27 Jun 2025
The €1.2bn Leuna facility will manufacture lignin-based functional fillers for tires, rubber products
Helsinki – UPM Biochemicals is on track to begin commercial production at its biorefinery in Leuna, Germany, in the second half of 2025, according to a company release.
In the 17 June announcment, UPM said the facility had received triple sustainability certification, including ISCC+, PEFC, and FSC chain-of-custody certifications.
Among other products, the €1.2 billion Saxony-Anhalt site will manufacture lignin-based renewable functional fillers (RFFs).
The materials offer bio-based alternatives to carbon black and other rubber fillers for products including tires, automotive profiles, hoses, seals, footwear and flooring.
The Leuna plant sources “FSC- or PEFC-certified hardwood exclusively from sustainably managed regional forests,” said the Finnish forest industry specialist.
“The certifications confirm that all wood-based feedstocks used in the biorefinery are sourced from sustainably managed forests and are fully traceable through credible third-party auditing schemes,” it added.
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