Bio-based chemicals

We have the equipment and expertise to work with a range of bio-based chemicals. These are defined as chemical products that are wholly or partly derived from materials of biological origin (for example biomasses, feedstock, but also plants, algae, crops, marine organisms and biological waste). We work with these bio-based chemicals to support the development of new products and processes for sectors such as platform chemicals, pharmaceutical, personal care ingredients and alternatives to traditional plastic.

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High performance bioplastic that can help combat climate change

Floreon is a developer of high-performance bioplastics. Floreon’s multi-award winning and globally patented bioplastic polymers are derived from plants such as corn and sugar beet. They have created a specially formulated compound based on polylactic acid (PLA) that performs in the same way as oil-based plastics. The material is compostable, recyclable and has a carbon footprint seven times lower than traditional plastics.

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UK-India collaboration successfully tackles industrial waste from sugarcane processing in India

Scientists in the UK and India have successfully come together to take a major by-product of the sugarcane industry and turn it into the valuable bio-based chemical, citric acid. This £1.8 million project, sponsored by the Newton Bhabha Fund, brought together academics along with UK and Indian companies to work in partnership to reduce industrial waste and generate innovation in industrial biotechnology.

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Bio-based chemicals