First time PET bottles using bio-PX derived from renewable feedstock produced on a commercial scale.
Collaboration between leading global chemical manufacturers and specialist companies has led to the production of construction materials that enable carbon storage. The collaboration comprises four companies. Neste is providing its renewable feedstock for polymer production, made 100% from bio-based materials; the NesteRE is being processed by LyondellBasell into CirculenRenew C14 polypropylene (PP). The PP is then used by Biofibre, which develops and markets thermoplastic bio-compound granulates for a range of industries, to produce natural reinforced plastic granules. In the final step, German producer of innovative beams and profiles containing natural fibre plastic, Naftex, will extrude the granules into posts or fencing for construction.
The partners say that the low carbon footprint products serve as ‘temporary carbon storage during their use phase of several years or even decades.’ A life cycle analysis for Biofibre is said to confirm the amount of carbon removed from the atmosphere by the biomass used to produce the final product, exceeds supply chain emissions from logistics and manufacturing of the reinforced plastic granules.
Managing Director of Biofibre; Jörg Dörrstein said: ‘We have been using natural fibre residues from organic farming for quite a long time. The fibres stem from sources in close proximity to our production site and do not compete with food or feed production.’
In a separate development Neste is collaborating, in Japan, with Suntory, ENEOS, and Mitsubishi Corporation on commercial scale production of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resin made from its renewable NesteRE feed stock. NesteRE can be produced from waste residues such as used cooking oil. ENEOS will use bio-intermediates, based on NesteRE, to manufacture bio-paraxylene (bio-PX) at its refinery in Okayama, Japan, which will then be converted into purified terephthalic acid (PTA), and then into PET resin which Suntory will turn into drinks bottles. Mitsubishi will coordinate the collaboration between the partners.
Mitsubishi Corporation said that, according to its research, this development represents the world’s first production of sustainable PET bottles using bio-PX derived from renewable feedstock on a commercial scale.
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