint and coating applications.

The collaboration marks a strategic step towards developing and commercializing sustainable alternatives to fossil-based carbon black for use in powder coatings and wet paints.

Under the agreement, Teknos and UP Catalyst will cooperate in the key areas of material testing and development, production and supply.

This partnership exemplifies a circular economy approach by transforming industrial CO₂ emissions into high-value raw materials that contribute to the sustainability of end products, by reducing dependence on fossil resources. The result is a more sustainable supply chain that aligns with both companies’ climate targets.

“We are excited to join forces with Teknos to bring sustainable carbon materials into mainstream industrial use,” says Rait Maasikas, CFO of UP Catalyst. “This cooperation not only advances our shared environmental goals but also showcases the scalability and versatility of CO₂-based carbon materials.”

The MoU sets the foundation for long-term collaboration, with the potential to scale the use of CO₂-derived black tinting carbon across Teknos’ product lines in Europe and beyond.

“Our collaboration with UP Catalyst, will accelerate the development and scale-up processes to commercial volumes of sustainable raw material alternatives,” says Pasi Virtanen, head of innovation at Teknos Group Oy.

“We constantly search for, and test, new sustainable raw material alternatives. By using sustainable materials, we help both Teknos and our customers reduce emissions”, Pasi concludes.