Development of plant-based PX for PET production

US biotechnology company Virent (Madison, Wisconsin; www.virent.com) claims it has succeeded in making PX from 100% renewable plant sugars. Branded “BioFormPX99, the PX can be used to produce plant-based PET packaging and bottles. “Our plant-based PX paves the way for 100% sustainable, recyclable products and packaging with complete freedom from crude oil,” says CEO Lee Edwards. BioFormPX is made using a patented, catalytic process which converts plant-based sugars into PX molecules identical to those made from petroleum, Virent says. “Our PX can be blended at any ratio the customer desires, and made from a wide variety of feedstocks, including