The Lenzing Group, a world-leading provider of specialty fibers for the textile and nonwoven industries, has made significant technical improvements to its Purwakarta site (PT. South Pacific Viscose). Lenzing has invested more than EUR 100 million since 2021 to convert existing production capacity to specialty viscose. With the imminent completion of the investment, Lenzing is in a better position to serve the strongly growing demand for specialty fibers.
Neste, LyondellBasell, Biofibre and Naftex have created a value chain to combine bio-based polymers with natural fiber for the manufacturing of construction elements. The combination of polymers with measurable bio-based content and natural fiber in construction elements creates carbone storage which can help tackle climate change.
SABIC, a global leader in the chemical industry, is now offering bio-based versions of all NORYL™, Flexible NORYL, NORYL GTX™ and NORYL PPX™ resin grades to help customers meet increasingly rigorous sustainability goals. The bio-based versions, formulated with polyphenylene ether (PPE) resin feedstocks certified under International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC) PLUS, provide properties similar to those of fossil-based grades. Customers may select from multiple levels of bio-based content for their chosen NORYL product.
UPM Biochemicals acquired SunCoal Industries GmbH, a German-based company that developed a unique technology portfolio to produce performance products from renewable raw materials. With this acquisition SunCoal Industries’ technology will be integrated into the production of UPM’s BioMotionTM Renewable Functional Fillers (RFF), one of the products to be produced at UPM Biochemical’s first-of-its kind biorefinery in Leuna and strengthen the overall technology portfolio of UPM’s biorefining businesses.
Braskem, the leading global biopolymer producer, and SCG Chemicals, a leading petrochemical company in Thailand and Southeast Asia, have signed a joint venture (JV) agreement to create Braskem Siam Company Limited. Subject to clearance from the relevant anti-trust authorities and final investment decision by the partners, this joint venture aims to produce bio-ethylene from bio-ethanol dehydration and to commercialize I’m greenTM bio-based Polyethylene, using the EtE EverGreenTM technology. The technology results from the partnership agreement between Lummus Technology LLC and Braskem B.V. to develop and license this technology.
Global Bioenergies, a France-headquartered specialist in the conversion of plant-derived resources into chemical compounds used in many cutting-edge fields such as cosmetics and energy, has raised its industrial ambitions and decided to adjust its roadmap to focus as of now on a plant project with greater production capacity than the ViaViridia plant in order to meet the expectations of its industrial, commercial and financial partners.
California-headquartered Origin Materials, the carbon negative materials company with a mission to enable the world’s transition to sustainable materials, has created “all PET” (polyethylene terephthalate) bottle caps, making “100% recycled PET” possible from cap to bottle to improve post-consumer recycling. Origin’s PET caps are more sustainable than common alternatives because they may be produced with any type of PET, from recycled PET to Origin’s 100% bio-based, carbon-negative virgin PET. PET offers better oxygen and CO2 barrier than HDPE and PP, common cap materials.
Braskem concluded a 30% increase in production capacity of its bio-based ethylene plant, located in the Petrochemical Complex of Triunfo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The US$ 87 million investment aims to meet the growing global demand for sustainable products. The plant now operates at an increased capacity, from 200,000 to 260,000 tons/year. Braskem’s bio-based ethylene is made from sustainably sourced, sugarcane-based ethanol which removes CO2 from the atmosphere and stores it in products for daily use.
Florence, Italy, will be the capital of circular bioeconomy from 27 to 29 September. The International Forum on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioeconomy (IFIB) will be held in this beautiful city this year at the Innovation Center of Fondazione CR Firence.
Virgin Atlantic and Rolls-Royce confirmed the successful Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) blend ground test on the Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engine. The test marks a key milestone in the project which will see the world’s first 100% SAF flight travel across the Atlantic from London Heathrow to New York JFK on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, set to take off on 28 November 2023.
IL BIOECONOMISTA 