Green news: Kemira/IFF jv relocate planned biobased plant to Finland; Coim to expand speciality chemicals/renewable polyols in Texas

Norway’s Kemira and IFF have jointly announced an update to the previously communicated plans regarding the future location of their Alpha Bio joint venture manufacturing plant for biobased materials at a commercial scale. Project engineering and permitting activities will now transition toHanko.

Following a detailed evaluation, the location of the previously planned manufacturing plant will be changed from IFF Kotka site to another IFF manufacturing plant in Hanko, both in Southern Finland. The IFF Hanko site specialises in industrial enzymes for the home and personal care, and food and beverage sectors.

The joint venture, originally announced in 2025, represents an estimated total investment of approximately EUR130 million. Both companies will continue to hold a 50% stake, and commercial production is now expected to begin in 2029. The original estimate for the commercial production start was late 2027.

The joint venture says it will continue to leverage IFF’s proprietary Designed Enzymatic Biomaterial (DEB) technology platform, which uses plant‑based sugars to produce high‑performance biobased materials for a wide range of industrial applications.

Kemira retains global exclusivity for commercialisation of DEB solutions in the paper, board, and water treatment markets.

India-based conglomerate Coim Group is expanding its speciality chemical production footprint in the US, with the acquisition of a 20-acre property in New Boston, Texas (Texarkana Region), from Palmer International. 

The acquisition includes an existing logistics infrastructure, as well as a new, renewable polyol product line, consisting of materials made principally from rapidly-renewable Cashew Nutshell Liquid (CNSL). This product line will complement Coim’s existing Isoexter line of polyester polyols, allowing them to better serve the market.

Coim also plans to expand operations at the new site, adding 100 million lbs. of capacity for additional product lines by the middle of 2027. 

“This acquisition represents a significant milestone in Coim USA’s long-term growth strategy,” said Michelangelo Cavallo, President of Coim USA. He further commented: “The New Boston location broadens our geographic reach, expands our sustainable portfolio, and enhances Coim USA’s ability to serve customers with greater speed, efficiency, and resiliency.”  

In summary, the New Boston site will create operational synergies by enhancing the company’s current product portfolio. The planned expansion will also deliver geographic efficiencies and operational redundancy, with the goal of ensuring consistent service and supply reliability for customers across North America, it stated. 

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