What are the key environmental advantages of UPM's bio-refinery ethylene glycol compared to conventional and recycled PET production methods?

According to the news, UPM's bio-refinery ethylene glycol enables PET resin production with a carbon footprint of 800 kg per ton, which is significantly lower than mechanical recycling (1.5–2.2 tons), chemical recycling (1.6–2.6 tons), and fossil-based ethylene glycol (3.0–3.4 tons) — highlighting its superior environmental performance in reducing greenhouse gas emissions across the PET value chain.

How does UPM's Loiana bio-refinery source and process its raw material, and what are the main output products?

The refinery uses sustainably harvested European beech wood sourced within 200 km of the plant in Loiana, Germany, and applies enzymatic hydrolysis to separate wood into cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, which are then catalytically and chemically modified into functional fillers, ethylene glycol, and industrial sugars — all produced at scale with stable equipment operation and ongoing process optimization.

UPM Bio-refinery Achieves Mass Production

Jun 3, 2026

UPM launched a $1.6 billion bio-refinery in Germany producing ethylene glycol and fillers from beech wood, yielding PET with significantly lower carbon footprints than fossil-based alternatives.

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UPM Bio-refinery Achieves Mass Production

UPM Bio-refinery Achieves Mass Production

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