AkzoNobel and Solvay have signed a three-year agreement whereby AkzoNobel will increase the use of renewable raw materials in its paints and coatings, building on an existing partnership between the two companies. Under the terms of the deal, AkzoNobel will progressively increase the use of Solvay's bio-based epichlorohydrin, or Epicerol, which is already contained in many of the company's resins for its coatings products. The agreement underlines the commitment of both parties to play a key role in sustainable development and expand the use of renewable raw materials. Developed and patented by international chemical group Solvay, Epicerol is the innovative process used to produce bio-based epichlorohydrin from renewable glycerol. Epicerol has a substantially lower carbon footprint compared with most fossil-produced epichlorohydrin. By 2016, AkzoNobel aims to source 20 percent of its total epichlorohydrin demand as bio-based material.