Anellotech and Suntory biobased plastics tie-up moves to next phase

Anellotech, a sustainable technology company focused on producing cost-competitive renewable chemicals from non-food biomass, has entered into the next phase of its strategic partnership with Japan-headquartered Suntory Holdings Limited, one of the world’s leading consumer beverage companies.

The partnership is focused on advancing the development and commercialisation of cost-competitive 100% bio-based plastics for use in beverage bottles. Suntory currently uses 30% plant-derived materials for their Mineral Water Suntory Tennensui brands and is pursuing the development of a 100% bio-bottle through this partnership.

The Anellotech alliance with Suntory supports the development of bio-aromatics including bio-paraxylene, the key component needed to make 100% bio-based polyester PET for use in beverage bottles. As an integral component in the bio-based value chain, Anellotech’s proprietary thermal catalytic biomass conversion technology (Bio-TCat) cost-competitively produces “drop in” green aromatics, including paraxylene and benzene, from non-food biomass.

With its new, fully-integrated development and testing facility (TCat-8) completed, Anellotech is commencing installation with ground breaking scheduled for late January 2016. Operational in 2016, this 25 metre-tall unit will confirm the viability and suitability of the Bio-TCat process for scale-up, and generate the data needed to design commercial plants using Bio-TCat technology. The TCat-8 unit was jointly designed by Anellotech and its R&D partner, IFP Energies nouvelles (IFPEN), and will use a novel catalyst under joint development by Anellotech and Johnson Matthey. After verification of the continuous operation of TCat-8, Suntory plans to move ahead with studies to consider the development of the first commercial-scale Bio-TCat plant.

Suntory joins Anellotech’s existing partners IFPEN, Axens, Johnson Matthey, and a multinational corporate investor, which has provided a US$7 million equity investment, the first tranche of a total US$10 million investment.