Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C. and San Diego, CA – June 27, 2013
Far Eastern New Century Corporation (FENC) and Genomatica announced that FENC has successfully made high-performance fibers and clothing with high bio-based content. A sample shirt made with this fiber will be shown publicly for the first time at the BioPlastek conference today in San Francisco.
FENC achieved this result by producing one of their high-performance co-polymers using a bio-based version of the widely-used chemical BDO, made from renewable feedstocks, rather than a conventional BDO made with petroleum-based feedstocks. The specific polymer they chose to showcase is used as the core platform technology for their functionalized apparel, such as TopCool+®. TopCool+® apparel provides up to 4° Celsius (7° Fahrenheit) sustained cooling for wearers without feeling ‘muggy.’
FENC used BDO produced using Genomatica’s commercially-proven process technology. Genomatica’s BDO process has been licensed by BASF and others; been used to produce 5 million pounds of BDO in just 5 weeks; and been shown to deliver the same performance and use the same processes to make downstream products as using petro-BDO, because using Genomatica’s BDO process results in the exact same chemical, but ‘made better,’ with renewable feedstocks.
Using BDO made with Genomatica’s process, FENC has achieved polymers with up to 50% bio-based content. With this bio-polymer, FENC can achieve fibers with 30% bio-based content, resulting in typical blends in fabrics of 15% bio-based content. FENC was able to produce fibers so readily due to the top-tier quality of the BDO produced with Genomatica’s process.
FENC, committed to the innovation and promotion of real sustainability, developed its high bio-content fibers and apparel based on the belief they’ll see high interest in these more sustainable materials. FENC is discussing these high bio-content fibers with customers, and expects to source bio-based BDO from one of Genomatica’s licensed producers.
About Far Eastern New Century Corporation
Since its inception over 64 years ago, FENC has prospered from a small cotton yarn mill into a multi-billion dollar conglomerate with diversified investments. With operations in Taiwan, Mainland China, and Southeast Asia, Far Eastern Group is one of the largest polyester producers in the world, with an annual capacity of 2 million tons. The company’s production is vertically integrated from upstream raw material, PET polymers as well as recycled PET for various apparel and non-apparel goods. FENC is committed to bringing high value, top quality, innovative and sustainable products to its customers. Please see www.fenc.com for more information.
About Genomatica
Genomatica is a widely-recognized technology leader for the chemical industry. It delivers new manufacturing processes that enable its licensee partners to produce the world’s most widely-used chemicals a ‘better way,’ from renewable feedstocks, with better economics and greater sustainability than petroleum-based processes.
Genomatica’s first process, for BDO, is now commercial. Genomatica’s BDO process was used to make 5 million pounds of BDO in late 2012, and has been licensed by both BASF and Novamont. Multiple companies, including Toray, Lanxess and Far Eastern New Century, have confirmed that BDO produced using Genomatica’s process can be used the exact same way for downstream products as petro-chemicals, accelerating adoption. Genomatica is also developing processes for other high-volume chemicals: the next is for butadiene, with Versalis as partner.
Genomatica’s recognition includes the Wall Street Journal Technology Innovation award, ICIS Top 40 ‘Ones to Watch,’ the EPA Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award, and being voted #1 Hottest two years in a row by Biofuels Digest.