Austrian polymers producer Borealis (Vienna; www.borealisgroup.com) is now producing renewable polypropylene at its Belgian sites in Kallo and Beringen, marking the first time the company has replaced fossil-based feedstock in its large-scale commercial PP production. The sustainable production has been achieved through close collaboration with Neste (Espoo / Finland; www.neste.com) and consumer chemicals producer Henkel (Düsseldorf / Germany; www.henkel.com).

After producing renewable propane using its proprietary “Nexbtl” technology, Neste sells the feedstock to Borealis’ propane dehydrogenation (PDH) plant in Kallo. Here, it is used to produce renewable propylene, which is subsequently converted to PP at the two Belgian plants.

Third-party sustainability system ISCC (Cologne / Germany; www.iscc-system.org) has certified the renewable PP from both facilities under its “ISCC Plus” standard. This includes sustainability certification for food, feed, technical and chemical as well as other bioenergy applications.

Borealis has been producing the renewable polymer since December 2019 and is now working with value chain partners to expand availability to meet increasing demand. “Working closely with partners like Neste and Henkel, who share our ‘EverMinds’ mind-set, is key to shaping a better tomorrow. Thinking circular means capitalising on growth opportunities that accelerate the transformation to a circular economy,” said Lucrèce Foufopoulos, Borealis executive VP polyolefins, innovation and circular economy solutions.

Launched in 2018, EverMinds is an umbrella brand that unites Borealis’ activities and initiatives to make plastics circular, also facilitating deeper collaboration with partners.