A new partnership has been formed between SS Royal Kit Emirates Investment and Global Biopolymers Industries and this partnership has led to the creation of a new company, Emirates Biotech. This company has its headquarters based in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates. The purpose of this new venture, will be for the company to focus on the production and marketing of PLA biopolymers throughout the Middle East, Africa and finally India.

The interest in PLA stems from the fact that the material is 100% renewable, biodegradable and recyclable. It is generated from lactic acid, which comes from the fermentation of plant biomass, which contains a high starch content and all of this is a carbon neutral process. This new material is ideal as it is alternative, sustainable and it is suitable for conventional plastic processing technologies, such as injection moulding. Furthermore, it is also possible to use the material across multiple sectors and industries, meaning it provides a sustainable and circular solution, which is good for replacing traditional fossil fuel-based plastics , whilst simultaneously aiding the transition into a circular, biobased society.

Furthermore, it has already been agreed that Emirates Biotech will provide expertise in application development, recycling and sustainable end-of-life solutions, whilst also supplying the PLA biopolymers.

Emirates Biotech have stated that their plan with this new material, is to create a PLA production facility in the United Arab Emirates. This facility is due to be located in Abu Dhabi’s KEZAD Free Zone. On top of this, commercial operations will begin in early 2025 and it has also been stated that construction of the company’s first PLA production plant will commence before 2026.

A former CEO of NatureWorks, Marc Verbruggen, who has more than ten years of experience in the PLA bioplastics industry, commented, “The transition to bioplastics is not just a choice. If one wants to reduce the plastic impact on landfills and oceans, it’s a necessity.”

One of the parties to sign the agreement, Shaikh Suhail Ali Saeed Rashed Al-Maktoum, added, “By investing in PLA bioplastics, we are taking a proactive step towards building a more eco-conscious society for generations to come, aligning with the UAE's vision outlined in the Green Agenda 2030.”