IFF and Kemira have partnered for this initiative to start the roll-out of Designed Enzymatic Biomaterials at commercial scale to replace fossil polymers found in packaging applications as barrier coatings on paper packaging. These Designed Enzymatic Biomaterials use plant sugars as a feedstock and produce renewable polymers that replicate the chemical structure of polymers found within nature. They have thus improved biodegradability compared to fossil-based counterparts, and allow the coated paper packaging to be compostable in certain settings. Products using these Designed Enzymatic Biomaterials have a better sustainability profile without having to sacrifice functionality, as they rely on renewable feedstock with lower emissions throughout the life cycle and that do not release persistent microplastics. This joint venture between IFF and Kemira will allow the commercialisation of these innovations by opening a full-scale plant capable of producing these biomaterials, enabling the substitution of fossil-based materials usually used for these applications. These polymers are being produced at Chemigate Ltd’s Finnamyl biorefinery in Kokemäkim, Finland, since mid-2024.