UPM Biochemicals and KRAHN Chemie sign exclusive distribution agreement for UPM BioMotion Renewable Functional Fillers (RFF)

Press Release 3.5.2022 13:00 EEST

UPM Biochemicals and KRAHN Chemie Deutschland GmbH signed an exclusive distribution agreement to market UPM BioMotionTM Renewable Functional Fillers (RFF) in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. RFF are a completely new category of functional fillers, replacing fossil-based carbon black and precipitated silica. The distribution agreement covers UPM BioMotion™ X10, X20 and X40 product grades to be used in plastics, adhesives and sealants as well as paints and coatings.

UPM BioMotion™ Renewable Functional Fillers (RFF) have a significantly lower CO2 footprint compared to traditional, oil-based products. They enable companies to respond to drastically changing market conditions, increasing consumer demands for advanced product sustainability and to make a tangible contribution to achieving the 2050 climate targets.

“RFF are an innovative, new category of bio-based functional fillers, to be used in the production of plastics and other polymer-based products or formulations. As regulatory requirements in automotive, electronics and packaging sectors force companies to meet ever increasing environmental standards, RFF can be a game changer for players in these sectors to comply with these requirements and offer a completely new, sustainable product to today’s sustainability minded consumers,” says Christian Hübsch, Director Sales & Marketing UPM Biochemicals. “We are delighted to cooperate with KRAHN Chemie Deutschland, one of the leading distributors for our target-segments, to bring RFF to the market.”


The construction site of the UPM biorefinery in Leuna, Germany.

“UPM BioMotion™ Renewable Functional Fillers (RFF) are an excellent addition to our portfolio and support our strong focus on innovating in collaboration with our customers and partners to achieve the 2050 climate goals and future-proof our customer’s performance to comply with current and future regulations,” says Thorben Liebrecht, Business Segment Manager Plastics, Adhesives & Sealants at KRAHN Chemie Deutschland GmbH.

UPM Biochemicals is a new entrant to the chemicals market. As the renewable chemicals business of UPM, the Finnish forest industry market leader with an annual turnover of a EUR 10 billion, UPM Biochemicals is currently investing EUR 750 million in the world’s first biorefinery producing renewable monoethylene glycols (bMEG) and Renewable Functional Fillers (RFF) from sustainably sourced and certified hardwood. The biorefinery is being built in Leuna, Germany.

For further information please contact:
Christian Hübsch, Director Sales & Marketing, UPM Biochemicals, christian.hubsch@upm.com

UPM, Media Relations
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tel. +358 40 588 3284
media@upm.com

UPM Biochemicals
UPM Biochemicals offers innovative, sustainable and competitive wood-based biochemicals for replacing fossil-based raw materials and improving the environmental performance in various applications. End-use segments for renewable glycols include textiles, PET bottles, packaging, coolants, composites, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and detergents. Lignin-based Renewable Functional Fillers (RFF) offer a sustainable alternative to carbon black and precipitated silica in a broad range of rubber and plastic applications. UPM is building an industrial scale biorefinery in Leuna, Germany to convert solid wood into next generation biochemicals. www.upmbiochemicals.com

UPM
We deliver renewable and responsible solutions and innovate for a future beyond fossils across six business areas: UPM Fibres, UPM Energy, UPM Raflatac, UPM Specialty Papers, UPM Communication Papers and UPM Plywood. As the industry leader in responsibility, we are committed to the UN Business Ambition for 1.5°C and the science-based targets to mitigate climate change. We employ 17,000 people worldwide and our annual sales are approximately EUR 9,8 billion. Our shares are listed on Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd. UPM Biofore – Beyond fossils. www.upm.com

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