Kao joins PKO alternative platform

Japan’s Kao Corporation has joined the $120 million venture previously announced by Genomatica and Unilever to scale and commercialise plant-based alternatives to palm kernel oil. The firm described this is as a key move towards meeting goals of becoming carbon-neutral by 2040 carbon-negative by 2050, by making responsibly sourced palm oil and derivatives a critical feedstock.

“Kao’s more than 130 years of expertise in the consumer products and chemical industries deepens the venture’s global reach and impact,” the partners said. Initial research, they claimed, has shown that companies can reduce the carbon footprint of palm-derived ingredients by up to 50% with driven, plant-based alternative.