Teijin to Launch Bio-derived PET Fiber in 2012

ECO CIRCLE PlantFiber is made roughly 30 percent from biomass

Teijin Fibers Ltd will begin full-fledged production and marketing of new plant-based polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fiber – said to be the world’s first commercially produced bio-derived PET fiber – in April 2012.

Also available as a textile, the ECO CIRCLE PlantFiber will become Teijin Fibers’ core biomaterial for applications ranging from apparel, car seats and interiors to personal hygiene products. Teijin Fibers expects to sell 30,000 tons of ECO CIRCLE PlantFiber products in the initial fiscal year ending in March 2013, and 70,000 tons by the third year of business.

Teijin Fibers’ ECO CIRCLE PlantFiber is made roughly 30 percent from biofuels derived from biomass such as sugarcane. Conventional PET typically is made by polymerizing ethylene glycol (EG) and dimethyl terephthalate (DMT) or telephthalic acid (PTA), with EG accounting for roughly 30 percent. The EG is also bio-derived rather than oil-derived, helping to conserve fossil resources and lower greenhouse gas emissions. As the ECO CIRCLE PlantFiber has the same characteristics and quality of oil-derived PET, it is also suitable for use in many polyester products.

Source

JCNnetwork, 2010-12-21.

Supplier

Teijin Ltd.

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