Borealis is investing €49m ($57.3m) to increase the production capacity for its Borstar Nextension polypropylene at its Burghausen facility in Germany.
The planned expansion will enable the manufacture of single-site polypropylene (ssPP) grades, which the company says are designed to meet stringent purity, processing and performance standards for industries such as packaging, healthcare, mobility and fibres.
According to Borealis, the investment is intended to support a shift towards monomaterial polypropylene solutions with advanced properties.
The Borstar Nextension process allows multiple desirable attributes to be combined within a single polypropylene material.
This development aims to help replace complex multilayer structures, facilitate circular design, reduce product weight and enhance performance.
Within packaging applications, the technology will help manufacturers meet requirements set out by the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), including the target of all packaging being recyclable by 2030.
The company reported the use of Borstar Nextension PP grades in flexible packaging, where they are said to offer improved processing, higher material purity and enhanced sealing and clarity.
Borealis polyolefins, circular economy solutions and base chemicals EVP Craig Arnold said: “By scaling up Borstar Nextension PP production, we empower our customers to stay ahead in a rapidly changing regulatory and market landscape. It’s another example of our commitment to increase the availability of innovative, recyclable polymer materials suitable for a wide range of applications across multiple industries.”
Headquartered in Vienna, Austria, Borealis has operations in more than 120 countries and approximately 6,200 employees.
In addition to polyolefin production, the company is active in polyolefin recycling and supplies base chemicals for several industries, including energy, infrastructure and healthcare.
Last month, Borealis and Borouge launched Recleo, a global brand intended to consolidate mechanically recycled polyolefins derived from both post-industrial and post-consumer sources into a unified portfolio.
