The German biotech company Bioweg has announced the start of construction on a large-scale production plant for bacterial cellulose. The plant in Elsdorf (North Rhine-Westphalia) is set to produce up to 10,000 tonnes of cellulose annually and will be the largest facility of its kind in Europe, the company reports. Construction work is due to begin before the end of the year. Production on an industrial scale is scheduled to start in 2028. Bioweg specialises in high-performance, biodegradable bacterial cellulose as a substitute for fossil-based polymers and intentionally added microplastic particles. According to the company, the material has so far been imported almost exclusively into Europe.

A substitute for microplastics

The fully automated plant is to be built at one of Germany’s largest sugar industry complexes and will utilise molasses and other by-products as fermentation feedstocks. The convenient location will reduce emissions and operating costs whilst securing the supply. The Bioweg pilot site in Quakenbrück is to remain in operation during the construction phase and will also serve as a model for the automation of the larger plant. The pilot plant is currently being expanded from around 100 to at least 200 tonnes of annual capacity and is being fully automated. Fossil-based microplastic particles intentionally added to products must be phased out of cosmetics, cleaning products and other items in the EU. Consequently, substitutes are required in industrial quantities. According to Bioweg, in cosmetics and personal care products, ingredients based on bacterial cellulose could, amongst other things, improve texture and flow properties, as well as achieve film-forming and sensory effects.

Funding through EU grants

“Financing a globally unique facility is the most difficult step in industrial biotechnology, and this is precisely the step we are now taking,” says Prateek Mahalwar, co-founder and CEO of Bioweg. The German government and the EU are sharing the risk in this endeavour. According to its own figures, Bioweg has raised a further 14 million euros since securing 16 million euros in Series A funding last year. This included more than ten million euros in EU funding as part of the “Produktives.NRW” funding competition. Total funding now stands at 35 million euros.

Source: Bioweg