Finnish company Stora Enso Oyj announced the launch of a new bioplastics pilot plant in the Flanders region in Belgium The goal is to enable a new bioplastics production technology, ready for implementation at industrial scale.
The use of bio-based materials in packaging solutions is only beginning, with an incredible growth potential. In December 2019, as a response to this demand, Stora Enso announced an investment of EUR 9 million to build a pilot facility enabling the production of bioplastics. The objective is to test FuraCore, Stora Enso’s breakthrough technology to produce furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), a crucial component of bioplastic PEF (PolyEthylene Furanoate).
Progress has advanced quickly since the initial investment announcement. Construction of the plant has been completed, and the commissioning is well underway. Initial production is set to start by the end of this year, and, after that, things will move towards regular production of FDCA, and PEF with partners.
According to VP Emerging Business, Dirk den Ouden, “The next step is to ensure everything runs in a stable way and to collect data for the next scale-up. Once samples are available in large enough quantities, Stora Enso will work with partners and potential customers on validating the FuraCore® products in a range of applications.
“We’ll soon have our pilot fully up and running, producing material for testing. The proof point of years of breakthrough R&D is now around the corner.”
The objective of this piloting effort is to validate the chemical process and provide sample material to gain further insight into market needs and product demands. The facility will begin employing industrially available fructose to produce high-value chemicals and materials for application testing. The intention is to later run the process on sugars extracted from wood and other non-food-based biomass.
The Flanders region has become a focal point for the bio-based economy, making it an ideal region to industrialize the FuraCore process. The central location of the pilot facility at the Langerbrugge recycled paper mill near Ghent brings access to skilled people and critical service providers in the region.
