Total Corbion PLA enters engineering stage for new PLA plant in Grandpuits, France

Total Corbion PLA, a 50/50 joint venture between Total and Corbion, confirmed that it has kicked off the front-end engineering design stage for its new 100,000 tons per annum Poly Lactic Acid (PLA) plant in Grandpuits, France. The plant, due to be operational in 2024, will be the first of its kind in Europe. Total Corbion PLA awarded the front-end engineering design contract to NextChem, a subsidiary of Maire Tecnimont S.p.A. Maire Tecnimont’s heritage in polymerization of traditional plastics combined with NextChem’s portfolio of innovative solutions for green chemistry is expected to ensure the necessary know-how to manage this industrial initiative.

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Bakery packaging by Taghleef eases eco-concerns

Product launches of applications in the bakery sector have experienced a steady average annual growth of 2.4 percent. However, with increasing demands for environmental sustainability being levied through legislation and consumer demand, the bakery packaging sector is under unprecedented pressure to innovate with its materials and designs. This article explores recent market trends and new technological developments with two of the sector’s leading companies, Sealpac and Taghleef Industries.

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Avantium and Cosun Beet with plans to jointly build and operate bio-based glycols plant

Cosun Beet Company and Avantium join announced the ambition to produce plant-based glycols from sugars. To this end, both companies already signed a term sheet. Cosun Beet Company and Avantium plan to form the joint venture in 2021, with the aim to make an investment decision for the foreseen commercial plant in the first half of 2023. Commercial operations could already begin in 2025. The joint venture is envisioned to be a world class producer of plant-based glycols to actively contribute to a fossil-free future.

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