Braskem and Sojitz launch Sustainea to produce and market biobased glycols
Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF.
Braskem and Sojitz have announced the launch of Sustainea, which will produce and market bioMEG (monoethylene glycol) and bioMPG (monopropylene glycol). The market launch of the brand follows the approval of the joint venture (the process began in March 2022) by antitrust authorities.
Press release: "Braskem and Sojitz Corporation launch Sustainea", 21/10/2022.
Related posts:
- "Braskem and Haldor Topsoe to validate new bio-MEG production process in a demo plant", 13/11/2017.
- "Braskem and Haldor Topsoe start production of biobased MEG at their demo plant in Lyngby", 25/11/2020.
Figure 1. Braskem and Sojitz launch Sustainea to produce and market biobased glycols
The business plan envisages the construction of three industrial plants, with the first unit slated for operational startup in 2025, taking advantage of market opportunities and feedstock availability. The locations where the industrial units will be built have not been defined yet and could be in Europe, Asia, the United States or Brazil. Sustainea will combine Braskem's expertise in the industrial production and sale of chemicals and plastics made from renewable sources with Sojitz's strong presence in Asia, a region that concentrates 80% of the global MEG market and where its consumption registered the highest growth.
In 2017, Braskem partnered with Topsoe to test the innovative technology behind the conversion of sugar into bioMEG and bioMPG on a demonstration scale. Resulting from the technological cooperation between the two companies, the first bioMEG samples were produced in 2020. The technology for large-scale production is the final development stage and should be concluded within a year.