UPM Biochemicals and Haertol Chemie, a producer of engine and battery coolants, have announced a collaboration to introduce renewable and sustainable forest-sourced materials in the automotive industry to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, reported JustAuto. 

The two companies in Germany will work together to produce a new line of carbon-neutral engine and battery coolants, allowing automotive manufacturers to reduce their CO2 emissions. 

UPM has allocated a budget of €750 million to build the world’s first biorefinery in Leuna, Germany. It is slated to become operational by the end of 2023 and will produce an estimated 220,000 tons coolant.

UPM’s Bio-MEG (mono-ethylene glycol) and BioPura products are made using sustainable hardwood sourced from local forests and certified as carbon-negative. 

UPM aims to optimize the process and material streams to further slash emissions. 

Haertol will be one of the first to incorporate the renewable materials into its products. Integrating UPM’s products into their own can significantly allow major automotive companies to reduce their scope three emissions. 

Haertol’s facility in Magdeburg is 120 kilometers away from UPM’s biorefinery in Leuna, allowing for the smooth operation of short-range supply chains for European automakers. 

Marco Bergemann, Haertol managing director, said: “MEG is the main ingredient in every coolant (92-95%). This is especially exciting for electric vehicle manufacturers as an EV can require at least two times more coolant for the temperature management of the battery than vehicles with combustion engines, meaning the life cycle assessment of EVs is further improved.”