BIOWEG GmbH to build Europe’s largest bacterial cellulose plant

BIOWEG GmbH plans to construct Europe’s largest production facility for bacterial cellulose in Elsdorf, Germany. The project will be located on the former site of a Pfeifer & Langen sugar factory.

Construction is scheduled to begin in late 2026, with the facility expected to be operational and producing its first products by 2028. The site aims for an annual production capacity of up to 10,000 tons of bacterial cellulose to meet the growing European demand for bio-based raw materials.

The material is intended to serve as a sustainable alternative to synthetic polymers, specifically targeting the reduction of microplastics. Key applications include replacing conventional polymers in cosmetics and cleaning agents.