Cargill is joining with Germany-based HELM to build a $300 million commercial scale, renewable butanediol (BDO) facility at Cargill’s biotechnology and corn processing campus in Eddyville. According to a news release from Cargill, the joint venture, called Qore, will produce the next generation BDO to help brands replace fossil-based sources with biobased alternatives. The release says the plant will be the first-of-its kind in the U.S., and will give the apparel, automotive, electronics and packaging industries the ability to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 93% without sacrificing or affecting their manufacturing processes. Jill Zullo, vice president of biointermediaries/bioindustrial at Cargill, said consumers are demanding more sustainable products and brands are looking for more innovative and environmentally-friendly solutions. “This new venture combines Cargill’s end-to-end supply chain and long-standing, successful product commercialization in several bioindustrial markets with HELM’s expertise in effectively bringing unique chemical applications and other creative solutions to life and to the market,” Zullo said in the release.