Dow (Midland, Michigan / USA; www.dow.com) has started using bio-based naphtha produced by UPM Biofuels (Helsinki / Finland; www.upmbiofuels.com) to manufacture bio-based polyethylene at its plant in Terneuzen / The Netherlands. The US chemicals producer said the bio-based PE will be suitable for use in applications such as food packaging. “Following a successful year-long trial programme, Dow is now planning to scale production and address the increasing global demand for renewable plastics,” it stated.

At its refinery in Lappeenranta / Finland, UPM Biofuels produces “UPM BioVerno” naphtha from crude tall oil, which is a residue of paper pulp production. The feedstock originates from sustainably managed forests, and unlike many other alternative renewable feedstocks, no extra land is required for the feedstock production, UPM Biofuels and Dow said in a joint statement. This process also significantly reduces CO₂ emissions, especially by carbon sequestration, compared with standard fossil-derived PE resins, and the plastics produced can help brand owners meet their sustainability packaging goals, they added.

Dow said its bio-based LDPE resins are used by paperboard-based packaging supplier Elopak (Oslo / Norway; www.elopak.com) for food and beverage packaging. The resins are used to coat Elopak’s liquid carton containers and in the production of carton caps, resulting in a “100% renewable” beverage carton.

Dow also recently partnered with the Fuenix Ecogy group (Weert / The Netherlands; www.fuenix.com) for the supply of pyrolysis oil feedstock derived from recycled plastics waste – see Plasteurope.com of 05.09.2019.