Four Asia chemical majors in consortium to build green polyester supply chain

SINGAPORE (ICIS)–A consortium consisting of four Asian petrochemical producers have agreed to establish a sustainable polyester fiber supply chain.

Japan’s Mitsubishi Corp, South Korea’s SK geo centric, Thailand’s Indorama Ventures Ltd (IVL), and India Glycols along with three other companies are part of the consortium, the companies said in a joint statement on Thursday.

Japanese sports apparel firm Goldwin is the project owner of the initiative, while Finnish refiner Neste is also part of the consortium alongside Japan-based engineering firm Chiyoda Corp.

Financial details of the project were not disclosed.

The project aims to utilize renewable and bio-based materials as well as materials produced via carbon capture and utilization (CCU) to manufacture polyester fibers for THE NORTH FACE brand in Japan.

Outdoor apparel and equipment brand THE NORTH FACE is operated by Goldwin in Japan.

“After that, the launch of further products and brands of Goldwin will be considered,” Chiyoda said in the statement.

The polyester fiber produced from the project is planned to be used by Goldwin for a part of THE NORTH FACE products, including sports uniforms in July this year.

Chiyoda will supply CCU-based paraxylene (PX) to the supply chain, while Thai polyester producer IVL will contribute renewable CCU-based purified terephthalic acid (PTA).

In March 2022, Chiyoda started producing carbon dioxide (CO2)-based PX at its pilot plant at the company’s Koyasu Research Park in Kanagawa prefecture as part of a project linked with Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NED).

SK geo centric and Neste will be supplying renewable PX and renewable naphtha, respectively.

India Glycols, which produces monoethylene glycol (MEG), will supply bio-ethylene glycol made mainly from sugarcane.

Toyobo MC Corporation (TMC) – a joint venture between Toyobo Co and Mitsubishi Corp – will be supplying renewable bio-CCU polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

Details on supply volumes from each of the consortium partners were not disclosed.

Thumbnail photo: A generic polyester clothing label (Sandvik/imageBROKER/Shutterstock)