en.Wedoany.com Reported - Michelin ResiCare and Axens announced today that they have entered exclusive negotiations for the industrialization and commercialization of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) production technology. 5-HMF is a strategic bio-based molecule developed in collaboration with IFP Energies Nouvelles (IFPEN), aimed at replacing fossil-based products.
This partnership aims to accelerate the industrialization and global deployment of bio-based solutions. 5-HMF is a fundamental building block for producing resins, polymers, and other sustainable materials, capable of gradually replacing certain petroleum-derived molecules. This bio-based, non-toxic, and versatile platform molecule can be used to develop resins, adhesives, and bio-based polymers. A notable example is polyethylene furanoate (PEF), widely regarded as one of the most credible alternatives to PET, with significant industrial potential in food packaging, bottle manufacturing, and textile fiber markets. Additionally, 5-HMF shows great potential for various solvents, intermediates, and products used in fine and specialty chemicals.
This technology was jointly developed by Michelin ResiCare and IFPEN with support from the French Agency for Ecological Transition (ADEME) and the European Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU). The first production unit, located in Péage-de-Roussillon, France, will have a capacity of approximately 3,000 tons per year and will be operated by Michelin ResiCare, with production scheduled to begin in early 2027. Axens will contribute its licensing and engineering expertise to support the global deployment of this technology, enabling the replacement of fossil-based products with renewable alternatives.
Jacinthe Frécon, Vice President of Innovation in Processes and Equipment at Axens, stated that this project embodies Axens' ambition to transform breakthrough innovations into concrete industrial solutions on a global scale, accelerating the deployment of key bio-based solutions by combining technologies developed in collaboration with IFPEN's leading research and its own licensing and engineering expertise to support the transition toward a more sustainable chemical industry.
Laurent Lemonnier, CEO of Michelin ResiCare, added that 5-HMF will become a benchmark platform molecule for sustainable chemistry. The proposed collaboration with Axens is a key lever to accelerate its global deployment and meet the growing demand for high-performance bio-based solutions, confirming the strong development potential of 5-HMF for a wide range of applications and the performance of the technology developed with IFPEN, fully aligned with Michelin ResiCare's commitment to developing innovative solutions that contribute to a safer and more sustainable world.
