European refiners in JV to produce PLA bioplastics in Thailand
French oil and gas company Total and Dutch sugarbeet refinery Corbion have teamed up to create a bioplastics manufacturer in Thailand. Each company will own 50% of the new venture, which will produce polylactic (PLA) polymers in Thailand. PLA is a renewable polymer commonly used across a wide range of industries, including oil and gas and food packaging. Corbion’s current operations in Thailand, a production site, will become part of the new company, which will be headquartered in the Netherlands, with operations expected to begin in Q1 2017.

TELETRADER News

Total, Corbion partner in joint bioplastics venture

Total SA and Corbion NV are partnering in a new joint venture to create a bioplastics manufacturer, a statement released on Wednesday said.

The French oil company and the Dutch Corbion, which was founded as a sugarbeet refinery, will each own 50% of the new firm. The bioplastics company will produce polylactic (PLA) polymers in Thailand, where Corbion already has a production site which will become part of the joint venture.

The new firm will be based in the Netherlands and operations are expected to start in the first quarter of next year.

PLA is a renewable polymer which is used in the food packaging industry, but also in oil and gas, electronics, 3D printing and automotive industries.

Baha Breaking News (BBN) / VP