IFF and Kemira Partner to Launch €130 Million Joint Venture

IFF and Kemira have announced the establishment of Alpha Bio, a joint venture focused on large-scale production of renewable biobased materials. With an investment of approximately €130 million, the new facility, located in Kotka, Finland, will begin production in late 2027. It aims to convert up to 44,000 metric tons of plant sugars annually into high-performance biopolymers for applications in home care, personal care, industrial solutions, and more.

Alpha Bio will leverage IFF's proprietary Designed Enzymatic Biomaterial™ (DEB) platform technology, which uses plant-based sugars and enzymes under mild conditions to produce biopolymers with superior purity, consistency, and performance compared to fossil-based polymers. These materials will provide sustainable and biodegradable alternatives for markets such as paper and board packaging, paper coatings, and water treatment.

“This partnership marks a major step forward in scaling sustainable biobased materials to meet increasing demand,” said Erik Fyrwald, CEO of IFF.

“Our DEB technology offers unmatched material purity and performance, aligning cost efficiency with sustainability.” Kemira CEO Antti Salminen highlighted the collaboration's potential to introduce competitive alternatives to fossil-based products, stating, "This joint venture builds on our success since 2020 and allows us to expand into new markets while advancing sustainability.”

Operating as an independent entity, Alpha Bio is expected to create approximately 30 permanent jobs in Kotka, alongside additional opportunities during the construction phase. The project strengthens the commitment of both IFF and Kemira to sustainable innovation and environmental responsibility.

Source: IFF