BIOBASED CHEMICALS
A
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PARTIALLY
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BIOBASED
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SEGREGATED SYSTEM |
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Biobased products
Physical content = claim
Biocontent to be measured
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One production line intregrating fossil based and renewable feedstock |
Segregated final products physically containing a part of renewable feedstock |
One final product physically containing a mixture of fossil and certified renewable feedstock |
B |
Figure 3 – Mass balance( a) & segregated( b) production systems in bioeconomy
In a world where sustainability credentials influence purchasing decisions across global supply chains, the ability to substantiate green claims is not just a competitive edge; it is a prerequisite for market access. Companies that fail to provide verifiable, third-party certified data risk losing contracts, facing regulatory penalties, or worse, losing the trust of increasingly conscious consumers and B2B buyers.
Drop-in biobased molecules
Drop-in biobased carboxylic acids matter because they deliver change where it counts most: feedstock origin, carbon footprint and supply-chain resilience, while safeguarding what customers value above all: reliable chemistry and proven performance.
The bioeconomy is not built on radical disruption alone; it thrives on proven pathways. Drop-in molecules are more than just sustainable alternatives to fossilbased ingredients; they are the catalysts that will accelerate the transition to a broader bioeconomy. When renewable-origin molecules meet customer expectations, they do not just replace fossil-based
alternatives, they also build the confidence and infrastructure needed to embrace even more ambitious biobased innovations.
For example, propionic acid is a naturally occurring short-chain fatty acid, essential for maintaining a balanced skin microbiome. Emerging research suggests it helps modulate inflammation, support barrier resilience and maintain microbial balance, which is key to hydrated, resilient skin.
Until now, propionic acid has only been available at industrial scale from petrochemical sources. Now, under a new partnership, skin care specialist Esse has gained access to Afyren’ s sustainably produced, COSMOScertified, biobased propionic acid. This allows Esse to formulate an ingredient it has previously avoided for sustainability reasons.
By delivering identical performance to fossil-based counterparts, drop-in molecules normalise biobased supply chains and demystify biobased chemistry for industries accustomed to petrochemical processes. This validation is essential: when formulators and producers see that a biobased molecule works easily in their existing systems, it paves the way for wider adoption.
The result is that biobased chemistry is no longer a niche experiment, but rather a practical, scalable reality, ready to power both today’ s breakthroughs and tomorrow’ s needs. ●
*- Also contributing to this article was Caroline Petigny
Reference: 1: Afyren, Mass Balance Versus Segregated Bioeconomy: The Inevitable Cohabitation. https:// afyren. com / en / blog / mass-balanceversus-segregated-bioeconomy-the-inevitable-cohabitation /
Caroline Petigny
SUSTAINABILITY, COMMUNICATION & PUBLIC AFFAIRS DIRECTOR
AFYREN k contact @ afyren. com J https:// afyren. com / en / j www. campanyname. com
86 SPECIALITY CHEMICALS MAGAZINE ESTABLISHED 1981