Behind the breakthrough lies Nexam Chemicals' unique additive technology, which makes it possible to expand bio-based plastics such as PLA (polylactic acid) - something that has previously been a technical challenge. The result is a material with the same lightweight and shock-absorbing properties as traditional packaging foam, but made from renewable resources.

- This is a clear breakthrough. Being able to create bio-based foam (PLA foam) opens up an entirely new market for us, says Ronnie Törnqvist, CEO of Nexam Chemical. We are demonstrating concretely how our technology can help reduce the climate footprint of plastics without compromising performance or functionality.

Packaging foam is widely used to protect products during transport - for example, the small "beads" that fill empty spaces in boxes for e-commerce. The global volume of expanded polystyrene (EPS) used in packaging is estimated at around 5.8 million tons per year.
Based on typical emission factors of around 3-5 tons CO₂e per ton of material, this corresponds to up to approximately 18-30 million tons of CO₂e annually. This equates to tens of billions of packages worldwide, based on global e-commerce and food packaging. Being able to now replace parts of this volume with bio-based alternatives presents a significant opportunity to reduce fossil dependency and lower climate impact.

- With the help of Nexam Chemicals additives, we have now succeeded in producing a completely bio-based foam with the right structure and properties, says Hans-Erik Ouwehand, CEO of Verdofoam®. It is an important step towards more sustainable packaging solutions.

The development marks an important step in Nexam Chemicals' work to support the transition to more sustainable plastic materials. The company's additives are used globally to improve and extend the lifespan of both recycled and bio-based polymers.

For more information, visit www.nexamchemical.com, or contact:

Ronnie Törnqvist, CEO, +46-706 25 41 85, ronnie.tornqvist@nexamchemical.com 

About Verdofoam®

Verdofoam® is a new bio-tech company based in the Netherlands that offers innovative, sustainable foam solutions based on bio-based materials for insulation, packaging, and industrial applications.

Note: This press release has been translated from Swedish. The Swedish text shall govern for all purposes and prevail in case of any discrepancy with the English version.

Note: This press release has been translated from Swedish. The Swedish text shall govern for all purposes and prevail in case of any discrepancy with the English version.

For more information, please visit www.nexamchemical.com or contact:

Ronnie Törnqvist, VD, +46-706 25 41 85, ronnie.tornqvist@nexamchemical.com