Covestro, formerly Bayer MaterialScience, and the joint venture bio-based resins firm Reverdia have reached an agreement to jointly develop and promote thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU) based on renewable raw materials.
The agreement will see Covestro use Biosuccinium succinic acid from Reverdia for the production of its Desmopan-brand TPU for use in a variety of applications, including in the footwear and consumer electronics industries.
Leverkusen, Germany-based Covestro also plans to expand its bio-based TPU production in Taiwan.
The head of its TPU business, Marius Wirtz, said: “Our customers in the footwear and consumer electronics industries are constantly looking for new solutions to reduce their CO2 footprint, and bio-based TPU from Covestro is one such solution.
“We are looking forward to working with Reverdia to bring these modern materials to the market.”
Reverdia president Marcel Lubben said: “We value our partnership with Covestro and see it as a long-term investment by both parties with the aim to jointly develop bio-based materials for both industries.
“These applications, which have now reached industrial scale, underscore the good properties of Biosuccinium and its potential to improve the climate balance of consumer products."
Reverdia is a joint venture of the Netherlands' Royal DSM NV and Roquette Frères, a global starch and starch-derivatives company headquartered in France.