New venture will produce 75,000 tons per year of Poly Lactic Acid (PLA) at bioplastics plant in Rayong, Thailand.
In a grand opening ceremony on September 9, which included a blessing by local Thai monks, the new 50/50 joint venture between Total and leading biochemicals business, Corbion, took place. The new plant increases available production of the versatile biopolymer by almost 50%. PLA bioplastics provide a valuable contribution towards the circular economy, being bio-based and biodegradable and offering multiple environmentally-friendly end-of-life solutions.
The event was attended by Total Senior Vice President Polymers, Refining and Chemicals, Valérie Goff; French Ambassador to Thailand, Jacques Lapouge as well as representatives from Corbion and Thai government officials.
Speaking on the facility, Stéphane Dion, CEO, Total Corbion PLA said:
“This is a moment of great pride for me and the teams of Total Corbion PLA. In addition to its functionality attributes, PLA brings concrete solutions in terms of sustainability, and we are glad that our state-of-the-art plant is up and running to cater for the growing needs of the market.”
Valérie Goff, Senior Vice President Polymers, Refining and Chemicals, Total, added:
“I’m very pleased to inaugurate Total Corbion PLA’s plant today, which has started up rapidly and now serves customers all around the globe. PLA bioplastics will help meeting the rising demand for polymers while contributing to reducing end-of-life concerns.”
To read more about the ceremony, including pictures from the day, click here.