Yes, solutions are available and capacities are already being expanded.
Take Danone, for example: The new “So Delicious” bottle is made from around 80% sugar cane. First, ethanol is extracted from the sugar cane, which is then dried to produce ethylene. The ethylene is then processed into polyethylene, which is finally used to make the bottles. This method not only relies to a very large extent on a renewable raw material, but also significantly reduces carbon dioxide emissions: during processing, the plants used only emit as much CO2 as they absorbed during their growth phase. They are therefore considered more environmentally friendly than petroleum-based plastics.
Braskem, a manufacturer of biopolymers based in the Netherlands, is the company responsible for this bottle. Together with Lummus Technology, Braskem is currently working on licensing the production of green ethylene worldwide. The goal is to produce about one million tons of bio-based polyethylene by 2030. Or to put it another way, this is no longer a niche market.
If you want to know more about processing bio-based plastics for your business, get in touch – and it’s best to do it now. #BeFastBePart