Sugar beet pectins to replace fossil-based ingredients in non-food applications

Sugar beet pulp is a by-product obtained during the production of sugar from sugar beet, and is one of the most important side streams in the Netherlands. Annually, Cosun produces more than one million tonnes sugar beet pulp.

To implement the total use concept for sugar beet (pulp), the aim of this project was valorising the low cost pectin-rich side stream from sugar beet pulp, and effectively replacing fossil based ingredients by fossil free ingredients in non-food end products.

To enlarge the application scope of this pectin-rich stream, new application areas were investigated. The carbohydrates were also functionalised further so as to modify their properties to reach the functionality targeted by the products of the various project partners and their (end) users.

In this consortium, Royal Cosun, Dalli De Klok B.V., Ashland Industries Nederland BV, Royal Smit & Zoon, and Wageningen Food & Biobased Research, joined forces to develop more sustainable solutions for challenges in their own application markets.