TotalEnergies Corbion commercializes Luminy Foam 50F as bio-based packaging alternative to XPS

NETHERLANDS – TotalEnergies Corbion has commercialized Luminy Foam 50F, a high melt strength PLA material designed as a drop-in replacement for extruded polystyrene foam in fresh food packaging, foodservice clamshells and bowls, with the sugarcane-based material delivering at least a 70 percent reduction in carbon footprint.

The material, now available for global commercial orders, eliminates the need for additives, chain extenders or reactive processing, enabling stable foam production on existing XPS extrusion lines with similar throughput and minimal modification. 

Luminy Foam 50F has received food contact approval from the US Food and Drug Administration and South Korean regulators, while other markets can use it for non-food applications. 

PS Bans and Packaging Industry Pressures Drive PLA Foam Adoption

Laurent Daligault, global packaging segment leader at TotalEnergies Corbion, stated that with polystyrene bans accelerating, Luminy Foam 50F is one of the first solutions positioned as an industrial-scale replacement rather than a niche material, enabling converters and brand owners to adopt a sustainable drop-in alternative to XPS. 

The material is industrially compostable, recyclable and free from styrene, PFAS and persistent microplastics. 

Hao Ding, global marketing director, said the development reflects the company’s commitment to sustainable innovation and creating high-performance materials that are better for people and the planet. 

The PLA foam packaging market is part of a broader shift, with expanded PLA foam being evaluated for protective packaging, cold-chain applications and premium packaging across industries.

Global Availability and Food Contact Approvals

Luminy Foam 50F is suitable for trays for fresh fish, meat and produce, as well as for foodservice packaging formats. 

The material is designed to replicate the performance of conventional XPS while offering a reduced carbon footprint and comparable density and functional properties. 

The material’s recyclability enables packaging converters to comply with emerging circular economy regulations, including the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, which increasingly requires packaging to be recyclable and made with recycled content. 

The total market for common plastics including polystyrene is approximately 400 million tonnes annually, presenting significant growth potential for bio-based alternatives.

TotalEnergies Corbion, a 50:50 joint venture between TotalEnergies and Corbion, operates a PLA production facility in Rayong, Thailand, with a nameplate capacity of 75,000 tonnes per year.

Subscribe to our email newsletters that provide busy executives like you with the latest news insights and trends from Africa and the World. SUBSCRIBE HERE