Paques Biomaterials Secures €14M for PHA Production Site in Emmen

Funding and Investment

Paques Biomaterials has secured €14 million in a new funding round to scale up the production of a biodegradable biopolymer, PHA. Key investors include Invest-NL and NOM, with additional support from Energiefonds Drenthe.

Technology Development

The biopolymer technology, developed over a decade in collaboration with Delft University of Technology, uses bacteria in organic waste streams to produce PHA. This technology was transferred to Paques Biomaterials three years ago and has since been tested extensively at laboratory and pilot scales.

New Production Facility

The raised capital will be used to build the Caleyda Extraction Facility in Emmen, where raw PHA will be processed into a high-quality biopolymer branded as Caleyda®. This facility aims to produce 6 million kg of PHA annually.

Collaborations and Market Potential

Paques Biomaterials has initiated several collaborations to enhance its technology, including partnerships with Kolon Industries in South Korea, Looop in Venlo, and Senbis Polymer Innovations in Emmen. The global demand for PHA is projected to grow from 100,000 tonnes in 2023 to 1 million tonnes in 2028, with the overall bioplastics market expected to expand significantly.