The consortium consists of 8 European companies: Avantium (NL, chair), Ecohelix (SE), Metgen Oy (FI), Novamont Spa (IT), Spinverse (FI), Kemira (FI), Fundacio Universitaria Balmes (ES) and Graanul Biotech Ou (EE).
During a four-year project, these members aim to widen the business and market opportunities of existing and future biorefineries by demonstrating the applicability of their sugar streams in several downstream options. The role of Avantium in VEHICLE is to provide sugar streams from nonfood feedstock, for which a subsidy of € 1.3 million was granted.
This sugar is produced in Avantium’s Dawn Technology pilot biorefinery in Delfzijl, the Netherlands. Avantium will also convert industrial sugars from the consortium partners into plant-based mono-ethylene glycol (MEG) through its Mekong technology. Plant-MEG is a drop-in component used in the production of many materials, including plant-based polyesters. The MEG demofactory is also located in Delfzijl.
“The grant is a strong signal for Avantium and our partners in VEHICLE to continue our mutual work to develop 100% plant-based chemicals, produced from renewable non-food feedstock. We share the common goal to replace fossil-based chemicals and materials with renewable alternatives”, says Zanna McFerson, Managing Director of Avantium Renewable Chemistries.
