Palm oil production has always been a pressing issue, and more people are becoming aware of its environmental impact, from deforestation to habitat destruction.
To combat this, Dutch biotech company NoPalm Ingredients has developed a process to produce a sustainable alternative to palm oil by upcycling food industry waste through fermentation.
Using organic waste like potato peels and rejected vegetables, NoPalm creates yeast-based oils that can replace palm oil in various products, from cosmetics to food. It also uses 99 per cent less land and generates fewer greenhouse emissions.
“We need a better way to recycle modern, complex garments because we are never going to stop buying clothes,” says Lars Langhout, CEO and co-founder of NoPalm Ingredients.
The startup has already secured €2.5 million in funding and plans to scale production, aiming to generate 1.5 million kilograms of sustainable oil annually by next year. Major industry players like Colgate-Palmolive and Unilever are already involved in its pilot projects.
While there’s still work to be done, the company’s progress suggests that a more sustainable future is within reach. As Langhout concludes: “This funding is pivotal for us to demonstrate large-scale production and reach our next milestone of producing 1.5 million kilograms of sustainable oil annually.”
