DSM – towards a bio-based economy
The bio-based economy is a credible response to the global challenges of climate change, resource scarcity, energy insecurity and population growth. DSM’s expertise in industrial biotechnology makes the company a global front-runner in the development of a bio-based economy.
What is a bio-based economy?
Coal, oil and natural gas have long been the engine of the world economy, both as energy sources and as raw materials. But they will run out in one or two centuries, so we will have to switch to alternative, renewable, non-fossil-based solutions to meet the needs of a growing and increasingly demanding population. There is one renewable resource that, if it is managed carefully, can sustainably supply the world with food, energy, chemicals and materials. That resource is biomass. With the help of biotechnology, we can convert it into almost anything we want.
The world therefore needs to make the transition from a fossil-based economy to a bio-based economy. In other words: we need to go back to living off the land.
Links & Downloads
- Press information: The bio-based economy (PDF, 60.55KB)
- Background information: Advanced biofuels (PDF, 90.47KB)
- POET-DSM Advanced Biofuels website
- Presentation: POET-DSM Advanced Biofuels: Two Innovative Companies. One Shared Vision (PDF, 459.94KB)
- Presentation: Unlocking the cellulosic bio-ethanol opportunity. DSM and POET make advanced biofuels a reality (PDF, 473.03KB)
- Movie: Stephen Tanda, Member of the Managing Board of DSM speak about the bio-based economy
- Bio-based economy facts and figures (PDF, 62.48KB)
- McKinsey’s view on bio based economy (2010) (PDF, 353.91KB)
- IUCN’s view on the bio based economy (2010) (PDF, 548.08KB)
- Green production of wine and beer
Infographics
What is DSM doing to achieve a bio-based economy?
DSM’s expertise in industrial biotechnology makes the company a global front-runner in the development of a bio-based economy. Its involvement in biotechnology dates back to around 1870, and today’s DSM has extensive capabilities in both life sciences and materials sciences. DSM has developed bio-based technology for the manufacture of pharmaceuticals, food and feed ingredients, green materials, chemical building blocks and biofuels. The company has a dedicated unit, DSM Bio-based Products & Services, whose mission is to help create a bio-based, sustainable future.
Links & Downloads
DSM: In practice
Advanced biofuels
DSM is the only company in the world that offers both yeast and enzyme solutions to accelerate the conversion of cellulosic (non-edible) biomass into biofuels. This accelerated conversion is necessary to make cellulosic biofuels commercially viable.
Furthermore, in January 2012 DSM announced a joint venture with POET, one of the world’s largest ethanol producers, to make advanced biofuels based on corn crop residue a reality by 2013.
Biogas
Biogas can be produced from organic material such as sewage sludge, industrial waste streams and agricultural waste. DSM is the leading provider of biogas enzymes and process improvements in Europe.
Chemicals & materials
DSM is a pioneer in the development of bio-based routes to chemicals and materials. Together with its partner Roquette, DSM is building a commercial-scale production plant for the chemical building block bio-succinic acid, the first non-fossil feedstock derived chemical building block that allows customers in the chemical industry to choose a bio-based alternative with a lower eco-footprint for a broad range of applications, from packaging to footwear.
DSM’s engineering plastics and resins are increasingly bio-based. For example, DSM has developed two materials, Palapreg® ECO composite resin and EcoPaXX® high performance polyamide that are largely bio-based and at the same time offer superior performance.
DSM is also working on a bio-based production process for caprolactam, the raw material for polyamide 6.
Vitamins
DSM is the world’s largest vitamin producer and is increasingly using efficient, biotechnology based enzymatic or fermentation steps instead of traditional chemical processes to produce high quality vitamins in large volumes.
Antibiotics
DSM was the first antibiotics producer to replace chemical production processes with advanced fermentation technology. Instead of a complex 13-step traditional chemical process, DSM’s plant in Delft, the Netherlands now runs a three-step process based on fermentation and enzymes. This has enabled it to cut energy use by 65% and halve raw material costs. The opening of the new 6-APA plant in China marks the completion of this technology rollout across the entire global production footprint.
Fermentation
By using biomass as a feedstock rather than traditional petrochemicals, DSM creates a variety of materials with energy efficiency, increased productivity and better safety and environmental characteristics than could have been otherwise achieved by traditional means. DSM is the global leader in white biotechnology, with a fermentation network comprising 13 plants worldwide and a total fermentation capacity of over 30 million cubic liters per year. The technology has already brought DSM measurable success in reducing raw materials consumption and greenhouse gas emissions for itself and its customers.
Food & fuel
Biomass is a very precious resource, and science has a key role to play in ensuring that it is used in the most efficient and sustainable ways possible. Traditionally the application of white biotechnology on an industrial scale has relied on scarce resources: sugar and starch.
That is why DSM focuses its efforts on further developing biotechnological routes to make fuels, chemicals and materials from cellulosic biomass, rather than sugar or starch. As the global leader in white biotechnology DSM’s technology enables the recovery of sugar from biowaste rather than food crops or the production of high yield non-food crops from non-agricultural land. This technology goes a long way to ensuring that demand for biofuel will be able to be met without any meaningful impact being made on food prices or food production.
Links & Downloads
Helping to solve myths – DSM’s bio-based solutions
Myth: The bio-based economy is just about biofuels
Current thinking about bio-based economies seems to focus almost exclusively on biofuels. True, it’s an important subject, and we at DSM are working with POET to produce advanced biofuels from corn crop residue. At the same time we also create high-value biomaterials that can replace almost every fossil-derived carbon product. And with its partner Roquette DSM produces the chemical building block bio Succinic Acid.
Myth: The bio-based economy is just about biotechnology
There’s no question about it. Biotechnology – nature’s tool kit – enables bio-based solutions. But a bio-based approach goes beyond biotechnology.. It is about the clever application of both traditional chemistry and biotechnology to identify and develop the most sustainable and cost-effective production route possible. And the biobased economy creates opportunities across the value chain: jobs, new income for farmers, new infrastructures, clean energy, reduce GHG. All made from renewable sustainable biomass.
Links & Downloads
Spurring job creation and growth with next-generation biofuels
Did you know that making advanced biofuels and biochemicals from agricultural residue could create up to one million jobs in Europe over the next ten years? At the same time, 65% of oil-based petroleum imports could be replaced by advanced biofuels. These are just two of the many exciting conclusions described in an extensive report into the future of a bio-based economy in Europe.
