Virent BioFormPX® Paraxylene Used for World’s First PET Plastic Bottle Made Entirely From Plant-Based Material
Bottle Showcased by The Coca-Cola Company at Milan World Expo 2015
Madison, Wisconsin – June 3, 2015 – Virent announced today that its BioFormPX® paraxylene was used in the world’s first demonstration scale production of a PET plastic bottle made entirely from plant-based materials. The breakthrough bottles use BioFormPX produced at Virent’s Madison, Wisconsin demonstration plant. The bottles were showcased as part of The Coca-Cola Company’s pavilion at Expo Milano 2015 – a world-class exhibition celebrating sustainable innovation. Far Eastern New Century (FENC) worked with Virent and The Coca-Cola Company to convert the BioFormPX to bio-PET resin.
Virent and The Coca-Cola Company have been working together since 2011, when the companies first announced an agreement focused on the development of Virent’s bio-based PX technology. In 2014, The Coca-Cola Company made an additional investment to support an expansion of Virent’s demonstration plant capability in order to help scale-up the separation and purification steps of the production process and produce larger quantities of BioFormPX.
“The Coca-Cola Company continues its innovative leadership commitment to sustainability and is a valued partner for Virent. Their support of our plans for the BioFormPX material in the next generation of PlantBottle packaging is critical in attracting manufacturing investment from the PET supply chain.” said Lee Edwards, Virent CEO.
In the course of its development work over the last few years, Virent has progressed its PX technology to commercial readiness and improved the process economics. Virent has run its demonstration system to fulfill customer fuel and chemical orders since it started operation in 2010. Virent currently has the capability to produce large quantities of BioFormPX paraxylene and other bio-based aromatic chemicals (benzene, toluene, and mixed xylenes) for applications such as packaging, textiles and construction. Virent also has produced sizable biofuels samples (gasoline, jet and diesel) for customer sampling and product development.
About Virent
Virent is replacing crude oil by creating the chemicals and fuels the world demands using a wide range of naturally-occurring, renewable resources. Its patented technology features catalytic chemistry to convert plant-based materials into a full range of products identical to those made from petroleum, including gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and chemicals for plastics and fibers. The products are drop-in replacements that enable full utilization of existing logistics infrastructure without blending limitations. The development of Virent’s BioForming® technology platform is supported through strategic partners including Cargill, Coca-Cola, Honda and Shell. The company has received several grants from the U.S. Departments of Commerce, Energy and Agriculture and has been recognized with many honors, including the World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer award and the EPA’s Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award.
To learn more about us, please visit Virent.com.
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Contact:
Shelly Norris, Virent, Inc.
shelly_norris@virent.com
608-210-3365
3571 Anderson St.
Madison, WI 53704