(Plastemart) -- Amyris Inc. has signed a collaboration agreement with Kuraray Co. Ltd. to develop innovative polymers from Biofene, a renewable hydrocarbon building block made using Amyris's technology. Under the agreement, Kuraray will use Biofene to replace petroleum-derived feedstock such as butadiene and isoprene in the production of specified classes of high-performing polymers. Upon successful completion of the technical development program for the first polymer, Amyris and Kuraray will enter into a supply agreement for Kuraray's exclusive use of Biofene in the manufacturing and commercialization of these polymer products.
⌠We are very excited to partner with Amyris, a leading renewable products company, to develop innovative polymer products with Biofene, said Yasuhiro Yamamoto, director and senior executive officer of Kuraray. ⌠We are confident the new Biofene polymer products will become important additions to our product portfolio and be an integral part of our growth strategy. ⌠We are committed to bringing innovative, high-performing and sustainable products to the polymers market, said John Melo, CEO of Amyris.