ESKA and Paques Biomaterials signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the construction of the first full-scale plant for the production of PHA from paper process water. In the coming year, both parties will carry out all the preparations to make an investment decision for the construction of the factory at the Hoogezand production site in the municipality of Midden Groningen in the middle of next year.
“This choice was born out of our commitment to continuously reducing our emissions to the environment. Our factories have been strongly embedded in the local environment for more than a century, and that relation comes with great responsibility. With the new plant, we will purify our process water system, which will significantly improve the living and working environment and at the same time produce a natural alternative to plastic (PHA),” says Bert Bodewes, Manager Corporate Social Responsibility at ESKA. “In everything we do, looking for circular solutions that are really good for society is what we stand for as a B corporation. That is why we have chosen to realize the world’s first industrial water purification system, which both keeps our process water clean and produces PHA. Our process water contains a valuable organic waste stream, which is hardly valorised. It also contributes to a circular paper industry, because PHA can also be used as a biodegradable barrier coating and/or adhesive in our products. If we produce PHA with our own process water and can then use it in our own products, that is of course circularity at its best.”
For Paques Biomaterials, this is a big step in scaling up. “We have been working with ESKA since 2014 and it is great to be able to seal this partnership now with the signing of this MoU,” said René Rozendal, co-founder of Paques Biomaterials. “Together with ESKA, we are now preparing the construction of the first full-scale PHA biomass plant. This step is a global first in the PHA industry, but also in the paper industry. By producing PHA in the process water, you can create value with water purification. Moreover, it is particularly interesting for companies that, like ESKA, want to work on zero liquid discharge solutions.”
About ESKA
ESKA is an internationally operating paper recycling company specialising in the production of solid board for book covers, puzzles, games and luxury packaging. ESKA has been operating for more than 140 years and, as a B-corporation, is committed to sustainability. For example, the company produces with recycled paper for more than 50 years and was one of the first cardboard factories with a closed process water system. www.eska.com
Eska is part of the RDM Group: the European leading packaging board producer.
The Group is committed to the development of cartonboard solutions based on recycled fibers. For us, Sustainability is one of the core value on which our business model is built. www.rdmgroup.com
About Paques Biomaterials
Paques Biomaterials uses natural bacteria and processes to produce biodegradable PHA biopolymers, using organic material present in waste streams as a nutrient. In this way, a natural alternative to plastic is produced from residual flows with a high added value and with a wide range of applications. www.paquesbiomaterials.nl
