This critical step is a prerequisite for conversion of sugars to renewable glycols and lignin to renewable functional fillers. Earlier this year, the company successfully launched the hydrothermal breakdown of wood at the plant.
“Our biochemical innovations enable us to enter new markets, create long-term value and reinforce our position as a leader in next-generation, sustainable materials,” Massimo Reynaudo, President and CEO of UPM, said in a press statement. “Reaching this milestone is a major step towards full operations at Leuna, which is the world’s first commercial-scale biorefinery turning wood into biobased chemicals.”
UPM expects to enter the market with further commercial products from Leuna in the first half of 2026. Once fully operational, the facility will produce annually 220,000 metric tons of biobased chemicals using sustainably sourced hardwood as feedstock.