AFYREN secures procurement of sugar beet co-products, major feedstock for industrial-scale production of its sustainable chemicals
AFYREN and Südzucker have reached an unprecedented long-term agreement on the supply of sugar beet co-products as feedstock for AFYREN NEOXY, the zero-waste, low-carbon biorefinery that will begin producing seven 100% biobased organic acids at industrial scale in early 2022.
The partnership is in accordance with both companies’ sustainability strategies. Using these co-products to produce bio-based organic acids provides a high level of revalorization and does not affect the food chain.
Südzucker, the No. 1 European sugar producer and a leading company in the global food industry, will provide the biorefinery’s supply of sugar beet co-products. The agreement to upcycle these co-products into high-value chemicals that are usually made from petroleum derivatives fits into its commitment to conduct business in a manner that utilizes resources sustainably and the aim of Südzucker to be climate neutral by 2050.
“We align our actions in terms of sustainability across the entire value chain — from the agricultural raw material to the finished products and co-products,” said Michael Schäfer, chief market analyst at Südzucker’s sugar and co-product division. “Customer requirements evolve, and we meet them with innovation and by diversifying our product portfolio across diverse geographic regions and markets.“
For AFYREN, the signing of this multi-year contract marks a major milestone in its business plan. With multiple sugar plants in areas surrounding the AFYREN NEOXY plant in Carling-Saint-Avold, near the French-German border, Südzucker can guarantee supply of this feedstock, allowing AFYREN to focus on its other business goals.
Press contact :
James Connell – Bogert-Magnier Communications (+33 6 2152 1755); jim@bogert-magnier.com
