Teijin (Tokyo / Japan; www.teijin.co.jp) expects to begin production and marketing of bio-derived PET in April 2012. The chemicals and fibres producer said the product, which is approximately 30% derived from biomass such as sugarcane, will be the world's first commercially produced bio-derived PET fibre. The group’s Teijin Fibers business expects to sell 30,000 t of the “Eco Circle PlantFiber” PET in the initial fiscal year to March 2013, and 70,000 t by the third year of business.

Manufactured using bio-derived ethylene glycol (EG), the product has the same characteristics as oil-derived PET, and is suitable for applications such as car seats, interiors and personal hygiene products, Teijin said. The product can be recycled using Teijin Fibers' “Eco Circle” closed-loop polyester recycling system, which involves chemical decomposition of the polyester and recycling as new DMT.