UPM Biochemicals and HAERTOL Chemie team up on forest-based materials for auto market

In Germany, UPM Biochemicals and HAERTOL Chemie GmbH announced a development partnership that will accelerate the introduction of renewable, sustainable forest-sourced materials into the automotive market and reduce fossil resource consumption.

They have agreed to form a strategic partnership to produce a new range of carbon neutral engine and battery coolants that will help automotive manufacturers reduce their CO2 footprint.

UPM is investing 750 million Euros to build the world’s first industry scale biorefinery in Leuna, Germany, to convert sustainably sourced, certified woody biomass into next generation biochemicals that will enable the vital shift away from fossil-based to renewable materials across a wide range of industries, including automotive. The biorefinery aims to produce 220,000 metric tons annually in total, with start-up targeted to take place by the end of 2023.