SCGP X Origin

Editorial Staff

SCGP and Origin Materials have mutually develop world-class innovation 'bio-based plastic from eucalyptus woodchip' transforming renewable plants into bio-PET plastic

SCGP has entered into a joint development agreement with Origin Materials to develop a world-class innovation, "bio-based plastic from eucalyptus woodchip" with advanced technology to convert eucalyptus woodchip, a renewable economical crop into bio-based PTA.

This partnership aims to be a solution for surging needs for sustainable packaging with possible multiple applications across various industries.

Mr. Wichan Jitpukdee, chief executive officer, SCG Packaging Public Company Limited, or SCGP, announced that SCGP and Origin Materials, a leading NASDAQ-listed technology company in the United States, have entered into a joint development agreement (JDA) to collaboratively develop "bio-based plastic from eucalyptus woodchip." This world-class innovation utilizes advanced technology to transform eucalyptus woodchip into Bio-PET, one of the raw materials for SCGP's packaging production processes.

This project will strengthen SCGP's value-accretive vertical integration along the supply chain, extending it to the production of packaging and other products, including beverage packaging, food packaging, textile & fabrics while also addressing sustainability concerns for the environment.

This collaboration brings together the expertise of both companies including SCGP’s extensive experience in researching and developing on eucalyptus with innovation to optimize the utilization of natural resources and origin materials knowhow as the world's leading carbon negative materials company that continuously develops technology to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

Together, both companies have conducted the experiments using eucalyptus woodchip, which are subjected to chemical processes with catalysts, employing an efficient proprietary technology to produce intermediates used to make Bio-based PTA and hydrothermal carbon (HTC) and further exploration toward Bio-based PTA along with bio-PET manufacturing.

Bio-PET is the material that exhibits properties identical to petroleum-derived PET, making it easily recyclable and compatible with conventional PET recycling process. Meanwhile, HTC will be further explored for the application in biofuels, automotive industry.

"SCGP and Origin Materials have collaboratively experimented with the production of intermediates from eucalyptus woodchip for the initial production of Bio-PET. We have found that these eucalyptus-derived intermediates are of high quality. As a result, we plan to collaboratively develop this innovation to achieve commercial viability, contributing to environmental protection and sustainability while meeting the market demand for eco-friendly plastics,” said Mr Wichan.

John Bissell, co-founder and Co-CEO of Origin Materials, the world’s leading carbon negative materials company, founded the company over a decade ago with a mission to enable the world's transition to sustainable materials and help reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

"Origin Materials is delighted about this partnership with SCGP. This collaboration adds value and creates additional benefits from renewable plant-based raw materials in a region with abundant resources. We are excited to jointly implement strategic actions with SCGP and to develop innovations that will help transition the world towards using sustainable raw materials," said Mr John.