PURAC: Strategic partnerships with TOYOBO and AkzoNobel

PURAC (www.purac.com) and TOYOBO, a Japanese leading specialty chemicals, film & fiber company, announce that they have formed a strategic partnership for the production of renewable materials. These will be produced from the non-GMO lactides monomers of PURAC and will be broadly introduced into the European market by TOYOBO in March 2009 under the brand name VYLOECOL®.

VyloecoL® is a patented amorphous and biodegradable poly lactic acid (PLA) and is soluble in standard organic solvents. The intended applications are as coatings or adhesives for packaging films and materials. Interest in biobased and biodegradable packaging materials is increasing rapidly. Using VyloecoL® offers the opportunity to develop fully biobased and biodegradable materials.

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VyloecoL® is made from lactides supplied by PURAC. PURAC markets these lactides, under the brand name PURALACT™, to a select group of partners who convert the monomers into specialty value added polymers. The unique D- Lactide technology of PURAC enables these partners to develop innovative solutions to improve temperature resistance, one of the main features limiting application of regular PLA.

Additives for Poly Lactic Acid
PURAC and AkzoNobel have developed additives through a specific organic peroxide technology for the production of Poly Lactic Acid (PLA) a bioplastic made from biorenewable, carbohydrate-based raw materials. The additives play an important role in controlling the polymerization by which PLA can be processed conveniently in standard, commercial polymer processing equipment.

Under the new process, AkzoNobel’s organic peroxides selectively switch off polymerization catalysts, improving the quality and stability of the PLA polymer. The resulting PLA is more stable in melt processing, has consistent flow properties and maintains a positive environmental profile.

The strategic partnership between PURAC and AkzoNobel broadens the applications for PLA in the growing biopolymer market. Both companies anticipate a very strong development in the usage of PLA as material properties are further enhanced and availability of PLA is increased. This new PURAC-AkzoNobel technology is exclusively available to PURAC lactide partners.

About PURAC
PURAC is the worldwide market leader in lactic acid, lactic acid derivatives and lactides. PURAC has over 70 years of experience in the development, manufacturing and marketing of these products in a broad range of industries. PURAC operates production plants in the USA, the Netherlands, Spain, Brazil and Thailand and markets its products through a worldwide network of sales offices and distributors.

PURAC has a strong focus on the development of the bioplastics market. PURAC develops this market through innovative solutions and partnerships with a select group of companies in the plastics industry. PURAC is headquartered in The Netherlands and is a part of CSM. For more information: www.purac.com.

About TOYOBO
Toyobo (www.toyobo.co.jp) was founded in 1882 as a textile company, when it began its spinning and textile business. Over the next 125 years Toyobo continued to adapt to the changing needs of the times, drawing on their core technologies in polymerization, modification, processing and biotechnology to expand business fields and develop the kind of high-performance products; Films and Functional Polymers, Industrial Materials, and Life Science.

Toyobo’s head office is located in Osaka Japan and operates Asia, North America & Europe, generates € 3.3 billion and has a workforce of around 3300 employees. Toyobo is listed on Tokyo Exchange market.

About AkzoNobel
AkzoNobel is proud to be one of the world’s leading industrial companies. Based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, we make and supply a wide range of paints, coatings and specialty chemicals – pro forma 2007 revenue totaled €14.4 billion. In fact, we are the largest global paints and coatings company. As a major producer of specialty chemicals we supply industries worldwide with quality ingredients for life’s essentials. We think about the future, but act in the present. We’re passionate about introducing new ideas and developing sustainable answers for our customers. That’s why our 60,000 employees – who are based in more than 80 countries – are committed to excellence and delivering Tomorrow’s Answers Today™.

AkzoNobel Polymer Chemicals is a leading global producer of innovative organic peroxides, metal alkyls, organometallic specialties and polymer additives. Headquartered in Chicago in the United States, we supply essential products used in the production of thermoplastic resins, and thermoset and elastomeric materials. Some of these products find various other applications as well. We also manufacture high purity metalorganics for the semiconductor industry. Focused on addressing our customers’ future needs, we operate sites all around the world and adopt the highest HSE standards while remaining committed to developing sustainable processes and technologies.

PURAC, Gorinchem, Netherlands

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