Virent, Renmatix team up to produce green packaging

Dec 6, 2013 - US biofuel company Virent Inc and cellulosic sugars maker Renmatix said Friday they have formed a strategic collaboration to turn cellulosic sugars to chemicals and bio-based packaging materials.

The partners aim to speed up the commercial delivery of renewable chemicals made from sustainable biomass-based feedstocks by combining their respective technologies. They will also seek to cut costs and increase efficiency of the processes.

As part of the joint, multi-phase development project, Renmatix's Plantrose platform will be possibly optimised to ensure an affordable sugar stream for Virent's Bioforming process. The Plantrose technology is used in the production of affordable cellulosic sugars as the bridge between upstream biomass and downstream plant-based chemicals, while Virent makes bio-based paraxylene at a large-scale through its Bioforming process. That “green” paraxylene, called BioFormPX, is the renewable alternative to petroleum-based paraxylene -- the basic raw material for purified terephthalic acid (PTA) and an important chemical for the making of plastic bottles and fibers made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

Back in 2011 Virent and The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) agreed a strategic partnership to accelerate the commercialisation of 100% renewable, recyclable PlantBottle packaging.

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