Moving BioPET from the lab

Gevo and Toray are planning to move from lab-scale ‘proof of concept’ to pilot plant production of their 100% bio-based PET, with the longer-term goal of establishing commercial-scale operations.

The two companies have developed renewable paraxylene from isobutanol which has been converted into biobased PET using Gevo’s paraxylene and commercially-available renewable monoethylene glycol (MEG).

“Companies today are looking for ways to introduce new products and packaging that helps meet the growing consumer demand for environmentally friendly products, while at the same time contributing to the sustainability goals of their companies,” says Chiaki Tanaka, executive vice president and former CTO of Toray. “Our partnership with Gevo and our internal progress to date suggest we are on track to help our customers fulfill these needs.”

“We believe there is strong customer demand for fully renewable, non-petroleum derived PET and we are working to fill that demand as soon as possible,” says Christopher Ryan, President, COO, and CTO of Gevo. “We are pleased to have validated this technology with Toray and look forward to building a market for fully renewable PET.”

Approximately 50 million metric tons of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) are produced annually for conversion into fibres for nonwovens and textiles as well as films and bottles for packaging, as well as, and resins for automotive applications.

Gevo is currently working with partners to optimise the process technology needed to produce paraxylene from isobutanol at commercial-scale and competitive economics.