Kathryn Upbeat On Bio-Based Chemicals

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Thursday, 14 April 2016

Quoted in IHS Chemical Week, Sustainability Consult CEO Kathryn Sheridan says current low oil prices will not stop investment in the bio-based chemical market. What is needed, she says, is to increase awareness of bio-based materials among brand owners.

In an article focused on renewable chemicals, Kathryn shares her insights on whether continued low oil prices will impact the bio-based market.

“The technology is proven. Today’s challenge is to bring bio-based products to market when the consumer is basically unaware of their existence,” says Kathryn.

Sharing the optimism of fellow interviewees Christophe Schilling, CEO of Genomatica, and Sean Sutcliffe, CEO of Green Biologics, Kathryn believes there are still growth opportunities for companies with bio-based products, particularly as brand owners begin to champion renewable chemicals.

“What we are seeing now is a disruption of the traditional chemical value chain as start-ups work directly with brand owners on application development and to promote the benefits of renewable chemicals.”

She adds that low oil prices have not stopped government support for bio-based developments. “In Europe, the political administration has put serious financial resources behind research and demo plants, particularly biorefineries.”

The quotes appear in the article ‘Low oil prices will not thwart bio-based chemicals’ by Rebecca Coons, in the 14 March 2016 edition of IHS Chemical Week.