Sustainea’s Bio-MEG is produced through a one-step catalytic process that converts corn-derived dextrose directly into a bio-based monoethylene glycol chemically identical to its fossil counterpart. Validated across thousands of operating hours at demonstration scale, the process has been engineered for high yield and selectivity. A preliminary life cycle assessment projects Bio-MEG as carbon-negative on a cradle-to-gate basis: more CO2 is captured by the feedstock than is emitted during production.
Sustainea develops plant-based chemicals that help decarbonize how materials are produced, delivering high-performance glycols for a low-carbon circular economy. Bio-MEG is one of the two building blocks of PET and polyester, the materials behind beverage bottles, food packaging and textile fibres.
Conventional bio-based routes convert ethanol into ethylene, then into MEG, a multi-step, energy-intensive pathway with lower conversion rates. Sustainea’s process goes directly from dextrose to MEG in a single step, using less energy and simplifying the production chain. As a drop-in molecule, Bio-MEG requires no changes to existing PET or polyester production lines and performs identically to fossil-based MEG.
The PET and polyester made with Bio-MEG remain fully recyclable. Bottles stay bottle-grade. Fibres stay recyclable. Recycled PET also inherits the lower carbon footprint of the virgin resin it came from, so bio-based content and recyclability reinforce each other rather than compete.
High process yield, an abundant feedstock and co-location with the feedstock supplier keep production costs competitive with fossil-based MEG.
Sustainea’s first commercial plant, in Lafayette, Indiana (USA), represents an investment of over USD 400 million. The roadmap includes up to three plants, with 700,000 tonnes per year of capacity.
Bio-MEG holds USDA Certified Biobased Product, OK biobased (TÜV Austria) and Non-GMO Verified certifications.
More information here: www.sustaineabio.com
