Reducing the reliance on fossil-based carbon is a key challenge for the chemical and plastics industry. As part of Borealis’s SPIRIT programme, the recently completed GreenAro project contributes to this transition by developing renewable pathways for producing essential aromatic chemicals, supporting the move towards circular and climate-neutral value chains.
Renewable routes to BTX aromatics
Aromatics such as benzene, toluene and xylenes (BTX) are critical building blocks for plastics, resins, coatings and pharmaceuticals, yet they are currently produced almost exclusively from fossil sources. In GreenAro, wood-based bio-oils and glycerol were investigated as renewable feedstocks for producing BTX aromatics.
Bio-oil, produced through fast pyrolysis of woody biomass, contains aromatic compounds and precursors that can be catalytically upgraded into BTX. Forest-based biomass and industrial side streams therefore represent a promising renewable carbon source for the chemical industry.
Strong research–industry collaboration
Funded by Business Finland, the GreenAro project brought together VTT, Aalto University and Åbo Akademi, alongside industrial partners Borealis, Neste, Prefere Resins and Valmet. Within the consortium, academic and research partners focused on catalyst and process development, while Borealis contributed an industrial perspective to assess relevance for petrochemical value chain. The project was linked to three Veturi ecosystems led by Borealis (SPIRIT), Neste and Valmet. Veturi ecosystems are extensive research ecosystem programmes funded by Business Finland.
Bio-oil route shows commercial promise
Laboratory-scale studies demonstrated the feasibility of producing renewable BTX aromatics via both glycerol- and bio-oil-based routes. Techno-economic assessments indicated that the bio-oil route is particularly promising, with estimated production costs around 1.5 times those of fossil-based aromatics, highlighting longer-term commercial potential.
The technology is currently at an early development stage (approximately TRL 3). The consortium is seeking follow-up funding and new partners to further develop and scale the concepts in Finland and across Europe, with the ambition of enabling commercial production of sustainable aromatics by 2035.
For Borealis, GreenAro strengthens understanding of renewable feedstock pathways and highlights the importance of ecosystem collaboration in advancing sustainable solutions for the future plastics value chain.
“This project has provided a wealth of new knowledge for us at Borouge International on what kind of challenges and opportunities lie within bio-based aromatics. We are grateful for the deep research conducted by our partners, and I’m personally excited to see future developments in bio-based aromatics. After all, they are involved in a myriad of essential materials, which advance our world,“ concludes Esa Arola from Borealis.
Borealis is part of Borouge Group International AG (Borouge International), formed through the combination of Borealis, NOVA Chemicals and Borouge, bringing together complementary capabilities to advance sustainable and competitive polyolefin and base chemical solutions globally.