How beet pulp helps replace fossil-based ingredients
- Ben van den Broek
- Researcher
“By smartly modifying beet pectin, we broadened its functionality and opened new pathways to replace fossil-based ingredients in everyday products like leather and dishwashing tablets.”
Researchers from Wageningen University & Research (WUR) developed new ways to transform pectin-rich side streams from sugar beet pulp into functional, biobased and biodegradable ingredients for non-food applications, like detergents, personal care and leather processing. This approach helps reduce fossil dependency and CO₂ emissions while offering industry new sustainable, high-value alternatives.
The global chemical industry produces an estimated 10–15 million tonnes of polyacrylates every year. These synthetic polymers are key ingredients in products such as dishwasher tablets, cosmetics, diapers, paints, adhesives and plastics. Their versatility makes them indispensable: manufacturers can tailor polyacrylates to deliver almost any desired functionality — from exceptional moisture absorption to water softening or forming smooth, durable paint layers.
But polyacrylates come at a cost. They are produced from petroleum, and their production generates significant CO₂ emissions. After use, these polyacrylates often end up in wastewater streams or the broader environment, where they accumulate over time. As industries face mounting pressure to reduce fossil dependency, CO2 emissions and to prevent (microplastics) pollution, the search for renewable, biodegradable alternatives becomes ever more urgent.
Biobased alternatives with industrial potential
Researchers at WUR have developed exactly these alternatives. Chemists and biotechnologists pioneered new ways to extract high-value raw materials from biomass — including green waste, agricultural by-products and side streams from the food processing industry. These renewable materials can be transformed into biopolymers with functional properties similar to, or even surpassing, those of petroleum-based polymers.
In the project Functionalised carbohydrates for replacement of fossil-based ingredients, WUR explored how pectin-rich side streams from sugar beet pulp could be valorised into ingredients for detergents, personal care products and chemicals used in the leather industry. This TKI project, carried out with multiple industrial partners, built on nearly a decade of earlier WUR research on beet-derived pectin.
From by-product to high-value ingredient
WUR collaborated with sugar beet processor Cosun, dishwasher detergent producer Dalli De Klok BV and leather processing chemical supplier Royal Smit & Zoon to develop a breakthrough method for extracting pectin from sugar beet pulp — a low-value by-product traditionally used for animal feed or biogas production. Using advanced fractionation and modification techniques, WUR researchers succeeded in isolating pectin and tailoring its structure to meet the specific performance needs of different applications.
“We’ve been working on this for about eight years,” says project leader Ben van den Broek. “Earlier studies already showed that beet pectin can successfully replace certain fossil-based ingredients — but not all. Its molecular structure differs from the pectin that is widely used today. That’s why in this project we focused on modifying the pectin, slightly changing its molecular architecture to broaden its applicability.”
The results proved highly promising. The pectin extracted from sugar beet pulp functioned as an effective alternative to polyacrylates in dishwasher tablets. It also showed strong potential to replace certain chemical agents used in leather tanning and dyeing processes. For the industrial partners, this opened the door to cleaner, more sustainable production routes. Dalli De Klok BV and Royal Smit & Zoon were able to significantly reduce their environmental footprint, while Cosun gained access to a high-value application for a sidestream that previously had limited market potential.
Added value through collaboration
To ensure industry readiness, the research was carried out directly with market partners. This allowed real-world testing of the modified pectins during the project and enabled companies to rapidly assess feasibility for upscaling. The project brought together complementary expertise. WUR contributed deep knowledge in biomass valorisation, polymer chemistry, biorefinery and application testing. Cosun provided large-scale beet pulp streams and industrial know-how, while Dalli de Klok BV and Royal Smit & Zoon validated the performance of pectin-based polymers in real-world formulations.
The collaboration also brought added value beyond technical validation. As Van den Broek puts it: “Working with several non-competing partners creates a very pleasant synergy. People can speak openly and learn from each other. That really helps the research move forward.”
A scalable alternative with global impact
WUR’s continued development of pectin-based biopolymers demonstrates that renewable alternatives can play a significant role in replacing petroleum-based polyacrylates. If adopted widely, such biobased innovations could help avoid millions of tonnes of CO₂ emissions each year while reducing the presence of persistent petrochemical polymers in the environment.
Together we make a difference
Do you have a question about using beet pulp to replace fossil-based ingredients?
dr. LAM (Ben) van den Broek
WR Onderzoeker
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Wageningen University & Research (WUR) is working on major global challenges related to food, biodiversity, and climate. Our knowledge is applied by our partners. In in-depth impact stories, we share more about our research and the impact we achieve.
