Lummus Technology and RWDC Industries Deepen Partnership to Scale PHA Production Globally
Lummus Technology and RWDC Industries have deepened their partnership from a memorandum of understanding to a binding Joint Development and Commercial Cooperation Agreement (JDCCA) to rapidly expand manufacturing and global licensing of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA). The agreement, announced on September 5, 2023, represents the next phase of a collaboration that began in April 2023 when the two companies signed an MOU to cooperate on global PHA deployment initiatives.
“This agreement highlights Lummus and RWDC’s strong commitment to addressing plastic waste and the carbon footprint associated with conventional plastics production,” said Leon de Bruyn, Lummus Technology’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “Our partnership in this innovative space aligns with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, reflecting our ongoing dedication to developing technologies that accelerate the use and availability of eco-friendly plastics.”
“We look forward to the value that will be created in combining Lummus’s expertise with ours to improve people’s lives and health by making PHA polymers and resins available at large scale,” said Dr. Daniel Carraway, RWDC’s Chief Executive Officer. “It has always been our goal to develop sustainable materials that benefit every living thing on the planet, and this partnership is a monumental step in that direction.”
RWDC uses plant-based oils, including post-consumer or waste cooking oils, to produce its proprietary Solon™ PHA, which can be organically recycled or composted in home and industrial composting facilities. Products or packaging made with PHA that find their way into the environment will fully biodegrade in soil, fresh water, and marine settings, preventing persistent plastics and microplastics from accumulating. Articles produced with PHA can also be recycled, re-used, or returned to the carbon cycle through organic recycling or composting systems.
The partnership combines Lummus’s expertise in process technology with RWDC’s expertise in PHA production and application. Lummus’s polymer expertise, illustrated through its Novolen® polypropylene technology, highlights a commitment to innovation and sustainable solutions in polyolefin technology to drive transformative change within the plastics industry. RWDC is uniquely positioned as the only PHA manufacturer in the market to provide scalable and cost-effective biopolymer production and first- and best-in-class formulation capabilities and guidance on conversion for product development.
The original MOU, signed in April 2023 at Lummus’s Houston headquarters, laid the groundwork for this expanded cooperation. Both CEOs, Dr. Daniel Carraway of RWDC and Leon de Bruyn of Lummus, emphasized that combining their collective expertise, experience, and resources would commercialize PHAs as a sustainable and economic solution to help address global plastic waste while driving innovation and advancing the circular economy.
Licensing and technology development through this partnership further enhances RWDC’s position as a market leader, with existing global brand partnerships continuously validating market demand for its technology.
Sources:
- RWDC Industries. “Lummus and RWDC Announce Agreement to Accelerate and Scale PHA Production.” September 5, 2023. https://www.rwdc-industries.com/lummus-and-rwdc-announce-agreement-to-accelerate-and-scale-pha-production
- RWDC Industries. “Lummus and RWDC Industries Sign MoU Accelerating PHA Production at Scale.” April 12, 2023. https://www.rwdc-industries.com/lummus-and-rwdc-industries-sign-mou-accelerating-pha-production-at-scale