Green tie-ups: Nippon Shokubai and Chandra Asri to explore green tech; Changsu Industrial and TotalEnergies Corbion to advance biobased BOPLA films

Japanese acrylic acid/ester maker Nippon Shokubai and Indonesia petchem firm PT Chandra Asri Petrochemical have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to jointly explore green chemical business opportunities.

Through this MOU, Nippon Shokubai as well as its affiliates, NSI, and Chandra Asri will explore the potential to produce 'bio' materials such as bio-naphtha, bio-olefins, and various products that use renewable energy, to produce sustainable derivative products such as acrylic acid, acrylic ester, and superabsorbent polymer (SAP).

The study will be conducted to see the feasibility of producing a 'bio' feedstock and creating a new green supply chain in NSI and Chandra Asri's existing plants in Cilegon, maximising the company's asset footprint, core competencies, and technologies.

This initiative marks another key program incorporated within Chandra Asri's overarching Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Framework launched in 2022 as part of the Company's focus to maintain its position. This bio' project is also planned to be certified by an independent certification body.

It will also reduce CO2 emissions throughout the product lifecycle, contributing to lower carbon emissions toward the Republic of Indonesia's long-term plan, "Indonesia's Long-Term Strategy for Low Carbon and Climate Resilience 2050."

Nippon Shokubai in Indonesia is a sole manufacturer of acrylic acid, acrylic ester and superabsorbent polymer in Indonesia, located in Cilegon, Banten.

In other news, Xiamen Changsu Industrial Pte Ltd (Changsu Industrial) and multi-energy firm TotalEnergies Corbion have announced a strategic cooperation agreement that will further advance the polylactic acid (PLA) industry. They will work together in the market promotion, product development, and R&D of new technologies and applications of biaxially oriented polylactic acid (BOPLA).

The bioplastic industry in China has seen tremendous growth with new technological breakthroughs in biobased materials after the country issued its manufacturing sector development plan known as Made in China 2025. These innovations will contribute to the worldwide green transformation and help China reach its goal of being carbon-neutral by 2060,” said Mou Qingying, Changsu Industrial’s Vice President. Changsu Industrial is a leading global player in high-performance specialty plastic films. Changsu Industrial focus on three major product segments: new energy, biodegradable, and functional film materials.

The development of BOPLA is a good example of strong collaboration between different players in the value chain. BOPLA is made with biobased PLA using biaxial stretching technology, making Changsu Industrial's BOPLA product BiONLY biodegradable and capable of significantly reducing the carbon footprint of packaging materials.

Changsu Industrial and TotalEnergies Corbion are already working closely to bring sustainable solutions to the Chinese market. One key example is the development of BOPLA-based adhesive tapes made of Changsu’s BiONLY that will replace conventional fossil-based material and help provide a strong solution to the postal service in China.

New regulations have already been announced to encourage the adoption of biodegradable materials in the country's postal service by 2025 with some cities aiming to achieve this earlier by the end of 2023. With the further tightening of the regulation, BOPLA-based adhesive tapes are expected to experience a wider adoption in the future and the strategic partnership between Changsu and TotalEnergies Corbion will undoubtedly inject further impetus into this development.

“With increasing needs for sustainable solutions globally, the partnership of Changsu and TotalEnergies Corbion is paving the way for the introduction of more PLA-based innovation to the world. It's a win-win-win for people, industry, and the environment,” said Thomas Philipon, CEO TotalEnergies Corbion.

(PRA)

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