by Thomas Philipon, CEO of TotalEnergies Corbion

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 our 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 our lands, waters and ecosystems and there are alarming reports surfacing about microplastics found in human tissues, including our 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 we 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 our approach is firmly based on working with customers, partners, peers and policy makers. Working together means we, collectively, can accelerate the development of sustainable solutions and contribute to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Partnerships across industries and sectors allow us to pool our resources, share knowledge and leverage our collective expertise to drive meaningful change on a global scale.

Transforming Industry Standards with Luminy® PLA

One of our key roles is to set new benchmarks for the industry with our biobased, recyclable and industrially compostable PLA. Our 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.

Our commitment to a sustainable future through innovation

Every year, we invest a part of our net profit in innovation. Our entrepreneurial spirit and dedication to innovation enable us to keep developing unique application offerings. We are already transforming everyday products in six critical market segments, which include products as diverse as packaging and automotive components. But we are not stopping there. While we continue working with partners across the value chain to improve current products, we are also constantly looking for new ways our bioplastics can make positive impacts on our 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 we continue our collaboration and innovation across the value chain, developing new and more sustainable products, and prioritizing investments in industrial composting and recycling infrastructure. That way, we can begin to reduce plastic pollution, and advance towards a truly sustainable and circular economy.

At TotalEnergies Corbion, we are committed to leading the way, creating solutions that meet today's needs and ensure a healthier planet for future generations. We cannot do this alone so please join us. You can find out more information, and our contact details, on our website.