Page 157 - CW E-Magazine (7-5-2024)

News from Abroad

BIO-BASED PLASTIC ALTERNATIVES
Suzano Ventures invests up to $5-mn into Bioform

Technologies

Suzano Ventures, the corporate ven- in its labs. This funding will enable the applications where it could replace con-
ture capital arm of Suzano, the world’s company realize a demonstration faci- ventional single-use plastics, including
largest market pulp producer, has made lity to pilot its manufacturing process paper recyclable thermoformable films
a strategic investment into the Canadian and expand its team and capabilities. for packaging applications and com-
materials science start-up, Bioform postable heat-sealable films for pouches,
Technologies. The investment provides Bioform’s proprietary technology agriculture, and garbage bags.
up to US$5-mn towards the company’s rapidly produces wood pulp-reinforced
seed round, enabling it to accelerate hydrogels to create high-performance “With the potential to offer an 80%
the development of its novel bio-based plastic alternatives, which can be made lower carbon footprint than conven-
plastic alternatives. using Suzano’s wood pulp fibre as a tional single-use plastics, Bioform’s
key input. Bioform’s materials have technology has similar or enhanced
Bioform has previously raised the potential to be home compostable product performance to conventional
US$2.4-mn from direct investments or recycled through existing paper plastics in areas such as tensile strength
and US$1.2-mn from non-dilutive recycling processes and do not require and permeability for oxygen or water
sources to streamline its technology fossil-based inputs. The technology is vapor,” a press statement from Suzano
and validate performance and processes highly versatile and has a number of said.

LOWER CARBON FOOTPRINT
INEOS Nitriles commences sales of bio-based aceto-

nitrile

INEOS Nitriles has confirmed the has the potential to significantly cut ate makes it indispensable in numerous
world first sales of INVIREO, a new the carbon footprint of pharmaceutical processes, ranging from pharmaceuti-
bio-based acetonitrile necessary for products, which are essential to our cal manufacturing and analytical chemi-
the production of many pharmaceu- everyday lives and healthcare. Pharma stry to battery technology and organic
ticals. INVIREO is produced using a is an energy-intensive industry, so synthesis. Many pharmaceutical mole-
controlled and certified (ISCC+) mass companies that use our acetonitrile can cules are synthesized in solvents, and
balance route, which allows INEOS deliver an immediate cut in their carbon acetonitrile’s unique properties make it
Nitriles to offer customers products with footprint,” said Mr. Gordon Adams, essential for this purpose.
the same performance as convention- Business Director for INEOS Nitriles
ally produced acetonitrile, but with a and INEOS Phenol businesses. INEOS is the world’s largest pro-
90% reduction in their carbon footprint. ducer of acetonitrile and the only pro-
Acetonitrile’s versatility as a high ducer operating in Europe, USA and
“Our new bio-based acetonitrile purity solvent and chemical intermedi- Asia.

Techno UMG receives ISCC PLUS Certification

for Ube plant

Techno-UMG Co., Ltd., a JSR cation at its Ube Plant for its ABS and products that are allocated sustainable
Group company in the plastics busi- ASA resins. Obtaining this certifica- raw materials (biomass recycling, etc.)
ness, has received ISCC PLUS Certifi- tion enables Techno UMG to provide based on the mass balance method.

Chemical Weekly May 7, 2024 157

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