By Plasteurope.com correspondent

Production and marketing of polylactic acid (PLA) in the Middle East, Africa, and India is the objective of Emirates Biotech (Dubai, UAE; www.emiratesbiotech.com), a joint venture established by compatriot investment group SS Royal Kit Emirates Investment and Hong Kong-based company Global Biopolymers Industries.

Emirates Biotech said it intends to supply PLA biopolymers as well as expertise in application development, recycling, and sustainable end-of-life solutions. The company expects to start commercial operations in early 2025. The construction of its first PLA production plant in the UAE is set to start before 2026, according to the investment partners.

Emirates Biotech was established in January 2023 as Gulf Biopolymers Industries with plans to build a 135,000 m² biodegradable polymer production plant with 30,000 mn t/y capacity in the Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi (KEZAD) ecosystem in 2027, according to the partners. 

Related: ThyssenKrupp UHDE to establish biopolymer production on Arabian Peninsula

Executives at the newly formed JV include CEO Marc Verbruggen, previously CEO of NatureWorks, CCO François de Bie, previously chairman of the European Bioplastics Association and managing director of TotalEnergies Corbion, and CTO Aman Kulshrestha, previously technology manager at NatureWorks.