Avantium and Sphera cut GHG emissions with Dutch sugar beet-based plantMPG

27 Oct 2022 --- Avantium has partnered with software company Sphera to perform an LCA on plant-based mono propylene glycol (plantMPG), produced with Avantium’s Ray Technology from sucrose derived from Dutch sugar beet. 

PlantMPG is a chemical intermediate used in various applications, including in functional fluids and unsaturated polyester resins. The ISO-certified LCA for plantMPG shows a significant improvement of up to 81% greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions over the full life cycle when compared to its incumbents. 

The LCA takes into account wastewater treatment as the end-of-life for plantMPG. Avantium’s plantMPG is compared to current MPG production routes from fossil raw materials (naphtha and shale-derived PP) and renewable raw materials (soy and rapeseed-derived glycerine). 

For the plantMPG production process, electricity from wind power, green hydrogen-based on wind power and thermal energy from natural gas was assumed. The plantMPG LCA study was conducted according to the ISO guidelines and has been reviewed by an external independent critical review panel, explains Avantium. 

The impact on climate change of plantMPG is significantly lower compared to fossil-based and bio-based incumbents. Comparing to other incumbents
The renewable chemistry technology company continues that the impact on climate change of plantMPG is significantly lower, with 50% to 81% lower GHG emissions, compared to fossil-based and bio-based incumbents. 

The climate change reduction for plantMPG is largely driven by the use of plant-based feedstock (sugar beet) and the resulting biogenic nature, with the carbon being absorbed and stored by the sugar beets and re-entering the natural carbon cycle at the end of life of plantMPG. 

Furthermore, the non-renewable primary energy demand of plantMPG is significantly lower (-41% to -82%) compared to other fossil and renewable MPG alternatives. PlantMPG also outperforms all incumbent MPG technologies in water use (-13% to -99%). 

“The LCA demonstrates the potential of Avantium's plantMPG to help reduce global warming. As a 100% plant-based intermediate, plantMPG entails a significantly lower carbon footprint than its alternatives. This accommodates the global need to transition to climate neutrality and a green future,” says Math Lambalk, business development manager at Avantium Renewable Chemistries and responsible for the plantMPG LCA. 

Avantium recently reported that it has struck a conditional offtake agreement with one of the luxury goods manufacturers, Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy (LVMH) Group.

Through this offtake deal, LVMH Perfumes & Cosmetics Houses has obtained a predetermined amount of the high-quality, plant-based PE furanoate (PEF) material from Avantium’s Flagship Plant for the packaging of its cosmetics.

Avantium is currently building its furane dicarboxylic acid (FDCA) flagship plant: the first commercial plant for the production of FDCA from plant-based sugars. The company anticipates that it will begin operating in 2024, enabling the commercial introduction of PEF.

Meanwhile, Avantium’s shareholders gave the company the green light to construct the world’s first FDCA flagship plant for PEF bioplastic production. We sat down with CEO Tom van Aken to discuss the commercialization plan, how geopolitics are impacting bioplastic demand and the regulatory landscape.

Edited by Natalie Schwertheim

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