British Columbia-based Flexible Solutions International, a developer and manufacturer of biodegradable polymers for oil extraction, detergent ingredients and water treatment as well as crop nutrient availability chemistry, is seeking partners to help the company achieve its goal of producing polyaspartate using the company’s sugar-based L-aspartic acid produced at its Taber, Alberta, plant. 

The plant began volume production of L-aspartic acid in November 2011 and has been refining quality and increasing quantity since that date. The original goal was to produce sustainable L-aspartic acid for conversion to sustainable polyaspartates at its Illinois plant, and for sale to other L-aspartic acid customers.

The company noted that costs have risen and the price of oil and the price of aspartic acid derived from oil are less than forecast at the project’s inception.  The company is planning to cut costs by reducing staff.