Origin Materials and Husky Technologies create bio-based PET for advanced packaging

02 Aug 2023 --- Origin Materials, a carbon-negative materials company, and Husky Technologies have polymerized the bio-based chemical furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) into PET for advanced packaging. Origin expects to develop and sell 100% bio-based, low-carbon “PET/F” polymers offering full recyclability and “superior performance” compared to traditional 100% petroleum-derived PET.

FDCA is a chemical building block with diverse applications, including polyesters, polyamides, polyurethanes, coating resins and plasticizers. The bio-based chemical is also the precursor for polyethylene furanoate (PEF). By combining FDCA with PET, Origin has produced PET/F, a “tunable” hybrid polymer offering performance enhancements and full recyclability. 

Origin expects to enable the production of FDCA, PEF and PET/F commercially using its patented technology platform, which captures carbon while turning wood residues into functional materials. Origin and Husky’s material is said to lead to cost-efficient superior polymer production from biomass. 

“This is a key moment in commercializing cost-effective, low-carbon FDCA and PEF and developing next-generation sustainable polymers. We believe these materials have the power to transform plastics and the material economy,” says John Bissell, co-founder and co-CEO of Origin Materials. 

Creating ecological polymers
Husky molded the PET/F hybrid polymer into preforms that were blown into bottles. The companies used Husky’s injection molding technologies and manufacturing equipment. The technology provider applies a commercial manufacturing-scale level of processing. The PET/F can be integrated into existing PET production systems.

Origin and Huskey use a bio-based chemical to make environmentally sustainable PET.“Driving [environmental] sustainability through innovation is at the core of how Husky has been leading the way in enabling the circular economy of plastics,” says John Galt, CEO of Husky Technologies. 

“Preserving and protecting what matters, in even more [environmentally] sustainable ways, is foundational to everything we do at Husky. Our collaboration with Origin Materials is an exciting example of combining material innovation with state-of-the-art polymer processing technologies.”

PEF, another product derived from FDCA, offers an attractive combination of sustainability and performance benefits for packaging. Origin’s PEF is expected to be 100% bio-based, fully recyclable, economical and offer a significantly reduced carbon footprint, superior strength, thermal properties and barrier properties compared to today’s widely used petroleum-based materials.

The companys’ PET/F has “enhanced mechanical performance and superior barrier properties,” which enables a longer shelf life. The properties of the PET/F can be controlled by adjusting the manufacturing conditions and the quantity of FDCA copolymer.

“We are pleased to work with Husky, a trusted leader in injection molding technologies and polymer processing development, to achieve this performance milestone, showing the ready processability of our innovative hybrid polymers. This is a major milestone in our effort to help transition the world to [environmentally] sustainable materials,” concludes Bissell.

Edited by Sabine Waldeck