Bluepha and TotalEnergies Corbion Sign MOU to Accelerate PLA/PHA Solutions in China
Bluepha Co. Ltd, the leading synthetic biology company in China, and TotalEnergies Corbion, a global leader in PLA technology, have signed a memorandum of understanding to accelerate the market adoption of PLA/PHA-based solutions in China. The collaboration aims to bring together the expertise and resources of both companies to further advance the development of high-performance biopolymer solutions, combining Bluepha® Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) with Luminy® Polylactic Acid (PLA) technology.
“We are very excited about this collaboration with TotalEnergies Corbion,” said Dr. Teng Li, President and Co-founder of Bluepha. “TotalEnergies Corbion is a trustworthy partner and Bluepha® PHA mixed with Luminy® PLA would be as a Chinese saying ‘Adding wings to the tiger.’ Together, the two companies can give more opportunities to our downstream partners and contribute to a more sustainable future.”
“Combining the complementary properties of these materials will tremendously widen the application space for those brand owners that seek fully biobased material solutions,” said Thomas Philipon, CEO of TotalEnergies Corbion.
Under the terms of the MOU, Bluepha and TotalEnergies Corbion will aim for joint promotion of PLA and PHA market applications in China. Before the signing ceremony, Thomas Philipon toured Bluepha’s PHA Biorefinery in Yancheng, which completed construction in October 2022 and recently started production of Bluepha® PHA product.
Bluepha is a purpose-driven company dedicated to molecular and material innovation based on synthetic biotechnology, founded in 2016. The company built its own specialized biology automation platforms to engineer microorganisms as a new way to design and manufacture molecules and materials that can provide better solutions to global sustainability and carbon neutrality. Bluepha® PHA is its first commercialized product, a type of biobased and biodegradable polymer made from annually renewable resources, offering a reduced carbon footprint versus conventional plastics. It has been put into commercial-scale production following the inauguration of BioFAB1 in Yancheng, with the capacity to produce 5,000 tonnes of Bluepha® PHA resins annually.
TotalEnergies Corbion (formerly Total Corbion PLA) is a global technology leader in Poly Lactic Acid (PLA) and lactide monomers. The Luminy® PLA portfolio, which includes both high heat and standard PLA grades, is used in a wide range of markets from packaging to consumer goods, fibers and automotive. Headquartered in the Netherlands, the company operates a 75,000 tons per year PLA production facility in Rayong, Thailand and has announced the intention to build a second plant in Grandpuits, France. The company is a 50/50 joint venture between TotalEnergies and Corbion.
Sources:
- Bluepha. “Bluepha and TotalEnergies Corbion Enhance Cooperation on Biomaterials Applications in China.” May 29, 2023. https://www.bluepha-en.com/post/bluepha-and-totalenergies-corbion-enhance-cooperation-on-biomaterials-applications-in-china