Tackling plastic pollution through systematic innovation and collaboration

In 2015, when the Paris Agreement was uniting the world to take action to reduce the effects of climate change, two forward-thinking companies joined forces to help meet that goal in the polymer sector. TotalEnergies and Corbion embarked on a mission to replace conventional plastic with a bioplastic solution that is versatile, familiar to consumers and better for the planet. 

TotalEnergies Corbion, the resulting business, is working across the entire value chain to drive innovation and foster sustainable practices. Ensuring its range of Luminy® Poly Lactic Acid (PLA) bioplastics both meets market needs and contributes to a healthier planet, by significantly reducing dependency on conventional plastics produced by finite, non-renewable resources. Luminy® PLA is created with carbon captured from the atmosphere through the growth of sugarcane, and stored in PLA products until their end of life, which is industrial composting if not previously recycled.

There is an urgent need to address plastic pollution. It is severely impacting lands, waters and ecosystems and there are alarming reports surfacing about microplastics found in human tissues, including brains. That is why the Plastics Treaty is so high on the United Nations (UN) agenda. It is a clear call to action and the Luminy® PLA bioplastics range is an important part of the solution.

Every business, in every industry, has to adapt if all are going to limit the catastrophic effects of climate change. One of the major challenges businesses face is decarbonizing their supply chains. It is where up to 90% of their emissions originate and it is abundantly clear the innovation needed can only come from wide-spread collaboration and co-ordination in pursuit of the common goal.

That is why the approach is firmly based on working with customers, partners, peers and policy makers. Working together means accelerating collectively the development of sustainable solutions and contribute to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Partnerships across industries and sectors allow them to pool their resources, share knowledge and leverage their collective expertise to drive meaningful change on a global scale.

Transforming Industry Standards with Luminy® PLA

One of the key roles is to set new benchmarks for the industry with their biobased, recyclable and industrially compostable PLA. Their Luminy® PLA resins can offer more than a 75% reduction in carbon footprint compared to conventional plastics. Importantly, PLA bioplastics do not leave persistent microplastics, as shown in the 2024 meta study by HYDRA Marie Sciences. This makes PLA an ideal solution aligned with the UN Plastic Treaty’s objectives to eliminate plastic waste and pollution, while promoting circularity.

If it is going to tackle plastic pollution effectively, the Plastics Treaty has to prioritize investments in industrial composting, recycling infrastructure and technology. This includes supporting the development of advanced composting facilities and recycling techniques capable of processing a wide range of plastic materials, including PLA bioplastics. This is an essential part of managing plastic waste sustainably and reintegrating these materials back into the economy.

Their commitment to a sustainable future through innovation

Every year, they invest a part of their net profit in innovation. Their entrepreneurial spirit and dedication to innovation enable them to keep developing unique application offerings. They are already transforming everyday products in six critical market segments, which include products as diverse as packaging and automotive components. But they are not stopping there. While they continue working with partners across the value chain to improve current products, they are also constantly looking for new ways bioplastics can make positive impacts on environment. Can you imagine a world where all conventional plastics and materials would be replaced by products based on regenerative crops such as sugar cane?

To bring this to life, it is imperative they continue their collaboration and innovation across the value chain, developing new and more sustainable products, and prioritizing investments in industrial composting and recycling infrastructure. That way, they can begin to reduce plastic pollution, and advance towards a truly sustainable and circular economy.