On announcing the launch at the start of June, Covation said it would run as an independent business, based in Delaware, combining science and engineering expertise with new investment and extensive manufacturing capabilities for products, including Sorona and Susterra.

It said its aim was to create sustainable building blocks for customers to make innovative and high-performance, bio-based products accessible globally.

Covation named Dr Michael Saltzberg as its chief executive. Dr Saltzberg had been the global business director of the DuPont Biomaterials group for more than six years and had worked at DuPont for almost 35 years.

He commented: “As a supplier of bio-based materials solutions, we are an important gateway into a more circular economy. Sustainable supply chains must begin with sustainable materials and our science allows our customers to end their overreliance on petroleum.”

He said Covation would push the boundaries of innovation and sustainability to deliver high-performance biomaterials at scale. “We are thrilled to be joining the Huafon Group, a highly successful materials company that is uniquely positioned to expand the reach of our current products and help us accelerate the introduction of new offerings and technologies to the market,” he added.

DuPont made clear its intention to sell its Biomaterials business in 2021.