IFF and Kemira have formed a joint venture, Alpha Bio, for the commercial-scale production of renewable biobased materials. 
 
With an investment of approximately €130 million, the Alpha Bio facility will start production in late 2027, converting up to 44,000 MT of plant sugars to bioproducts, including high-performance biopolymers for use in various applications, such as home and personal care and industrial solutions.
 
Erik Fyrwald, IFF CEO, said, 
 
“Our partnership with Kemira has reached a significant milestone, enabling us to scale the production of groundbreaking biobased materials to meet the large and growing demand for high-performing and sustainable alternatives to fossil-derived polymers… This innovative approach allows us to combine biodegradability and material sustainability while maintaining cost efficiency and the high performance our customers expect.”
 
Alpha Bio’s production will use IFF’s Designed Enzymatic Biomaterial (DEB) platform technology, integrated at the IFF biorefinery in Kotka, Finland.
 
Operating as an independent entity in Kotka, Finland, the joint venture will manufacture a specific line of products enabled by DEB technology for exclusive use by IFF and Kemira.
 
The enzymatic polymerization process converts plant sugars to biopolymers, offering superior purity and consistency compared to conventional synthetic polymers. These tailored biopolymers enhance product performance across diverse applications.
 
Antti Salminen, CEO, Kemira Oyj, said, 
 
“The new joint venture will build on this initial success, enabling us to scale up production and provide new performance-competitive alternatives to fossil-based products in key markets, including paper and board packaging, paper coatings, and water treatment, while continuing to develop opportunities across other growth markets.”
 
Alpha Bio is expected to generate approximately 30 direct new jobs in the Kotka area with additional job creation during the project’s construction phase.

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