UPM celebrates the official start of the construction of its biobased chemicals facility in Leuna

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Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. 

UPM has celebrated the official start of the construction of its state-of-the-art biobased chemicals facility in Leuna (Germany). The biorefinery investment of 550 M€ is a major milestone in UPM’s strategic transformation. 
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Figure 1. UPM will produce a range of 100% wood-based chemicals in its facility in Leuna 

UPM has already established the project office at the site and is now ready to start the construction phase of the project. The work has continued uninterrupted throughout the COVID-19 pandemic with high health and safety standards ensuring safe working conditions. 

UPM will produce a range of 100% wood-based chemicals (products: bio-monoethylene glycol, bio-monopropylene glycol, lignin-based renewable functional fillers and industrial sugars; total annual capacity = 220 ktons; feedstock: sustainably harvested beechwood sourced regionally in Germany) that enable a switch from fossil-based products to sustainable alternatives in a number of end-uses such as plastics, textiles, cosmetics and industrial applications, significantly reducing their CO2 footprint. Furthermore, raw materials and other services for the biorefinery will be sourced in the region which enables local value creation and ensures compliance with high social and environmental standards. 

Technology and process have been developed by UPM over the past ten years, mainly building on the company’s own innovation capabilities and selectively working with international partners. The biorefinery is expected to start up by the end of 2022. The investment has been awarded “The Bio Act of the Year 2020” by the World BioEconomy Forum earlier in September this year.

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