DuPont plans investment of $30mn to expand sorona production in Kinston, N.C.

DuPont plans to invest $30 million over the next three years and create 18 new jobs at its facility in Kinston, N.C. The company’s Kinston site produces DuPont Sorona renewably sourced polymer.

Sorona is made in part from annually renewable plant-based ingredients and is used primarily in fiber applications, including textiles used in apparel, home furnishings, and for carpets, including residential, commercial and automotive carpets and mats.

Producing Sorona uses 30% less energy and reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 63% compared to producing an equal amount of nylon 6, a widely used carpet material. The Kinston site is the largest polymer plant in the world that produces DuPont Sorona.

DuPont’s expansion is due to the strong demand for their renewable Sorona polymer, said William Feehery, President of DuPont Industrial Biosciences. Sorona is the cornerstone of their biomaterials business – a product with superior performance in terms of softness and stain resistance. They are pleased to be able to manufacture these innovative products in the state of North Carolina with a fantastic workforce and the support of forward-thinking leaders and the local community.

DuPont is one of North Carolina’s best known employers, employs more than 750 workers in North Carolina. By adding these high-paying, quality jobs to their production facility in Kinston, the company is making a much-needed difference to the economy in this part of the state, said Governor McCrory.

The project was made possible in part by a performance-based grant from the One North Carolina Fund of up to $80,000. The One NC Fund provides financial assistance, through local governments, to attract business projects that will stimulate economic activity and create new jobs in the state. Companies receive no money up front and must meet job creation and investment performance standards to qualify for grant funds. These grants also require and are contingent upon local matches.