UPM opens EUR 1.37bn wood-based biorefinery in Leuna, Germany

UPM has inaugurated its biorefinery at Leuna, Germany, an investment of EUR 1.37bn (USD 1.54bn) with annual production capacity of 220,000 tonnes. The plant uses enzymatic hydrolysis to turn beechwood thinnings and sawmill residues sourced within about 200km into industrial sugars and lignin, feedstock for chemicals used in packaging, clothing, cosmetics, construction materials and tyres. Hydrolysis and lignin-based speciality chemicals have reached stable operation, and UPM is raising sales as the wider ramp-up continues.

Why this mattersA 220,000-tonne wood-to-chemicals plant gives packaging and other manufacturers fossil-free sugar and lignin feedstock at industrial scale, drawn from regional beechwood thinnings and sawmill residues.

• Investment of EUR 1.37bn (USD 1.54bn) at the Leuna site in Germany
• Annual production capacity of 220,000 tonnes of wood-based biochemicals
• Feedstock is beechwood forest thinnings and sawmill residues sourced within about 200km
• Enzymatic hydrolysis and lignin-derived specialty chemical production have reached stable operation
• Output can replace fossil-based inputs in packaging, clothing, cosmetics, construction and tyres
• UPM also runs a biorefinery in Lappeenranta, Finland

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