Polypropylene is a plastic used in a wide range of products like food containers, water bottles, furniture, and car bumpers. It’s also used as a strong, durable packaging solution that gives products a very distinct look.
Currently, it’s the second most widely used thermoplastic with a global consumption of 44 million metric tons in 2008. The market has been growing increasingly and is estimated to be $66 billion. Growth is based on projections that consumers and recycling regulations will drive demand for environmentally-friendly packaging.
While polypropylene is primarily derived from oil, a recent research partnership will be developing a large scale production of polypropylene from sugarcane. While oil is limited and expensive, this green initiative is great news and could mean a big change for the plastics industry. Initial development will run for at least 5 years. The plastic is to be identical to traditional polypropylene except that it is made from sugarcane. Customers will be able to switch to the bio-resin without changing their production machinery or processes.
So who’s partnering up? Braskem, the largest petrochemical company in Latin America, and Novozymes, the world’s leading producer of industrial enzymes. Both companies have a strong devotion to a bio-based economy.
Braskem was the first company in the world to produce a 100% certified green polypropylene on an experimental basis. They’re currently building a green polyethylene plant in Brazil with ethanol and sugarcane as the raw material. The plant will produce 200,000 tons per year.
Novozymes is the world leader in bioinnovation. They use biotechnology to improve the use of resources in more than 30 industries around the world; the biofuel industry is one of them. Currently, they’re producing enzymes to turn agricultural waste into advanced biofuels.
