Nebraska Facility Aims to Turn Corn Ethanol Into Sustainable Plastic
A new manufacturing facility in southeastern Nebraska is set to transform corn ethanol into sustainable plastic. Citroniq, a company founded by Kelly Knopp, plans to build a bio-polypropylene production facility near Falls City that will use renewable feedstock instead of fossil fuels.
The plant will produce polypropylene, a common material found in automotive parts, food packaging, and construction materials. According to Knopp, the product is chemically identical to conventional polypropylene but offers environmental benefits by capturing more carbon dioxide than it emits.
The Nebraska facility is expected to create a significant new source of demand for corn, requiring approximately 137 million bushels each year through ethanol production. The company plans to market its bio-based polypropylene primarily to the automotive and construction industries.