PRESS RELEASE: “Verbio life chemicals” will be showcasing bio-based specialty chemicals at Chemspec Europe 2026 in Cologne
International trade fair for fine and specialty chemicals on May 6 and 7, 2026, in Cologne | “Verbio life chemicals” presents bio-based C10 building blocks and platform molecules derived from sustainable, regionally produced rapeseed oil | Presentation by Dr Stefan Balk on the Strategy Stage: How local, green value added chains reduce dependence on the global market
Leipzig, April 29, 2026 – Verbio life chemicals, Verbio’s brand for bio-based specialty chemicals and life science products, will be exhibiting at Chemspec Europe 2026. The international trade fair for fine and specialty chemicals will take place in Cologne from May 6 to 7, 2026. Under the title “Pioneering green solutions”, Verbio will present bio-based specialty chemicals, life science products, and metathesis catalysts for challenging industrial applications. Visitors will find the Verbio team in Hall 8, Stand A11.
Bio-based chemistry using European raw materials
Verbio develops and produces innovative specialty chemicals based on European rapeseed oil that is free from palm oil and genetically modified organisms. The products are characterised by high purity, defined reactivity, and a significantly decreased carbon footprint. They are high-performance alternatives to fossil raw materials. They are used in a range of applications, including lubricants, polymers, coatings, adhesives, fragrances and flavours, household and industrial cleaning products, as well as in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.
The applied core technology is olefin metathesis, a process that allows vegetable oils to be specifically converted into molecules with new chain lengths and functional groups. The world’s first industrial-scale ethenolysis plant for the production of renewable chemicals based on rapeseed methyl ester (biodiesel) is currently being built at Verbio’s Bitterfeld site (Saxony-Anhalt, Germany). The plant is scheduled to go into operation in the second half of 2026, and at full capacity, it will produce up to 60,000 tonnes of bio-based molecules for the chemical industry annually.
“Our solutions offer a real advantage, particularly for the chemical industry, which faces the challenge of significantly reducing its carbon footprint. As a reliable alternative to traditional fossil sources and to tropical oil-based biogenic options, our products – manufactured from regionally produced rapeseed oil – offer more than just sustainability benefits. They also contribute to the strengthening of regional agriculture and reduce supply chain risks,” says Dr Stefan Balk, Head of Sales and Marketing for Specialty Chemicals & Catalysts at Verbio. He adds: “Our approach enables the implementation of new ‘local-for-local’ concepts for supplying the European chemical industry with oleochemicals. With the industrial implementation of ethenolysis, we are also putting a Nobel Prize-winning technology into practice and making bio-based platform chemicals such as 9-DAME and 1-decene available to industry on an industrial scale.”
Bio-based C10 building blocks for numerous industrial applications
Key specialty chemicals include 1-decene and methyl 9-decenoate (9-DAME). Both molecules are derived from European rapeseed oil and offer a bio-based alternative for a wide range of chemical syntheses, for example in high-performance lubricants, polymeric materials, functional coatings, adhesive and sealing systems, as well as further specialist applications. Using 9-DAME as a starting material, it is possible to manufacture established products such as 1-decanol and methyl decanoate, as well as new building blocks such as C18 diacids (ODDA). Verbio also plans to launch these products on the market in the near future, using European raw materials with a low carbon footprint.
The highly selective catalysts required for the metathesis process are developed and produced in-house by XiMo, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Verbio based in Hungary. They form the basis of the Nobel Prize-winning technology and enable efficient, safe, and scalable chemical processes.
Expert talk on the Strategy Stage
At Chemspec Europe 2026, Dr Stefan Balk, Head of Sales and Marketing for Specialty Chemicals & Catalysts at Verbio, will give a presentation discussing the industrial application of metathesis as a key technology for bio-based specialty chemicals.
“Supply unchained: Build a greener, smarter, resilient supply chain”
Date: Thursday, May 7, 2026, 2.00–2.30 pm, Strategy Stage
The presentation provides an insight into the ethenolysis plant in Bitterfeld, the products currently available, as well as future developments. A key focus is on the planned ramp-up of the portfolio to include long-chain C18 diacids and further bio-based molecules for the chemical industry. These can help to reduce supply chain dependencies by utilising local sources of raw materials and local production.
Sustainable solutions for the chemical industry
The move into the manufacturing of bio-based chemicals is part of Verbio’s strategy to diversify its product portfolio and tap into new market segments for green molecules. With the “Verbio life chemicals” brand, Verbio is specifically strengthening its specialty chemicals and life sciences division. In addition to bio-based specialty chemicals, the portfolio also includes ingredients from the life sciences sector, including phytosterols, glycerine, proteins and metathesis catalysts. All products are based on an integrated biorefinery concept in which regional biomass is used multiple times, by-products are utilised, and closed-loop material cycles are established.