As sustainable solutions continue to emerge throughout the coatings industry, BioPowder, a Malta-based company, is working to develop environmentally friendly surface finishes using upcycled materials.
Images courtesy of BioPowder
The company has been creating particles and powders from olive stones, a byproduct of the olive oil industry, to provide an alternative to traditional mineral-based coating additives.
Kathrin Schilling, BioPowder’s founder and director, says the shift toward biobased materials is gaining momentum, especially in the decorative coatings market. While some technical coatings still face challenges in this transition, decorative applications have found new opportunities in plant-based products. Schilling notes that the company’s work with olive stones offers coatings manufacturers a chance to create products that are not only more sustainable but also competitive in terms of performance and cost.
The company says the use of upcycled olive stones, BioPowder’s flagship product, offers benefits in both functionality and environmental impact. Olive stones come from a carbon-neutral ecosystem, where the carbon emissions from food production and byproducts are offset by the olive trees’ carbon absorption. The particles are lightweight, durable, and compatible with a variety of resin systems, including biobased epoxy, polyurethane, and acrylic formulations. These properties make them suitable for improving abrasion resistance, durability, and curing times in coatings.
BioPowder has also expanded its offerings to include biobased color particles, allowing coatings manufacturers to customize the appearance of their products. 
The company says it works closely with manufacturers to adjust particle properties, such as viscosity and texture, for specific applications.
In a recent collaboration, BioPowder partnered with Austrian company F/LIST, known for its luxury coatings used in private jets and residential projects. F/LIST’s R&D division, F/LAB, developed a biobased laminate called F/LAB Aenigma Eco, which incorporates upcycled olive stones alongside other sustainable materials such as plant-based pigments and mother-of-pearl. The laminate is designed for high-end decorative applications, including wall coverings and furniture.
Schilling says the project demonstrates the potential for biobased innovation in the coatings industry, combining traditional craftsmanship with cutting-edge material science. “Our mission is to help companies transition to biobased product lines,” Schilling says. “We aim to solve the challenges that come with reducing environmental impact, and our Application Lab helps accelerate the design and development of new eco-friendly coatings.”
To learn more about BioPowder and its work with biobased ingredients, visit bio-powder.com.