Renewable chemistry

Oleochemistry is a major research axis for Sofiprotéol. Its Novance and Oléon subsidiaries are continually developing new products (e.g., paints and lubricants) that are environmentally friendly.

A growing discipline, plant chemistry uses plants to create chemical products that can replace petroleum-based products. This area of chemistry, which relies on renewable resources, was designated an important field for the 21^st century at the Grenelle Environment Round Table in 2007.

Learn more about renewable chemistry

Innovative products in a wide range of fields

Oleochemistry products have applications as diverse as lubricants, paints, and inks.

• DiesterLub : the 1^st line of lubricants to meet European Ecolabel standards.
• Maestria vegetable paint : a line of paint binders made from vegetable oil polymers. 
• Vegetable inks : a substitute for heavy mineral inks.

Cutting-edge chemistry with potential

Since 2008, Sofiprotéol has been working on several research programs aimed at producing new “synthons”. Synthons, or synthetic intermediates, are basic parts of molecules that serve as the raw inputs for producing more sophisticated chemical molecules (biopolymers).

This advanced chemistry should result in several types of products with high value added. The discipline borrows techniques from both traditional chemical reactions and new areas in industrial biotechnology (e.g., enzyme synthesis, bioconversion, fermentation).