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6/18/2026 - Press release

Kemira and IFF joint venture relocates planned biobased materials manufacturing site to Hanko, Finland

Kemira Oyj, Press Release, June 18, 2026 at 08.00 am (EEST)

 

Kemira and IFF today announced an update to the previously communicated plans regarding the future location of their Alpha Bio joint venture manufacturing plant for biobased materials at a commercial scale. Project engineering and permitting activities will now transition to Hanko. Following a detailed evaluation, the location of the previously planned manufacturing plant will be changed from IFF Kotka site to another IFF manufacturing plant in Hanko, both in Southern Finland. The IFF Hanko site specializes in industrial enzymes for the home and personal care, and food and beverage sectors.

 

The joint venture, originally announced in 2025, represents an estimated total investment of approximately EUR 130 million. Both companies will continue to hold a 50% stake, and commercial production is now expected to begin in 2029. The original estimate for the commercial production start was late 2027.

 

The joint venture will continue to leverage IFF’s proprietary Designed Enzymatic Biomaterial™ (DEB) technology platform, which uses plantbased sugars to produce highperformance biobased materials for a wide range of industrial applications. Kemira retains global exclusivity for commercialization of DEB solutions in the Paper, Board, and Water Treatment markets.

 

 

For more information, please contact:
 

Kemira Oyj
Terhi Kivinen, Chief Communications Officer
Tel. +358 40 8484001
terhi.kivinen@kemira.com

 

Kiira Fröberg, VP Investor Relations
Tel. +358 40 7604258

kiira.froberg@kemira.com

 

Kemira is a global leader in sustainable chemistry for water-intensive industries. We operate globally and serve a wide range of customers including municipal and industrial water treatment companies and the fiber industry. Our solutions and services help secure clean water for millions of people every day and support our customers in advancing circularity and responsible resource use throughout their value chains. In 2025, Kemira’s revenue totaled EUR 2.8 billion, and we employed approximately 4,900 people. Kemira’s shares are listed on Nasdaq Helsinki (symbol: KEMIRA) www.kemira.com

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