My apologies for this late post as I had some work-related matters to see through. Taiwan-based polyester firm Far Eastern New Century Corporation (FENC) and Genomatica announced last week at the Bioplastek conference that FENC was able to produce a high-performance fibers and clothing using Genomatica’s biobased 1,4 butanediol (BDO).

FENC said it has produced a high-performance copolymers using the bio-BDO to replace the petro-based BDO that the company traditionally uses. The biobased polymer has been incorporated in FENC’s functionalized apparel such as TopCool+®.

FENC said it has achieved producing polymers with up to 50% biobased content, leading to manufacturing fibers with 30% biobased content. FENC was able to make the TopCool+® fabric to contain 15% biobased materials.

Actually, the blog was thinking that the bio-BDO from Genomatica probably has to be processed further into THF (tetrahydrofuran). Majority of THF today is used in the production of polytetramethylene ether glycol (PTMEG), which is then used in polyurethane elastomeric fibers such as spandex.

FENC said it is in discussion with customers about the company’s new high bio-content fibers and expects to source biobased BDO from one of Genomatica’s licensed producers. FENC believes there is high interest in more sustainable materials hence its development of high bio-content fibers and apparel.