The following article is from CHEManager. Find the original here.
The German start-up Bioweg found a way to replace petroleum-based chemicals with innovative bio-alternatives through fermentation and green chemistry. The processing of waste products results in bacterial cellulose, which serves as a substitute for synthetic polymers and thus has diverse potential applications.
Their innovation not only reduces the amount of microplastic, therefore reducing the carbon footprint of many products, but the environmentally friendly production process also promotes the circular economy. For these reasons, Bioweg has been chosen as the ISC3 Start-up of the Month for February 2024.
What exactly is Bioweg's innovation and how does it prove to be more sustainable in comparison to current products?
To tackle the problems of environmental pollution and greenhouse emission created by poor waste management, the start-up has developed a patent-pending circular zero-waste process that utilizes these waste or side streams as feedstock for the production of microbial cellulose.
Basically, waste or side-streams, such as molasses and starches, are sourced from local German industries. This not only reduces the carbon footprint but also aligns with the principles of the circular economy. These waste materials serve as feedstock for the fermentation process, resulting in the production of bacterial cellulose. The latter is biodegradable and serves as a sustainable substitute for widely used synthetic polymers and has diverse potential application. By the principles of material science and green chemistry the cellulose is transformed into micropowder, rheology modifier, hydrocolloid, agricoating and others depending on the industry.
In addition, the entire process is energy efficient and requires minimal sterilization. This dual feature significantly reduces the consumption of water and other sterilizing chemicals, positioning it as an environmentally friendly and sustainable solution. In essence, Bioweg's innovative approach not only promotes the circular economy by sourcing waste locally, but also offers greener alternatives to widely used microplastics, contributing to a more sustainable future.
The whole success story of the ISC3 Start-up of the Month in February 2024 is currently told by the ISC3 on its website (see below).
What led to your solution in Sustainable Chemistry?
Prateek Mahalwar:
Our world is not just facing a crisis of microplastics but also of waste management and the food and agricultural industries are major contributors to it. These industries produce a significant amount of waste or by-products, which often end up in landfills or incineration, leading to environmental pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. To tackle both problems, we have developed a patent-pending circular zero-waste process that utilizes these waste or side streams as feedstock for the production of microbial cellulose.
What does being chosen as ISC3 Start-up of the Month mean to you?
P. Mahalwar:
Being chosen as ISC3 Start-up of the Month is an acknowledgment of our commitment to sustainable chemistry and our strides to transform the industry. This recognition is potentially opening doors to new partnerships, investors, and stakeholders, increasing our visibility within the sustainable chemistry community and increasing potential for networking opportunities.
What’s next up at BIOWEG?
P. Mahalwar:
Our immediate plan is to launch and commercialize our micropowder and agricoating for the Personal Care and Agri markets. We are also planning to close our Series A in the Q1 2024 and reach the full potential of our pilot production plant in Quakenbrück. We are also working on staffing and equipping our application development center in Monheim to address the major demand in application use case development.