Plant for fossil-free plastics planned

China has been chosen as the site for the world's first plant for the production of fossil-free plastics from green methanol, reflecting among other factors the country's manufacturing strengths, commitment to green transformation, and promising development prospects, according to a top executive of Swiss-based fossil-free plastic company Vioneo.

China's manufacturing strength and its 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30), which prioritizes green chemicals and industrial decarbonization, prompted Vioneo to bring its 1.5 billion euros ($1.74 billion) investment to China, said Alex Hogan, CEO of Vioneo, during a recent interview in Shanghai.

"China has shown strong commitment to sustainability, with the latest five-year plan supporting green methanol and zero-carbon technologies. That is one of the main reasons for coming here," he said.