UIF and Praj unite to deliver full-spectrum bioplastics solution

By Staff Report May 5, 2025 4:23 pm IST

Two global leaders join forces to advance sustainable bioplastics and drive eco-friendly manufacturing.

Praj Industries Ltd. (PIL) and Uhde Inventa-Fischer (UIF), part of ThyssenKrupp Uhde, have teamed up to offer a complete technology solution for making Polylactic Acid (PLA), which is an eco-friendly bioplastic.

Praj’s PLANERATM lactic acid technology and UIF’s PLAneo® process are combined in this alliance. From the conversion of agricultural feedstock to the manufacturing of lactic acid, lactide, and PLA polymers, the combined offering encompasses the full PLA value chain. It makes it possible to use a range of feedstocks, including second-generation, non-food raw materials, to produce several PLA grades appropriate for packaging, textiles, and hygiene applications.

The CEO of ThyssenKrupp Uhde, Nadja Håkansson, said, “We see a perfect match between two world-leading technologies.” By combining our PLAneo® method with Praj’s knowledge of lactic acid, we can supply entire PLA plants worldwide. This coordinated strategy helps us achieve our objective of substituting sustainable materials for traditional plastics.

Praj Industries’ founder and chairman, Dr Pramod Chaudhari, stated, “This collaboration enhances our Bioprism® portfolio, which is focused on bioplastics and renewable chemicals. By working together with Uhde, we hope to improve affordable biomanufacturing and make it possible to implement circular economy solutions using cutting-edge biorefineries.

The joint PLA technology be validated and shown at Praj’s recently opened Biopolymers Demonstration Facility in Pune.