ZeaChem, Chief Executive Officer, Jim Imbler.
KANSAS CITY, US: Procter & Gamble Company has inked a deal with cellulosic ethanol start-up ZeaChem Inc to convert plant material and other biomass used for ethanol into chemicals for household products and packaging.
The multiyear joint development agreement between the world’s largest household products maker and the biofuel company is keyed to a trend among top consumer products players to try to make packaging environmentally friendly.
“If you can make green to replace brown at a cost less than brown, there is no limit to that market,” said ZeaChem, Chief Executive Officer, Jim Imbler in an interview.
Procter & Gamble - maker of an array of household products has set a goal of replacing 25 per cent of its petroleum-based materials with renewable materials by 2020. “As part of its long-term environmental sustainability vision, P&G is committed to using 100 per cent sustainably sourced renewable or recycled materials for all products and packaging. Novel innovations from our suppliers, are critical to us achieving this vision,” said Len Sauers, Vice President-Global Sustainability, P&G, in a statement.
The agreement calls for Procter & Gamble and ZeaChem to jointly research, develop and commercialize the new bio-based chemicals. The companies did not divulge any financial details of the deal.
(c) Thomson Reuters 2011