INEOS
Polyolefins from bio-based feedstock to be made in Cologne / UPM's "Bio Verno"
Ineos (Rolle / Switzerland; www.ineos.com) has secured a new supply of renewable feedstock to push forward its burgeoning plans to produce a range of plastics with “significantly reduced” greenhouse gas emissions, an idea it floated late last year – see Plasteurope.com of 25.11.2019.The Swiss-based olefins and polyolefins producer has now signed a long-term agreement with Finland’s UPM Biofuels (Helsinki; www.upmbiofuels.com) to use the company’s “UPM Bio Verno” – a renewable naphtha made from a residue of wood pulp processing – in a dedicated facility at its Cologne / Germany site.
 UPM's plant in Lappeenranta / Finland has a capacity of around 130,000 t/y of bio-based fuels (Photo: UPM) |
Among UPM’s materials said to be suitable to make end-products such as food packaging, medical items and pipes, is “Biovyn”, which is claimed to be the world’s first commercially available bio-attributed PVC.
No capacity details were provided for the new production, and Ineos also did not disclose a start date. Rob Ingram, CEO of Ineos Olefins & Polymers Europe North, stressed only that the project would support a more circular approach to its olefins and polymers production, and that the group would produce “drop-in products that have a proven positive environmental impact whilst retaining the same high performance and quality standards expected by customers.”
Ineos said the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB, Geneva / Switzerland; www.rsb.org) has certified each step in the production chain, beginning with conversion of the wood-based residue (crude tall oil) into hydrocarbons and ending with the finished polymer. Commenting on the planned collaboration, Maiju Helin, head of Sustainability and Market Development at UPM Biofuels, called it “a great step forward in the bio-economy,” adding that the future partners’ common commitment to RSB “creates a strong common ground to build on.” The Finnish company said its feedstock originates from sustainably managed forests.
UPM’s second collaboration with a major chemical producer follows a supply deal inked last year with Dow (Midland, Michigan / USA; www.dow.com). Dow plans to manufacture bio-based polyethylene at its plant in Terneuzen / The Netherland – see Plasteurope.com of 02.10.2019. Dow also did not name a planned capacity or start-up date.
No capacity details were provided for the new production, and Ineos also did not disclose a start date. Rob Ingram, CEO of Ineos Olefins & Polymers Europe North, stressed only that the project would support a more circular approach to its olefins and polymers production, and that the group would produce “drop-in products that have a proven positive environmental impact whilst retaining the same high performance and quality standards expected by customers.”
Ineos said the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB, Geneva / Switzerland; www.rsb.org) has certified each step in the production chain, beginning with conversion of the wood-based residue (crude tall oil) into hydrocarbons and ending with the finished polymer. Commenting on the planned collaboration, Maiju Helin, head of Sustainability and Market Development at UPM Biofuels, called it “a great step forward in the bio-economy,” adding that the future partners’ common commitment to RSB “creates a strong common ground to build on.” The Finnish company said its feedstock originates from sustainably managed forests.
UPM’s second collaboration with a major chemical producer follows a supply deal inked last year with Dow (Midland, Michigan / USA; www.dow.com). Dow plans to manufacture bio-based polyethylene at its plant in Terneuzen / The Netherland – see Plasteurope.com of 02.10.2019. Dow also did not name a planned capacity or start-up date.
17.02.2020 Plasteurope.com [244520-0]
Published on 17.02.2020