Kemira and IFF have taken the final investment decision and move forward in forming a joint venture (JV) manufacturing company to produce renewable biobased products on a commercial scale.

Total investment is estimated at around € 130 million and commercial production is expected to start in late 2027. Both companies will have a 50% stake in the JV.

Kemira and IFF have been collaborating in a strategic partnership since 2020. Designed Enzymatic Biomaterial (DEB) technology platform is a novel and unique process technology utilizing plant-based sugars which will provide access to many different applications. Kemira holds global exclusivity for the commercialization of DEB™ biomaterial in the Paper, Board and Water Treatment markets.

New manufacturing plant will be located at IFF Biorefinery in Kotka, Finland to leverage available synergies and infrastructure as well as European biobased raw materials. The facility will convert up to 44,000 MT of plant sugars to bioproducts, including sustainable, high-performance biopolymers for use in various applications and will be a platform material for further processing to make new renewable products.

The plant is designed to produce multiple grades of DEB biomaterial to accommodate various market applications. Approximately 30 direct new jobs are expected to be created in the Kotka region with additional job creation during the project’s construction phase – a significant positive development for the Kotka region economy.

“Since 2020, we’ve been collaborating with IFF using the DEB platform technology, which has allowed us to bring sustainable innovation to our key markets,” said Antti Salminen, Kemira’s President & CEO.

“The new joint venture will build on this initial success, enabling us to scale up production and provide new performance-competitive alternatives to fossil-based products in key markets, including paper and board packaging, paper coatings, and water treatment, while continuing to develop opportunities across other growth markets.”

"Our partnership with Kemira has reached a significant milestone, enabling us to scale the production of breakthrough biobased materials to meet the large and growing demand for high-performing and sustainable alternatives to fossil-derived polymers," said Erik Fyrwald, IFF CEO.

"IFF’s DEB technology not only guarantees superior purity and consistency compared to traditional biopolymers but also enhances performance across various applications. This innovative approach allows us to combine biodegradability and material sustainability while maintaining cost efficiency and the high performance our customers expect."