Commercial Production Began at Leuna Biorefinery in December
UPM expects that the new biorefinery will provide the company an entry into markets where consumer brands are looking for CO₂ savings.
Picture of Leuna Biorefinery: UPM
On December 19th, UPM began the production of commercial, wood-based chemicals at its new biorefinery in Leuna, Germany. Preparations had been ongoing throughout 2025.
Earlier in the year, the biorefinery had started the hydrothermal breakdown of wood on an industrial scale a stepping stone toward the conversion of sugars into renewable glycols and of lignin into renewable functional fillers.
“Leuna is clear proof of UPM’s commitment to scaling up innovative, high-performance, bio-based material solutions. Reaching this milestone is a major step toward full operations at Leuna, which is the world’s first commercial-scale biorefinery converting wood into bio-based chemicals,” says Massimo ReyNaudo, President and CEO of UPM.
Many consumer brands have shown interest in renewable materials that offer CO₂-saving potential when compared to fossil-based products. Glycols can be used, for example, in PET packaging, polyester textiles, and cosmetics, while lignin-based renewable functional fillers offer a sustainable replacement for carbon black and silica in rubber and plastic applications.
Once fully operational, the facility is expected to produce 220,000 tonnes of advanced biochemicals annually.
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