A major step toward sustainable chemistry

On Friday 24th of October, alongside local officials, construction partners, and institutional supporters, Michelin ResiCare celebrated the official start of construction of its future 5-HMF demonstration unit in Roussillon, France.
This new facility is part of the CERISEA Project, supported by ADEME and the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU).

When ResiCare began in 2016, making non-toxic, bio-based resins was just a dream. To make it real, the team took a bold step: producing its own bio-sourced ingredients — long before they existed at industrial scale.

Today, that ambition takes shape on the GIE OSIRIS industrial platform, with a facility designed to produce 3,000 tonnes of 5-HMF per year, making it the largest production site in the world and generating around 30 direct jobs.

The project represents over 220,000 hours of construction work, conducted with an unwavering commitment to safety and excellence.

5-HMF, a key molecule for the future of sustainable materials

Derived from renewable plant-based sugars, 5-HMF (5-hydroxymethylfurfural) can replace fossil-based ingredients in resins, coatings, plastics, and crop science materials.

For ResiCare, 5-HMF is a key building block in the creation of bio-based, non-toxic thermoset resins, providing a sustainable alternative to traditional phenol-formaldehyde resins.

Beyond bricks and mortar, this project embodies Michelin’s commitment to a safer and more sustainable chemistry — a shared ambition now becoming reality.