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Corbion to build lowest carbon footprint lactic acid plant in Thailand
Corbion has decided to build a new lactic acid plant in Thailand with an annual capacity of 125,000 metric tons. Corbion will invest approximately US$ 190 million in the new plant, which is expected to be operational in the course 2023. Using Corbion’s innovative proprietary gypsum-free technology, the lactic acid will be produced at the highest sustainability standards and at industry leading low-cost levels.
The continued growth in our industry enables us to embark on a major capacity expansion in lactic acid. The new plant will be located at the existing Corbion site in Rayong Province on the eastern seaboard of Thailand, making it the largest lactic acid production site in the world. The location was selected because of the abundance of cost-effective carbohydrate raw materials for fermentation, Corbion's highly skilled staff in Thailand, and the presence of an efficient logistical infrastructure.
The new plant will utilize Corbion's proprietary and innovative gypsum-free technology, which has been in developed in-house over more than 10 years. Not only will this technology widen our lead as the lowest cost producer in the industry, it will also allow for the production of lactic acid in a more sustainable way. By recycling processing chemicals, production will be fully circular, and the CO2 footprint will be 20% lower*.
“This is a major step towards achieving our Science Based Targets to reduce our GHG emissions by 2030. The carbon footprint of PLA, the bioplastic produced by the Total Corbion PLA joint venture, that is made from lactic acid produced with this technology will also be substantially reduced. The new plant creates room for growth for years to come, while the world also benefits.”, CEO Olivier Rigaud commented.
* Journal of Polymers and the Environment (2019), Life Cycle Impact Assessment of Polylactic Acid