image credit:-Agri-Pulsi
Sulzer Ltd., based in Winterthur, Switzerland, has announced that it will provide its state-of-the-art polylactic acid (PLA) production technologies to Balrampur Chini Mills Limited (BCML) to support the construction of India’s first bioplastics plant. This new facility will produce 75,000 tonnes of compostable, wholly recyclable bioplastic per year using sugarcane as a feedstock. The plant’s location next to one of BCML’s sugar cane processing facilities will allow the company to utilize the country’s main agricultural crop to make a significant contribution to India’s sustainability goals.
The move towards bioplastics is driven by the environmental impact of single-use plastic waste, prompting many countries to encourage the adoption of more sustainable alternatives, especially for packaging materials. Polylactic acid, a bio-based, compostable, and recyclable biopolymer produced from renewable feedstocks like sugar cane, is at the forefront of these efforts. Sulzer has developed and optimized the technologies required for the production process of this material, aiming to help industries meet the increasing global demand for high-performance, sustainable products in an economically viable manner.
Balrampur Chini Mills Limited, one of India’s leading sugar producers with a crushing capacity of 80,000 tonnes per day across ten plants, has a strong sustainability ethos. The company is already the largest producer of bioethanol for fuel in India and utilizes waste products from its sugar mills for power generation. The addition of this bioplastic manufacturing capability represents the next step in BCML’s journey towards achieving Net Zero status, enhancing its resource efficiency and environmental footprint.
Sulzer will play a key role in the realization of the plant by delivering manufacturing technologies for key process stages, including lactide synthesis, lactide purification, and polymerization. As the leading global supplier of key equipment for bioplastics production, Sulzer’s expertise is utilized in most PLA manufacturing plants worldwide. After the completion of this plant, the company’s field service experts will be available to support the commissioning and start-up procedures.
This project underscores Sulzer’s commitment to supporting essential industries that can contribute to a more prosperous economy and sustainable society. The new bioplastics plant will provide further diversification for the sugar producer, complementing its bioethanol and power generation schemes. Unlike the heavily regulated sugar market with limited potential for increasing margins, the demand for bioplastics is rapidly growing, offering environmental benefits and reduced energy costs in production
