The Bio-PDO^™ sustainability story

DuPont is a company with over two centuries of science, including more than 60 years of experience in polymer and textile science. Tate & Lyle PLC, formed in 1921, is a world leading producer of value-added food and industrial ingredients from renewable resources such as corn, wheat and sugar. In May 2004, the two companies announced the formation of DuPont Tate & Lyle Bio Products LLC, a joint venture that today operates one of the largest renewable materials facilities in the world in Loudon, Tenn., and markets an innovative new product made from corn sugar – Bio-PDO^™ propanediol.

Bio-PDO^™ is a 100 percent renewably sourced monomer that can add renewable content and uncompromised performance to a variety of applications, either by itself or as an ingredient in the production of materials that have traditionally relied on petroleum feedstocks. Products that include Bio-PDO^™ may qualify for preferential procurement under programs such as the program currently offered under the U.S. 2002 Farm Bill.

Two new grades of Bio-PDO^™ are now available: Zemea^™ and Susterra^™. Zemea^™ propanediol has been developed for use in the personal care and liquid detergent categories where the products’ purity level and low irritation are benefits. Susterra^™ propanediol is used in industrial applications where its low toxicity and biodegradability are beneficial such as de-icing fluids, anti-freeze and heat transfer fluids. Bio-PDO^™ is also the key ingredient for Sorona^®, DuPont’s newest polymer family. Sorona^® offers a unique combination of attributes in a variety of applications, including apparel, residential carpet and a variety of other applications including engineering and thermoplastic resins. Manufacture of Sorona^® using Bio-PDO^™ will begin in early 2007, providing the added feature of approximately 40 percent renewable content.

The Loudon plant receives corn sugar from the Tate & Lyle corn wet mill that resides on the same site. Corn sugar is the key feedstock for a propriety fermentation process that produces Bio-PDO^™.

A life cycle assessment of the cradle-to-gate production of chemically derived propanediol verses the cradle-to-gate production of renewably sourced Bio-PDO^™ shows significant environmental benefits for the Loudon operations. The production of Bio-PDO^™ consumes 40 percent less energy and reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent versus petroleum-based propanediol. Production of 100 million pounds of Bio-PDO^™ in the Loudon plant will save the equivalent of 15 million gallons of gasoline per year, or enough to fuel over 27,000 cars annually, which is nearly half the cars in Loudon County, Tenn. Bio-PDO^™ is also certified as readily biodegradable based on an Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) Guideline Test for Biodegradation.

The life cycle assessment (LCA) study was externally reviewed by Prof. Konrad Saur of Five Winds, an internationally recognized LCA expert.

The DuPont Oval, DuPont^™ and The miracles of science^™, Bio-PDO^™, and Sorona^® are registered trademarks or trademarks of DuPont or its affiliates. Susterra^™ and Zemea^™ are trademarks of DuPont Tate & Lyle Bio Products LLC.