UPM BioMotion Renewable Functional Fillers (RFF) represent UPM’s latest development in sustainable solutions. The company says, the solution addresses the urgent need to reduce CO2 emissions of rubber and plastics products by offering a sustainable alternative to fossil-based carbon black and precipitated silica, the dominating functional fillers used in rubber and plastic products today.
“The RFF portfolio will be produced from sustainably sourced hardwood at our first-of-its-kind biorefinery in Leuna, Germany. The launch of this new product range emphasizes UPM’s promise to create a future beyond fossils and marks another step in the company’s transformation. With the building of the biorefinery in Leuna progressing, we now start taking visible steps in commercializing our portfolio of innovative renewable chemicals. This is a clear signal to the market that we are going to be a credible and competent partner in transforming our customers’ businesses to become more sustainable,” says Juuso Konttinen, vice president UPM Biochemicals.
“UPM BioMotion are suitable for use in a broad range of elastomers, thermoplastic compounds, and thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) in numerous industries such as automotive, flooring or footwear. Mass production of RFF in Leuna will ramp up during 2023. We started product testing and development as well as compounding services in a modern Application Development Centre on-site in Leuna, which will officially open later this year,” adds Konttinen.
“Launching RFF marks the culmination point of a 10-year research and development phase. It’s a whole new generation in the rubber industry and a future-fit alternative to fossil-based materials. We are confident that RFF will meet the required technical standards and performance criteria. With the UPM BioMotion RFF range, our partners will be able to take a step-change in transforming their products to become truly sustainable,” says Christian Hübsch, director Lignin and RFF Business, UPM Biochemicals. “We are now working with our partners in the rubber and plastics value chains to develop materials and customized solutions to inspire a new generation of sustainable consumer products and thereby help brands innovate to become more sustainable.”
UPM is currently using test batches of RFF to work with the leading companies in the rubber-processing industry globally on the development, qualification, and pre-industrial production of final products for various industries. UPM’s Research and Development and commercial teams are continuously extending their network with partners in the relevant value chains. UPM is finalizing a state-of-the-art test and development facility in Leuna, supporting product development and testing.
The UPM biorefinery will produce renewable monoethylene glycol (bMEG), renewable monopropylene glycol (bMPG) and Renewable Functional Fillers (RFF) from sustainably sourced, certified hardwood with an annual capacity of 220.000 tons.
