South Korean polymer producer Kolon Plastics (Seoul; www.kolonplastics.com) is supporting Finnish wood and paper group Stora Enso (Helsinki; www.storaenso.com) in the development of bio-based polyethylene furanoate (PEF).

Both companies declared their intention to pursue further development and commercialisation together. It is not clear whether there will also be financial integration through a joint venture. Among other things, Kolon mentions films for electronic applications and screens as well as fibres for tyre cord as the goal of the cooperation.

Related: Carlsberg develops paper beer bottle with PEF liner

Stora Enso has already been working on the development of PET sister material PEF and its precursor furandicarboxylic acid (FDCS) since 2019.

Until now, however, the aim was to use it as a barrier layer for packaging. The Finnish company had intended to set up a pilot plant in the paper mill in Langerbrugge near Ghent in Belgium by 2021, in order to replicate the FuraCore production process they had developed in-house. According to reports, this plant went into operation in late 2022. So far, however, Stora Enso has not confirmed this upon Plasteurope.com query.