Cheese byproduct to be transformed into eco-friendly palm oil alternative through a partnership between NoPalm Ingredients
In a significant stride towards sustainable production, Dutch startup NoPalm Ingredients has secured a deal to convert Milcobel's whey permeate into yeast-based fats, serving as a promising replacement for palm oil. NoPalm Ingredients, a trailblazer in the alternative fat industry, is employing fermentation to produce eco-friendly substitutes for palm oil. The startup uses a proprietary fermentation process with non-GMO yeasts to convert local agricultural sidestreams into yeast oils that can be 'drop-in' replacements for palm oil. The EU's Deforestation Regulation, set to take effect in December, will ban the import of products with deforestation-linked palm oil, with violators facing fines of up to 4% of their global turnover. This regulatory move underscores the pressing need for sustainable alternatives to palm oil. NoPalm Ingredients' alternatives, sold under its Revóleo brand, generate 90% fewer emissions and require 99% less land. The startup's flagship product, Revóleo Soft, is a beige, semi-solid microbial oil meant to replace palm oil, cocoa butter, or milk fat in confectionery, baked goods, and meat and dairy alternatives. Another offering, Revóleo Silk, is a soft butter for personal care products like hair conditioners, colour cosmetics, and soaps. Around 80-90% of milk that enters cheese manufacturing facilities ends up as whey, with global annual production of whey ranging between 180 and 190 million tonnes. NoPalm Ingredients' innovative approach leverages this byproduct, transforming it into a feedstock for its fermentation process. The strategic partnership between NoPalm Ingredients and Milcobel will explore the feasibility of co-locating a commercial factory at Milcobel's Langemark site, aiming to produce 6,000-7,000 tonnes of oil per year by 2028. The startup has also partnered with contract manufacturer Nizo Food Research to build a demonstration facility at the latter's food innovation campus in Ede, set to begin operations next year. NoPalm Ingredients has already struck partnerships with Unilever, Colgate Palmolive, Zealandia, and Those Vegan Cowboys. The alternative fat industry is experiencing significant growth, marked by recent developments such as regulatory approvals and large-scale production runs. Industrial trials over the last two years have showcased the feasibility of using whey permeate as a feedstock for NoPalm Ingredients' fermentation process. The startup has secured €6M in funding and is currently raising a Series A round to scale up from plot to commercial production. Palm oil production is linked to rampant tropical deforestation, wildfires, and threats to wildlife and human rights. With the EU's Deforestation Regulation and innovative startups like NoPalm Ingredients, there is hope for a sustainable future in the palm oil industry.
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