Citroniq Chemicals, Mitsui Plastics partner for sustainable polypropylene

Carbon-negative material producer Citroniq Chemicals LLC, Houston, and plastic producer Mitsui Plastics Inc. (MPI), White Plains, New York, have announced the execution of a letter of intent for a large-scale supply agreement for sustainable polypropylene (PP), which the companies say marks the beginning of a long-term partnership.

Mitsui Plastics is a wholly owned subsidiary of New York-based Mitsui & Co. (USA) Inc., which in turn is a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Mitsui & Co. Ltd, a trading, investment and service enterprise.

“Mitsui & Co. has set a goal to become carbon neutral by 2050,” Mitsui Plastics Inc. CEO Teruya Mogi says. “MPI, as part of the Mitsui & Co. Group, is investigating various options to accomplish this target, such as adding green polypropylene to our portfolio through a partnership with Citroniq.”

The companies say their partnership is timely as consumers are demanding sustainable, environmentally friendly and socially responsible products. MPI says it has identified Citroniq’s PP as a viable solution to meeting consumers’ growing demand for sustainable materials. Citroniq’s PP is made from a sustainable biogenic feedstock using renewable energy. Its carbon-negative PP permanently sequesters CO2 into plastic pellets.

“Citroniq is dedicated to being a ‘pure play’ sustainable materials company,” Citroniq co-founder Kelly Knopp says. “With our annual capacity of over 800 million pounds of green polypropylene at our Kansas plant, our cost position will be highly competitive, leveraging existing feedstocks and logistically advantaged infrastructure.”

Citroniq co-founder Mel Badheka adds, “Together, MPI and Citroniq will be able to provide customers with global-scale supplies of ‘drop-in’ sustainable resins much faster than the alternatives, resulting in meaningful reductions in their carbon footprint, on schedule with their carbon reduction targets.”