Neste (Espoo, Finland; www.neste.com) and partners LyondellBasell (LYB, Houston, Texas, USA; www.lyondellbasell.com), Biofibre (Altdorf, Germany; www.biofibre.de), and Naftex (Wiesmoor, Germany; www.naftex.de), have created a complete value chain that enables the production of construction parts made of bio-based polymers reinforced with natural fibre.

At the start of the chain, Neste provides its bio-based RE feedstock to LYB, which processes it into its CirculenRenew C14 PP, according to information from the Finnish company. Biofibre then uses the polypropylene to produce natural fibre-reinforced plastic granules, which Naftex extrudes into items such as posts for fences, or profiles for terrace decking. 

The partners said the construction components serve as temporary carbon storage, explaining that during their use over several years (or decades), the parts can store the carbon previously sequestered from the atmosphere during the biomass’s growth phase.

Related: Neste and partners build renewable plastics supply chain

They added that a life cycle assessment conducted for Biofibre by German market research institute GreenSurvey (Straubing; www.green-survey.de) confirmed that the amount of carbon removed from the atmosphere by the biomass exceeds supply chain emissions from the manufacturing and logistics of the reinforced plastic granules.

“It is extremely important that the construction sector continues to develop innovative ways to combat climate change,” said Martin Bussmann, brand owner manager at Neste Renewable Polymers and Chemicals.

Biofibre’s managing director Jörg Dörrstein added, “With the introduction of our new product line BioSustra based on bio-based polyolefins we can further increase the bio-based content, lower the carbon footprint and thus contribute to the ecological advantages of our material portfolio. These new grades are particularly interesting for products with a long service life as can be found in the building industry.”

In June 2019, Biofibre acquired 80% of wood plastic composite producer Naftex, which continues to operate under its own name with its own products.