HAMBURG, Germany — KRAHN Chemie and UPM Biochemicals signed an exclusive distribution agreement to market UPM BioMotion™ renewable functional fillers (RFF) in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. RFF are a completely new category of functional fillers, replacing fossil-based carbon black and precipitated silica. The distribution agreement covers UPM BioMotion X10, X20 and X40 product grades to be used in plastics, adhesives and sealants as well as paints and coatings.

UPM BioMotion renewable functional fillers are reported to have a significantly lower CO₂ footprint compared to traditional, oil-based products. They enable companies to respond to changing market conditions, increasing consumer demands for advanced product sustainability and to make a tangible contribution to achieving the 2050 climate targets.

“RFF are an innovative, new category of bio-based functional fillers, to be used in the production of plastics and other polymer-based products or formulations. As regulatory requirements in automotive, electronics and packaging sectors force companies to meet ever increasing environmental standards, RFF can be a game changer for players in these sectors to comply with these requirements and offer a completely new, sustainable product to today’s sustainability minded consumers”, said Christian Hübsch, Director Sales & Marketing UPM Biochemicals. “We are delighted to cooperate with KRAHN Chemie, one of the leading distributors for our target-segments, to bring RFF to the market.”

“UPM BioMotion™ RFF are an excellent addition to our portfolio and support our strong focus on innovating in collaboration with our customers and partners to achieve the 2050 climate goals and future-proof our customer’s performance to comply with current and future regulations,” said Thorben Liebrecht, Business Segment Manager Plastics, Adhesives & Sealants at KRAHN Chemie Deutschland GmbH.

UPM Biochemicals is a new entrant into the chemicals market. As the renewable chemicals business of UPM Kymmene, the Finnish forest company, UPM Biochamicals is currently investing more than €500 million in the world’s first biorefinery producing renewable monoethylene glycols and RFF from sustainably sourced and certified hardwood. 

Additional details are available at www.krahn.eu and www.upmbiochemicals.com.