UPM, headquartered in Helsinki, Finland, is currently investing €750 million in the construction of an industrial scale biorefinery in Leuna, Germany, to convert sustainably sourced, certified hardwood into next generation biochemicals. The biorefinery aims to produce 220,000 tons of biochemicals annually, with start-up targeted to take place by the end of 2023.

In a recent project, UPM Biochemicals has partnered with outdoor brand Vaude to create a polyester fleece jacket made partially from a new bio-monoethylene glycol (bioMEG) called BioPura.

The resin used to make the polyester contains 30% BioPura, replacing the oil-based monoethylene glycol (MEG) which is traditionally employed.

BioPura is a drop-in solution that can be easily implemented into existing polyester manufacturing processes, being identical to currently-used MEG on a molecular basis.

Indorama Ventures is polymerizing and spinning a polyester yarn containing BioPura at its German site in Guben and Pontetorto, a leading textile manufacturer located in Prato, Italy, is then processing the yarn into bio-based polyester fabric which Vaude is using to produce the final garment.

This development will be explained in a special presentation  from UPM and Vaude at the live streaming Sustain&Innovate Conference on October 5^th, as part of the Performance Days exhibition taking place in Munich, Germany, from October 4-5.

www.sustainandinnovate.com

www.performancedays.com