Verbio invests 100 million euros in new bio-based chemical plant in Germany

Verbio SE has commissioned a new plant in Bitterfeld, Germany, marking the start of large-scale production for bio-based chemicals. The company invested nearly 100 million euros into the facility, which is described as the world’s first large-scale ethenolysis plant based on rapeseed methyl ester.

The plant is expected to produce up to 60,000 metric tons of bio-based chemicals annually. These renewable carbon compounds are intended to replace fossil-based raw materials in the production of plastics, lubricants, detergents, and cleaning products. By utilizing rapeseed methyl ester produced on-site, Verbio is transitioning its Bitterfeld location from a traditional biodiesel plant into an integrated biorefinery.

This expansion is expected to create approximately 50 new jobs, bringing the total workforce at the site to around 130 employees. Verbio CEO Claus Sauter noted that the move strengthens regional agriculture and reduces reliance on global supply chains. The project is also viewed as a significant step for the industrial transformation of the German and European chemical sectors.