Green tie-ups: Emirates Biotech partners with UAE Uni for PLA; SK Chemicals to supply chemically recycled PET to Austrian Tier 1 auto parts supplier

Abu Dhabi’s Emirates Biotech has announced a strategic partnership with the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) in Al Ain to conduct collaborative research on novel Polylactic Acid (PLA) applications and end-of-life solutions. This initiative aims to strengthen the sustainability profile and functional performance of PLA, a bio-based and biodegradable polymer.

The joint research projects will engage UAEU’s students and faculty, and leverage the university’s facilities to explore innovative methods to optimise PLA performance and environmental benefits. The outcomes aim to support the commercialisation of bioplastics tailored to the evolving needs of the UAE and the wider Middle East region.

Emirates Biotech set to market and manufacture PLA, used in a wide range of applications including packaging, food service wares, 3D printing, and more. PLA offers additional end-of-life options such as composting and anaerobic digestion, helping divert valuable organic waste from landfills and supporting circular economy practices.

Founded in 1976, UAEU is a research intensive university committed to providing solutions to national and global challenges through strong industry partnerships.

In other news, South Korea’s SK Chemicals says it is advancing sustainability in the European automotive market by supplying recycled materials to global automotive brands. It has tied up with Tier 1 automotive supplier Durmont GmbH, part of the Visscher-Caravelle Group, that will produce auto carpets and mats from SK’s chemically recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

Durmont, an Austrian automotive carpet manufacturer, produces carpet roll goods for approximately 7 million vehicles/year. In 2023, Durmont was acquired by Visscher-Caravelle Group (VC) — a Dutch Tier1 supplier of car floor mats and other automotive accessories with a market share of over 40% in the European market. VC supplies to several major European automotive brands.

Logistics solutions provider Paarang will support SK Chemicals and Durmont in facilitating logistics and supply chain management.

The three companies have already successfully developed yarns and finished products such as carpets and mats using SK Chemicals’ differentiated CR (Chemical Recycled) PET material solution. These products meet automotive testing requirements and quality standards. The exclusive partnership agreement was signed to accelerate supply and market expansion.

Under the agreement, SK chemicals will supply Durmont with its recycled PET, Skypet CR, which provides a material with 100% recycled content, certified by ISCC PLUS (International Sustainability and Carbon Certification Plus), and a fully recyclable product. The joint aim is a wide market adoption of such sustainable material solutions.

In particular, by utilising chemical recycling technology, Skypet CR is said to maintain a quality level close to that of virgin petroleum-based products even after repeated recycling, unlike conventional recycling methods, making it an ideal material for establishing a closed-loop system, says SK.

By applying Skypet CR to automotive carpets and mats, these products can be depolymerised and recycled after reaching the end of their lifespan, enabling the establishment of a closed-loop system within the automotive industry.

This advancement is anticipated to enable compliance with vehicle circularity regulations, such as the End-of-Life Vehicles (ELV) directive.

CEO Ahn Jae-hyun commented, “In Europe, the introduction of carbon neutrality regulations, such as the ELV directive, is driving a growing interest in vehicle circularity and recycling.” He added, “SK chemicals will continue to promote sustainability in the industry by leveraging our depolymerisation technology and meet the material and performance requirements of automotive components, while fostering collaboration with industry partners.”

In 2023, SK Chemicals established SK Shantou with an investment of around US$94 million, securing the world’s first commercialised chemical recycling production facilities for raw materials and products. In Korea, SK Chemicals is also expanding its recycling-related production and research infrastructure by establishing the Recycling Innovation Centre within its Ulsan plant site, which includes a pilot facility for chemically decomposing waste plastics to produce recycled raw materials (r-BHET).

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