Michelin has announced the launch of the CERISEA project, a major industrial initiative to produce the bio-sourced molecule 5-HMF (5-Hydroxymethylfurfural) at scale. This molecule, derived from renewable resources, is a key ingredient for green chemistry and a sustainable alternative to fossil-based components in various industrial sectors.
The new demonstrator unit, to be built on the Osiris platform in Péage-de-Roussillon (France), will have a production capacity of 3,000 metric tons per year, making it the largest HMF production site in the world. Operations are scheduled to begin in 2026.
Used notably in the manufacture of ResiCare resins, 5-HMF helps reduce operator and consumer exposure to harmful substances while contributing to a lower environmental footprint. The industrialization of this molecule will also secure raw material supply chains and lower production costs for sustainable materials.
With a total investment of €60 million, co-funded by ADEME and the CBE Joint Undertaking, CERISEA will create approximately 30 direct jobs and position France and Europe at the forefront of bio-based chemical innovation.
