Future PLA facility to be built in France
Belgian lactic acid and PLA specialist Futerro has announced that it has officially submitted a permit application to build a biorefinery in Port-Jerome-sur-Seine, France. The company’s technology covers the entire lifecycle of the biobased polymer: fermentation of sugar into lactic acid, polymerisation into PLA and end-of-life management via its patented mechanical and chemical recycling technology.
Construction of the new facility was initially scheduled to begin in mid-2026, but the timeline has been adjusted to account for unexpected work on soil preparation. Production is now planned to begin in early 2029.
PLA is a biobased, industrially compostable polymer that is used in apparel. Futerro said it could rely on strong support from local authorities and the EU green policies in favour of materials that are not derived from fossil fuels.
Port-Jerome-sur-Seine is the location also chosen by Eastman to set up a chemical recycling facility for difficult to recycle waste. That project was put on hold, not cancelled.
Rendering courtesy of Futerro
