UPM-Biofore-Magazine-2-2014-EN

Next step with bio- chemicals

TEXT HELEN MOSTER

PHOTOGRAPHY UPM

“We implement the UPMBiofore strategy every day,” says Okko Ringena , Senior Manager, Lignin Applications, and he isn’t exaggerating. His desk is covered with an array of patent applications, draft agreements and business reports. His job is very challenging and versatile, just like the current business environment in biochemicals. Ringena works at the Biochemicals Unit in Augsburg, Germany. He is in charge of lignin products or ‘perfor- mance chemicals’. In addition to the lignin products, the unit develops biofibrils and wood-based chemical building blocks. The person in charge of the latter is Christian Hübsch , Senior Manager, StrategicMarketing and Business Development. Demand for biochemicals growing As well as in Germany, UPMBiochemicals also has teams in Finland – in Lappeenranta, Otaniemi and Helsinki. “The development of technologies andmarkets for bio-based chemicals is incredibly dynamic, muchmore dynamic than that of oil-based ones,” says Hübsch. Which is no wonder in light of the obvious benefits: the production of certain biochemicals can actually be carbon-negative, i.e. more carbon is taken from the atmo- sphere than emitted, and, on average, the carbon footprint is about 80% less than that of oil-based chemicals, plus they make the industry less dependent on uncertainties concerning the price and supply of oil. It has been estimated that the volume of biochemicals required will more than double by 2020. For UPM, this trendmeans an opportunity to grow but also presents

New biochemicals offer great development opportunities for the forest industry. UPM Biochemicals has taken the bull by the horns and already achieved results.

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