Corbion and Total to make first world-scale PLA plant operational in France by 2024

28 Sep 2020 --- Corbion and Total have planned to build a new polylactic acid (PLA) bioplastics plant in Grandpuits, France, through their Total Corbion PLA joint venture. The plant is expected to have a capacity of 100,000 metric tons annually, representing the first world-scale PLA production facility in Europe. 

Located in Grandpuits, France, the joint venture aims to make the plant operational in 2024. This expansion would make Total Corbion PLA the global market leader in PLA, “firmly positioned to cater to the rapidly growing demand for Luminy PLA resins,” the companies state.

“Luminy PLA is made from raw cane sugar. It uses raw sugar in a very efficient way; only 1.6 kg of sugar are needed for 1 kg of PLA. We need to use something to replace the oil we currently use to make plastic – biobased materials are a good start,” Francois de Bie, senior marketing and supply chain director at Total Corbion PLA, tells PackagingInsights.

PLA is more transparent for gas and water than most conventional plastics, says de Bie, which makes it disadvantageous for carbonated soft drink bottling. However, PLA presents an advantage for fresh fruit packaging, where the water that causes fruit spoilage does not remain in the package. The joint venture’s Luminy PLA will be manufactured for dry food packaging, foodservice ware and compostable shopping bags. 

“PLA is increasingly finding its place as a bioplastic, enabling acceleration toward a circular economy. In our recently released Advance 2025 strategy, one of our goals is, together with Total, to become the market leader in PLA. This new plant puts us firmly on track to achieve that goal,” adds Olivier Rigaud, CEO of Corbion.

Click to EnlargeView of the site in Grandpuits where Total Corbion PLA intends to build its second Luminy PLA plant.The plant construction is expected to require capital expenditures of approximately €200 million (US$233 million). Corbion and Total will participate equally in funding the project. Third party debt may also be part of the financing.

First PLA plant in Thailand
Corbion continues to supply lactic acid to the Total Corbion PLA joint venture. Earlier this year, the company announced it will build a new lactic acid plant with the latest low emission technology in Thailand, expected to be operational in 2023. 

This PLA investment accelerates further expansion plans for lactic acid, with a European location as one of the likely options.

Total Corbion launched a 75,000 tons per year PLA bioplastics manufacturing plant based in Rayong, Thailand, in late 2018. The facility produces Luminy PLA resins, a bio-based and biodegradable bioplastic.

At the end of its useful life, PLA products can be mechanically or chemically recycled. The biodegradable and compostable functionalities of PLA make it the material of choice for a wide range of markets and applications including fresh fruit packaging, durable consumer goods, toys and 3D printing.

“If packaging needs to be compostable, you need to make sure no “non-compostable” parts of the packaging are used and the ink is compostable. This means it takes time and effort to convert. But with the environmental benefits of Luminy PLA, we see more and more brandowners adopting and making the transition to Luminy PLA,” de Bie concludes.

By Anni Schleicher

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