Renewable diesel producers such as UPM and Neste are now in the bioplastic arena as more and more of their bio-naphtha is being used as feedstock to produce biomass balanced-based monomers such as ethylene and propylene.

(For more on biomass balance, check out my last blog post: VIDEO: BASF’s new biomass-balance paints for automotive )

UPM’s 100 ktpa renewable diesel biorefinery in Lappeenranta, Finland, has been producing renewable naphtha (as well as bio-propane) although the company has not disclosed its bio-naphtha capacity. Elopak, a Norway-based company supplying 15 billion cartons around the world each year, joined forces with UPM Biofuels and Dow to offer 100 percent renewable cartons that are both recyclable and responsibly sourced.

According to the press release, every ton of UPM’s wood-based naphtha that Dow converts into bioplastics reduces one tonne of fossil raw materials used. The sustainability of the entire value chain is verified with ISCC PLUS certification. UPM Biofuels claims to be one of the few renewable naphtha producers in the world.

More of my analysis on the renewable diesel market will be published in next month’s Tecnon OrbiChem Biomaterials newsletter. We will also (try to) publish a Chemical Profile on bio-naphtha in May.