Building a state-of-the-art biorefinery in Leuna

We take the production of wood-based renewable biochemicals from idea to reality.

 
UPM's biorefinery is a key investment for the state of Saxony-Anhalt. Leuna offers a well-developed infrastructure and a business environment which is supportive to such investments.
Dr. Reiner Haseloff, Prime Minister, Saxony-Anhalt, at the groundbreaking
 

What we do in Leuna

UPM is leading the way and investing in the biochemicals industry of tomorrow. Bioeconomy inspires us, and we want to create a future beyond fossils.

We are building the world's first biorefinery in Leuna, Germany. Our biochemicals are made from responsibly sourced hardwood and have a radically improved CO2 footprint compared to fossil-based alternatives.

Our renewable Bio-Monoethylene Glycol (BioMEG) will serve as a base material for various industrial products and consumer goods, such as PET bottles, packaging materials, polyester textiles and engine & battery coolants. Our renewable Bio-Monopropylene Glycol (BioMPG) will be ready to be converted into cleaning agents, deicing fluids, fragrances, and cosmetics.

As they can be fully integrated into existing production and recycling processes, they enable the transformation of the entire chemicals value chain towards renewable circularity.

Our lignin-based Renewable Functional Fillers (RFF) are a completely new, sustainable product and sustainable alternative to replace carbon black and precipitated silica in various rubber end uses such as tires, hoses, rubber floorings and scores of other rubber applications.

 
 

Sustainable wood sourcing at the Leuna biorefinery

100% of the wood used to produce UPM renewable biochemicals in the UPM biorefinery in Leuna, Germany, is either FSC™ or PEFC™ certified and taken from forests where biodiversity and natural ecosystems are preserved. All our wood is fully traceable, controlled, and covered by a verified third-party chain of custody.

*FSC N003385, PEFC/02-44-41

 
 
 

Our biorefinery under construction – watch the progress here

 

Once operational, our new biorefinery in Leuna, Germany, will ramp up to turn wood into next-generation biochemicals producing sustainable glycols and lignin-based renewable functional fillers. After the groundbreaking in 2020, the construction of the UPM biorefinery is in full swing. We estimate the technical start-up by the end of 2024.

Our first milestone is the completion of the pipe rack. Pulling the concrete for the fundaments is ongoing, and the first buildings are coming out of the soil.

 

More videos

 
 
 

Read more about our biorefinery in the press

Baustart für 550 Millionen Euro teure Bioraffinerie in Leuna

Read article (German)

Baustart für Bioraffinerie in Leuna

Read article (German)

The construction of UPM’s innovative biochemicals facility starts in Germany

Read article
 

Our product offering

Renewable functional fillers

Renewable functional fillers

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Renewable glycols

Renewable glycols

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Lignin

Lignin

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