ThyssenKrupp Industrial Solutions AG won a contract to build a bioplastic plant based on its patented PLAneo technology.
The new plant will produce PLA among other things for the manufacture of eco-friendly packaging, fibers, textiles, and engineering plastics. It will produce 30,000 tpa of PLA.
Polylactide (PLA) is a compostable bioplastic made from 100% renewable biomass, making it an eco-friendly, low-CO2, and an economic alternative to conventional oil-based plastics. Due to its physical and mechanical properties, PLA can replace many conventional materials such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), and polystyrene (PS).
The technology converts feedstock lactic acid into PLA in a particularly efficient way that conserves resources. Customers can dispense fossil resources and significantly reduce CO2 emissions at production costs that are competitive with those of conventional plastics.
The facility will be built in South China and is targeted to be operating in fall 2021. ThyssenKrupp will design the plant and supply the key components.
