BAINBRIDGE – Danimer Scientific has signed a memorandum of understanding with Hyundai Oilbank – the oil refinery unit of Hyundai Heavy Industries Holdings – to jointly develop global new market opportunities and applications for PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoate), a sustainable biopolymer that serves as a biodegradable alternative to traditional plastic.
Georgia-headquartered Danimer’s Nodax PHA was initially developed at Procter & Gamble and has many advantages as a new plastic, and not least for nonwoven products. It shows rapid biodegradation under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions and has polyolefin-like thermo-mechanical properties in terms of strength, flexibility, ductility, toughness and elasticity, and polyester-like physical properties in terms of compatibility with additives and other fibres in polymer blends.
Properly compounded Nodax resins can be spun into fibres in a manner very similar to polypropylene, to make totally bio and marine degradable nonwoven products.
During 2021, Danimer announced plans to double the anticipated capacity of its Nodax PHA from 125 million to 250 million finished pounds at a new plant that will come online in two phases, with an initial three fermenters expected to be operational in mid-2023 and a second three in early 2024.
The near-term focus of the new collaboration with Hyundai is on providing Nodax and other PHA-based compounds produced by Danimer to commercial customers in South Korea and other Asian markets.
“The environmental impact of plastic waste affects the entire planet and it will take global cooperation to address this crisis,” said Danimer chairman and CEO Stephen E. Croskrey. “Even as we continue growing our commercial operations in the USA, we look forward to partnering with one of South Korea’s foremost business leaders to introduce our sustainable materials and support the development of PHA applications in markets across Asia.”
