Production of wood-based renewable biochemicals: BioMEG, BioMPG, Renewable Functional Fillers and Industrial Sugar in Leuna
UPM Biochemicals
Leuna (DE) · Helsinki (FI)New on Amplifa
About UPM Biochemicals
UPM Biochemicals is a business division of the Finnish UPM Group and produces wood-based, renewable biochemicals as an alternative to fossil raw materials. At the centre is the biorefinery in Leuna (Saxony-Anhalt), which was built on a site covering approximately 15 hectares. The plant converts wood into lignin and industrial-grade sugar, and from these into bio-monoethylene glycol (BioMEG), bio-monopropylene glycol (BioMPG), Renewable Functional Fillers (RFF) as well as Industrial Sugar. The facility is designed for a capacity of 220,000 tonnes per year; the total investment amounted to EUR 1,275 million. The biochemicals can be fully integrated into existing production and recycling processes and serve, among others, plastics processing, the adhesives and chemical industries, and the paper and packaging sector. Sales are handled by UPM Biochemicals Sales GmbH, based in Helsinki.
- Site
- Helsinki
- Materials
- Bio-Monoethylene Glycol (BioMEG), Bio-Monopropylene Glycol (BioMPG), Renewable Functional Fillers (RFF), Industrial Sugar, Lignin, Bio-Monoethylene Glycol, Bio-Monopropylene Glycol, Renewable Functional Fillers
- Industries
- Chemical industry, Plastics processing, Adhesives, Paper and packaging industry
- 01
Wood supply (sustainable forestry)
- 02
Wood-to-lignin-and-sugar process
- 03
BioMEG and BioMPG synthesis
- 04
Lignin derivatives / RFF production
- 05
Industrial sugar delivery
- 06
Sales (Helsinki)
Products and Processes
Bio-Monoethylene Glycol
Wood-based glycol as a substitute for fossil MEG, e.g. for PET and plastics applications.
Bio-Monopropylene Glycol
Renewable propylene glycol for applications e.g. in the chemical and industrial sectors.
Renewable Functional Fillers
Lignin-based fillers as a functional substitute for fossil fillers in composite materials.
Industrial Sugar
Wood-based industrial sugar as a feedstock for bio-based chemicals.
Lignin
By-product of wood pulping, the basis for lignin derivatives and fillers.
Locations
Leuna
DEBiorefinery (Production)
- Lot size
- 220,000 t/year
- Materials
- BioMEG, BioMPG, RFF, Industrial Sugar, Lignin
Helsinki
FISales (UPM Biochemicals Sales GmbH)
Inside the production
Industries
History
- 2020
UPM announced an investment of EUR 1,275 million in a 220,000-tonne biorefinery in Leuna.
- 2024
Commissioning and start-up of the Leuna biorefinery at the end of 2024.
- 2025
First industrial sugar deliveries from Q4 2025.