Wood has been awarded a $40 million contract by Kuraray to provide the engineering design for a new sustainable packaging production plant in Singapore. The plant will address the growing demand for eco-friendly food packaging materials by producing EVAL™, Kuraray's ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) copolymer. EVAL is extensively used in food packaging to prevent oxygen spoilage and, unlike other competing products, is fully recyclable using traditional methods.

After successfully completing the front-end engineering and design (FEED) study, Wood will provide engineering, procurement, and construction management (EPCM) services for the new plant on Jurong Island. Furthermore, Wood will modify an adjacent polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) facility, enabling Kuraray to optimize the production and recovery process of acetic acid, a vital component for the new EVAL plant.

Giuseppe Zuccaro, President of Process & Chemicals at Wood, stated: "Wood is dedicated to advancing the energy transition, with building a circular economy being a crucial aspect of this effort. This project will not only help reduce food waste but also extend the lifespan of more sustainable plastics, ensuring materials are used longer and reducing their environmental impact.

"We are thrilled to be awarded the EPCM phase of this project. The team's expertise and dedication have ensured the successful completion of the FEED study, providing us with a strong foundation to smoothly proceed to the execution phase."

Tomoyuki Watanabe, Kuraray’s Director and Managing Executive Officer, President of the Vinyl Acetate Resin Company and Vinyl Acetate Film Company, stated: "EVAL is a crucial product for Kuraray, experiencing strong growth driven by rising demand in emerging economies, the need to reduce food loss, and the shift towards a circular economy. Following the successful collaboration between Wood and Kuraray during the FEED phase, we have decided to award Wood the EPC stage of our next global EVAL production capacity expansion. Kuraray is confident that this partnership will lead to successful project execution."

Utilizing Wood’s global expertise in executing large industrial and complex engineering projects, this contract will be handled by Wood’s teams in Thailand and Singapore.

Wood is actively engaged in a wide range of sectors, encompassing Energy, Carbon Capture, Distribution & Storage, Hydrogen, Oil & Gas – Upstream and Midstream, Petrochemicals & Refining, Power, and Renewables. In addition to these, Wood also focuses on Materials, Chemicals, Life Sciences, Manufacturing, and Minerals & Metals. Company comprehensive services span Decarbonisation, Digitalisation, Energy Security, and Energy Transition, leveraging company expertise to drive innovation and sustainability across industries. Through these initiatives, Wood remains committed to supporting a cleaner, more efficient, and secure energy future.