BioBTX and Rain Carbon are joining forces to bring renewable aromatic products to the chemical industry, targeting growing demand for lower-carbon and more circular raw materials.
The strategic collaboration will see Rain Carbon process BioBTX’s circular aromatic oil into benzene, phthalic anhydride and other aromatic derivatives designed to meet the same quality and performance standards as conventional fossil-based products.
The partnership comes as BioBTX moves toward commercial-scale production of renewable aromatics. In July 2026, the Dutch company announced a positive Final Investment Decision for its first commercial plant in Delfzijl, the Netherlands.
Based on BioBTX’s proprietary Integrated Catalytic Cracking Process (ICCP) technology, the facility is set to become the world’s first dedicated greenfield plant designed to convert plastic waste into renewable aromatic oil. The plant is expected to produce approximately 10,000 tonnes a year of oil containing benzene, toluene, xylenes and other aromatic products.
Operations are expected to begin in early 2028, marking a major step toward commercial production of circular aromatics from plastic waste.
Rain Carbon, which has more than 150 years of experience transforming industrial by-products into carbon products and advanced materials, will provide the downstream processing expertise needed to convert BioBTX’s aromatic oil into market-ready chemical products.
The companies said the collaboration could allow customers across a range of industries to reduce the carbon footprint of their supply chains while maintaining existing product performance.
Kris Vanherbergen, EVP Carbon Distillation & Advanced Materials, Rain Carbon, said: 'This partnership with BioBTX aligns perfectly with Rain Carbon’s mission to create value from alternative carbon sources. By combining BioBTX’s innovative technology with Rain Carbon’s aromatic processing expertise, we can provide the market with renewable, drop-in solutions that contribute to a more circular and sustainable future.”
BioBTX CEO Ton Vries said demand is already emerging from industries including pharmaceuticals, coatings, toys and automotive applications.
“We have seen significant interest in our renewable aromatic oil from companies serving markets such as pharmaceuticals, coatings, toys, and automotive applications. Demand for products with higher recycled content and lower carbon footprints continues to grow, creating a clear need for circular raw materials. Together with Rain Carbon, we can help customers build more sustainable supply chains and accelerate the transition to a circular economy.”
The collaboration links BioBTX’s plastic-waste conversion technology with Rain Carbon’s aromatic processing capabilities, with the companies positioning the partnership as a step toward scaling circular alternatives to fossil-based chemical feedstocks.
