Easy switch from fossil-based chemicals to renewables
UPM's wood-based glycols
Traditional plastics rely on fossil-based raw materials
The packaging materials currently used in most industrial products and everyday consumer goods are made from fossil-based raw materials. Although many plastics, such as PET, can be recycled, they are not fully sustainable as their raw material is non-renewable.
Customers and brand owners are looking for more sustainable alternatives that are based on renewable raw materials. These alternatives must be competitive, high-quality materials that do not compromise product quality or recyclability.
SOLUTION
Industrial-scale biorefinery for renewable glycols
Following extensive technological development and piloting, UPM is building a first-of-its-kind biorefinery for producing renewable glycols. These wood-based glycols can be used to directly replace their fossil-based equivalents in many applications.
In the future, manufacturers can easily switch to sustainable raw materials: UPM’s renewable glycols behave exactly like their oil-based counterparts. They integrate seamlessly into existing manufacturing and recycling processes and meet the highest industrial quality standards.
BEYOND FOSSILS
Renewable and recyclable packaging solutions for circular economy
UPM’s wood-based glycols allow producing packaging materials in a more sustainable manner – and without extra effort. Wood biomass from sustainably managed forests is a climate neutral, renewable raw material that provides an improved carbon footprint for existing value chains.
Renewable glycols can be used for high-volume products including bottles, packaging, textiles, composites, detergents as well as antifreeze and de-icing fluids.This means that the overall environmental impact of opting for the natural raw material can be enormous.
Benefits of renewable glycols
- Easy switch from fossil-based materials; renewable glycols fit existing manufacturing and recycling processes
- Meeting high industrial quality standards
- Supporting circular economy and helping companies to redefine their sustainability targets
- Utilizing biomass coming from sustainably managed forests
