Kemira and International Flavors & Fragrances have moved their Alpha Bio joint venture manufacturing plans to a new site in Southern Finland, relocating the project from Kotka to Hanko.

 

The companies said project engineering and permitting work will now shift to Hanko after a detailed review of options. The new site is an existing IFF facility specializing in industrial enzymes for home and personal care, as well as food and beverage applications.

 

Originally announced in 2025, the joint venture represents a total investment of about €130 million, with Kemira and IFF each holding a 50% stake.

 

However, the timeline has been pushed back significantly. Commercial production is now expected to begin in 2029, compared with the earlier target of late 2027.

 

The Alpha Bio venture will continue to use IFF’s proprietary Designed Enzymatic Biomaterial (DEB) platform, which converts plant-based sugars into high-performance biobased materials for industrial use. Kemira retains global exclusivity to commercialize DEB-based solutions in the paper, board, and water treatment sectors.