Sustainable Plastics -March/ April 2021 - 33

sustainable materials
The isosorbide molecule.

'A platform for Roquette building blocks'
Jiae Kim, Global Market Manager for Performance Materials division at Roquette
and based in South Korea
answered a few questions for
Sustainable Plastics to explain
how the company developed
its isosorbide platform.
In 2012, a Roquette spokesperson called isosorbide 'a
platform for Roquette building
blocks'. How has that platform
developed since then?
A key development was
bringing the new Lestrem
plant onstream in 2015. We describe isosorbide as a building
block because of its versatility, but customers adopting it
as a feedstock need to be assured of a reliable, high-quality
supply. This is what Lestrem
provides. It utilises state-ofthe-art technology to produce
isosorbide of the highest purity
with high efficiency.
A further important development, when it comes
to providing building blocks
for plant-based chemistry
is that our portfolio has also
now evolved, to include Biosuccinium, a 100% bio-based
succinic acid. Succinic acid
has a variety of industrial
applications, notably in the
manufacture of polymers and
resins, and is currently a predominantly petro-based feedstock. Biosuccinium provides
customers with a drop-in
bio-based alternative with an
improved environmental footprint, offering the capability
to develop superior sustainable products.
Has the quality of the isosorbide changed over the years?
If so, how was this achieved?
Roquette is constantly working
to improve the quality of our

products. As a pioneer in the
field of industrial isosorbide
production we have refined
the manufacturing process to
achieve market-leading purity
(>99.5%) as well as optimizing productivity. The Lestrem
plant is the world's largest
isosorbide production facility
but also the most efficient. The
high-performance purification
technology used is crucial to
our ability to deliver consistently high product quality, to
meet customer requirements.
These are the key factors to be
competitive in the market.
How big is the demand from
the market for the product?
Is it growing? Where is the
greatest demand, what part
of the world?
Isosorbide is a versatile product that can be used not only
as a raw material for co-polyester resin but also as an intermediate in coating, adhesive and other applications.
This potential is now increasingly well-recognized and
there is activity to exploit it
across the globe.
As well as incorporating a
renewable feedstock, Polysorb isosorbide-based polyester (poly(ethylene-co-isosorbide) terephthalate - PEIT)
is recyclable, increasing the
motivation to switch to this
solution. Polysorb isosorbide
is a plant-based molecule with
a low environmental footprint
making it attractive from the
perspective of both new regulatory restrictions and consumer concern.
One final note. During the
COVID-19 pandemic, we have
observed some changes in the
market dynamic. The packaging market for instance, has

continued to grow strongly
despite the global economic
downturn, thanks to increased
demand from consumers for
hygienically packaged goods.
What is the biggest end-use
application for isosorbide at
present?
Packaging, specifically PEIT,
but automotive and CASE
(coating, adhesive, sealants,
elastomers) applications are
also increasing. All these
sectors have big ambitions
to improve sustainability and
isosorbide has a role to play
in realizing this vision.
It is worth highlighting that
isosorbide is gaining most
traction where it is not simply
a direct swap for an existing
less environmentally benign
feedstock, but rather imparts
performance advantages. Applications where isosorbide
incorporation results in a superior product, as well as decreasing carbon footprint, are
the most attractive.
Are there any plans to increase the production of isosorbide currently produced at
the larger industrial-scale?
Roquette is a world leader in
polyols and produce Polysorb
isosorbide protected by various patents. We are also backward integrated into our raw
material supply chain to ensure the reliability, source and
traceability of the feedstocks
we use. It is very important
for us to be a reliable supplier with a secure supply chain.
Decisions around any further
investment will therefore be
taken cautiously with the aim
of maintaining sustainable
market growth.
As the drive to develop more

sustainable chemicals and
polymers gains momentum,
where do you see the greatest
potential for isosorbide?
While we've covered this
point to some extent in question 3, we would also add that
we all know that the future will
not be the same as before and
that the new normal is changing our lives already. The
circular economy has never
before been emphasized to
the extent it now is and, more
generally, environmental concerns and initiatives are intensifying. For example, the automotive industry is rebounding
with the new trend with environment-friendly demand.
We see great opportunities
for Polysorb isosorbide in not
only improving the sustainability of polymers but also
imparting unique properties
and performances.
What developments can we
look forward to in the near future? Are there new products
in the pipeline?
Continuous innovation is key
for a company to further improve its customers' experience
and it is a defining priority at
Roquette. Innovating sustainably is a vital pillar of Roquette's
approach, inspired by customers' and consumers' needs and
expectations. We are constantly working to improve our offer
and we have recently introduced, alongside the Polysorb
isosorbide range and Biosuccinium -succinic acid, Plastilys
- plasticizer for the biodegradable plastic.
Roquette currently operates in over 100 countries, has
a turnover of around 3.7 billion
euros and employs 8,670 people worldwide.
March/April 2021

P029_P033_SP_20210427.indd 33

4/15/21 10:48 AM

Sustainable Plastics -March/ April 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Sustainable Plastics -March/ April 2021