Kraton joins Michelin project to produce bio-ingredient 5-HMF

Clermont-Ferrand, France – Kraton Corp. has joined the Cerisea project, a Michelin-led initiative to establish an industrial-scale production facility for 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF).

Produced from fructose via 'green' chemical processes, 5-HMF is a bio-based molecule that can replace fossil-based ingredients as a key building block in green chemistry.

In a 25 Sept statement, Kraton said it was among Michelin's 12 selected partners in the project to commercialise 5-HMF and convert it into “high-performance, sustainable materials for new applications.”

The molecule can be used across multiple industries, including tires, coatings, adhesives and surfactants.

Described as “the world’s largest of its kind,” the 3,000-tonne-per-annum unit is being built in Peage-en-Roussillon, southeastern France, and is set to begin operations in March 2029.

Michelin announced a €60-million investment in the project earlier this year.

At the time, the group said the European 5-HMF market was “still emerging”, noting that current production is limited to small-scale sites in Asia, where costs remain too high for industrial use.

By scaling up output in Europe, the project aims to establish a local value chain for 5-HMF, targeting an estimated potential market of over 40ktpa by 2030.

To meet that goal, Michelin plans to expand production through a modular 20ktpa licensing model in partnership with other industrial players.

As previously reported by ERJ, Michelin has already used 5-HMF in adhesive resins developed by its ResiCare subsidiary for non-tire applications, such as plywood and abrasives.

While the molecule is not yet used in Michelin tires, the group is exploring its potential in tire-cord adhesive formulations.

Other partners in the Cerisea project include ADM, Avantium, Arkema, IFPEN, CNRS, and several academic and research institutions.