Nebraska Corn Ethanol Plant Converts to Sustainable Plastic

A new manufacturing facility in southeast Nebraska is set to transform corn ethanol into sustainable plastic. Citroniq plans to build a bio-polypropylene production facility near Falls City that will use corn ethanol instead of fossil fuels to manufacture polypropylene, a widely used plastic found in automotive parts, food packaging, and construction materials.

The company's product is chemically identical to conventional polypropylene but made from a renewable feedstock. 'Think about car bumpers. Think about yogurt cups,' said Citroniq CEO Kelly Knopp. 'Traditionally, it's made out of crude oil.'

The facility will create a significant new source of demand for corn, requiring approximately 137 million bushels each year through ethanol production.