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Michelin ResiCare and SPECIFIC POLYMERS join forces to advance 5-HMF, a biobased molecule for sustainable chemistry

Michelin ResiCare and SPECIFIC POLYMERS are joining forces around 5‑HMF (5‑hydroxymethylfurfural), a biobased platform molecule derived from fructose, to accelerate the development of the next generation of sustainable materials. This collaboration combines Michelin ResiCare’s secured industrial access to 5‑HMF with SPECIFIC POLYMERS’ R&D expertise in polymer chemistry, making the molecule easier to access, explore and develop for both academic and industrial R&D teams. 

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Michelin ResiCare and SPECIFIC POLYMERS join forces to advance 5-HMF, a biobased molecule for sustainable chemistry

Michelin ResiCare and SPECIFIC POLYMERS are joining forces around 5‑HMF (5‑hydroxymethylfurfural), a biobased platform molecule derived from fructose, to accelerate the development of the next generation of sustainable materials. This collaboration combines Michelin ResiCare’s secured industrial access to 5‑HMF with SPECIFIC POLYMERS’ R&D expertise in polymer chemistry, making the molecule easier to access, explore and develop for both academic and industrial R&D teams. 

5-HMF: A Key Building Block for Biobased Chemistry

5‑HMF is increasingly recognized as one of the major building blocks of biobased chemistry. Its furanic structure and reactive chemical functions make it a particularly versatile intermediate for designing resins, polymers, monomers, additives, functional intermediates and advanced materials. As such, 5‑HMF offers a promising pathway to replace some of the petro-based raw materials traditionally used across the chemical industry. 

Already at the heart of the aminolic resins developed by Michelin ResiCare, 5‑HMF opens up opportunities across a wide range of application fields, including: 

  • Adhesives 

  • Thermoset resins 

  • Composites and technical materials 

  • Polyesters and polyamides 

  • Non-isocyanate polyurethanes (NIPU) 

  • Plasticizers and functional additives 

Its potential, both at R&D and industrial scale, positions 5‑HMF as an important lever to support the transition toward renewable, less petroleum-dependent raw materials.

Securing Industrial-Scale Access: Michelin ResiCare’s 5-HMF Demonstrator

In October 2025, Michelin ResiCare broke ground on its future industrial demonstrator for 5‑HMF, located on the Osiris chemical platform in Péage-de-Roussillon (Isère, France). With an announced nominal capacity of 3,000 tonnes per year, the unit is set to become one of the largest sites in the world dedicated to producing this key molecule for sustainable resins.

The process relies on a patented technology developed with IFP Énergies nouvelles (IFPEN), based on the conversion of fructose syrup into 5‑HMF, a strong signal that 5‑HMF is moving from lab curiosity to industrially secured raw material.

From R&D supply to 5-HMF derivatization: What SPECIFIC POLYMERS Brings

This is where the collaboration with SPECIFIC POLYMERS comes in. The goal is to make 5‑HMF easier to access for academic and industrial laboratories that want to explore the molecule in their own applications, well before committing to larger-scale developments.

SPECIFIC POLYMERS will commercialize 5‑HMF produced with Michelin’s technology, in R&D-friendly packaging from 25 g to 1 kg. This lab-scale availability allows R&D teams to formulate, test, compare and validate proof of concept before considering larger-scale developments.

Beyond simply supplying the molecule, SPECIFIC POLYMERS will also bring its custom synthesis and polymer chemistry expertise to support the development of 5‑HMF derivatives. Depending on the targeted application, 5‑HMF can be chemically modified to design new monomers, oligomers, polymers or functional intermediates centered on furan chemistry. This approach makes it possible to finely tune the properties needed, reactivity, functionality, formulation compatibility, thermal performance, or integration into more complex polymer systems.

A Natural Fit with SPECIFIC POLYMERS’ Biobased Positioning

This collaboration is fully in line with SPECIFIC POLYMERS’ long-standing positioning as a French R&D company specialized in the design, synthesis and formulation of innovative molecules, monomers, oligomers, polymers and resins. For several years, SPECIFIC POLYMERS has been developing more sustainable alternatives to conventional petro-based platforms, notably through its range of biobased, Bisphenol-A-free epoxy building blocks, including DGEVA, DGEVA_B4, DGEVA_B, PHTE and PHTE_B6, alongside alternative epoxy formulations to DGEBA.

These developments illustrate SPECIFIC POLYMERS’ ability to turn innovative chemical building blocks into exploitable material solutions, for coatings, adhesives, composites, encapsulation, potting, structural resins and advanced thermoset systems. 5‑HMF naturally extends this portfolio with a new, highly versatile furanic platform.

Building a Complete Value Chain Around 5-HMF

By combining Michelin ResiCare’s secured industrial access with SPECIFIC POLYMERS’ R&D expertise, this collaboration helps structure a complete value chain around 5‑HMF:

This approach creates a bridge between industrial production and early-stage R&D, allowing researchers to work with 5-HMF in quantities adapted to laboratory development while maintaining a clear pathway toward larger-scale supply. It also enables promising concepts to be further developed through custom synthesis and application-driven R&D.

The objective is clear: to make it easier for academic and industrial players to explore the potential of 5‑HMF, accelerate the identification of new applications, and help bring to market a future generation of biobased, high-performance and more sustainable materials.