€49 Million Boost: Borealis Ups Investment in High-Performance Polypropylene (PP) for Packaging, Healthcare, and More

Polymer solutions provider Borealis has announced a strategic investment of EUR 49 million (approximately USD 57.5 million) to expand Borstar Nextension polypropylene (PP) capacity at its production location in Burghausen, Germany.

The company stated that this investment will expand the commercial production scale of next-generation single-site polypropylene (ssPP) products. Featuring higher purity along with superior processing and product performance, these products will assist customers in core sectors such as packaging, healthcare, mobility, and fibers in meeting the dynamic requirements of both the market and regulatory policies.

Craig Arnold, Executive Vice President, Polyolefins, Circular Economy Solutions and Base Chemicals at Borealis, welcomed the expansion.

He stated, "By expanding the capacity of Borstar Nextension polypropylene, we will help our customers gain a competitive edge in a rapidly changing regulatory and market environment. This is another example of our commitment to increasing the supply of innovative, recyclable polymer materials to meet the application needs of multiple industries and scenarios."

This investment will help drive the transformation of high-performance monomaterial polypropylene solutions. Borealis notes that Borstar Nextension technology integrates multiple performance advantages into a single polypropylene material, enabling the replacement of complex multi-layer structures, facilitating recyclable product design, reducing product weight, and enhancing overall performance.

Furthermore, Borealis emphasizes that in the packaging sector, this innovative technology can help brand owners and converters meet the requirements of the EU's Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), including achieving the goal of 100% recyclable packaging materials by 2030. Currently, the Borstar Nextension polypropylene product portfolio is continuously expanding, demonstrating significant advantages in flexible packaging applications – not only optimizing processing performance but also offering excellent sustainability, with a leap forward in purity, transparency, and heat-sealing properties.

Recent Developments

Borealis has been making a lot of moves in the past year.

Last month, the company announced a strategic partnership with BlueAlp, a chemical recycling technology company based in Eindhoven, Netherlands.

Under the cooperation agreement, Borealis will transfer its majority stake in Renasci, a chemical recycling company based in Ostend, Belgium, to BlueAlp; in exchange, Borealis will acquire a 10% stake in BlueAlp, supporting its development and capacity expansion.

The specific financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.

In May 2025, Borealis invested over €100 million (approximately $113.6 million) to build a new high melt strength (HMS) polypropylene production line at its Burghausen site.

According to the company, the new production line will be used to produce Daploy high melt strength polypropylene (HMS PP) foam polymer solutions, a move that will triple Borealis' fully recyclable high melt strength polypropylene supply chain capabilities.

The company anticipates that the expanded production line will officially begin production in the second half of 2026.

Earlier, in March 2025, Borealis announced the expansion of its thermoforming product portfolio with the launch of HC609TF, a new high-stiffness homopolymer polypropylene designed specifically for the packaging sector.

Founded in 1994 through the merger of Norwegian state-owned company Statoil and Finnish company Neste, Borealis is now a leading provider of polyolefins and base chemicals. The company employs 6,000 people and operates in 120 countries and regions, with its headquarters located in Vienna, Austria, since 2006.

Borealis' strategic vision focuses on driving innovation in sustainable and recyclable polymer solutions to meet evolving market and regulatory demands. The company states that through investments in advanced technologies and the promotion of strategic partnerships, it aims to contribute to the development of a circular economy, enhance material performance, and help customers across industries achieve their own sustainability goals.