EcoXtract® wins 2021 Pierre Potier award for its innovative and sustainable bio-based solution for the extraction of lipids, proteins and natural ingredients which contributes to a safer global food supply
Dunkirk, October 20, 2021 – EcoXtract®, a business unit of the Minafin Group, today announces its award of the 2021 Pierre Potier prize. EcoXtract® (2-methyloxolane) received the award for the sustainable solution it proposes for the extraction of oils, proteins and natural ingredients. Contrary to the traditional and reference petro-based solvent largely used by the industry, EcoXtract is a bio-sourced solvent which repurposes plant waste, notably corn cob or sugar cane residue.
The award ceremony took place today, October20, in Paris, France.
New food safety threats emerged during Covid-19 through a combination of factors such as global warming, pollution as well as harmful agriculture practices and food waste. The production of the 2-methyloxoalne using sugarcane and corn stalk by-product does not require any additional agricultural exploitation. It is therefore naturally compliant with the European Commission’s Bioeconomy Strategy to improve and scale-up the sustainable use of renewable resources and address local and global sustainable development. Furthermore, 2-methyloxolane which is already being safely used for pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications allows to produce oil and protein which offer an excellent food safety for consumers.
Today the vegetable oil and related protein sectors use petroleum-based hexane to extract oil from plant materials. This old technology results in the dispersion of neurotoxic and reprotoxic hexane residues in the human food chain and in the environment. EcoXtract® purpose is firstly to propose a safer alternative to hexane which can be used in facilities initially designed for hexane with limited modifications.
Oilseeds account for about one-fifth of global crop production. More and more, consumers and younger generations value that agri-food companies address the societal impact of production processes.
“EcoXtract® is immensely honoured to have received the Pierre Potier award, one of the highest industry distinctions for international chemistry professionals and academia,” said Laurence Jacques, Managing Director. “We thank the experts panel for its recognition of our bio-based solution to substitute hexane and their support to a safer and petroleum free food chain. We are dedicated to improving the global food safety and supply and fight against food waste. Our commitment has become the ethic of EcoXtract® which lies into a sustainable-oriented mindset that we nurture for ourselves and consumers.
“The agri-food sector plays a huge role in the sustainable development of our world which is why we have operated this switch in green chemistry within Minafin Group. It is now part of the DNA of our company” added Gust Desmedt, CEO of the Green Chemistry Division, Minafin Group.
About the Minafin Group
The Minafin Group is a leading process developer and manufacturer of fine chemicals with three main areas of expertise: health chemistry, green chemistry and challenging chemistry. Minafin operates six industrial manufacturing sites across Europe and North America. They provide customers in pharmaceuticals, life-science ingredients and added-value chemicals for high-tech application, with a range of proprietary processes, custom manufacturing, R&D, analytical and regulatory services, as well as formulations. Minafin invests significantly in R&D to create value for customers by specializing in innovations and eco-friendly solutions that bring a competitive edge and sustainability. Its strong industrial capabilities are consolidated through eight business units: Minakem CDMO, Minakem Generics, Pennakem, Minasolve, Minagro, EcoXtract, Minascent and Pressure Chemicals, which generated over €243M (approx. $280M) in revenue in 2020. Founded in 2004 as a privately-held industrial company, Minafin is headquartered in Belgium and employs 900+ staff.
About the Pierre Potier Prize
Created in 2006 by the French Ministry for the Economy, Finance and Industry, and now maintained by the Maison de la Chimie Foundation and France Chimie, the Pierre Potier Prize highlights and rewards chemistry initiatives encouraging sustainable development and the development of eco-responsible approaches in the sector. Awarded by a panel of key figures in research, industry and ministries, this prize has become an important benchmark for business support organizations. Pierre Potier and his colleagues received accolades for having created tools for drug development in the 1970s that have led the field in testing a drug’s capacity to inhibit cell division and thus of its potential anticancer activity; such as Taxotere.
www.francechimie.fr/prix-pierre-potier (in French)
Press and analysts contacts:
PR & Communications contact
Kim Vandevoorde
EcoXtract
Tel: +32 473 61 06 31
Kim.vandevoorde@ecoxtract.com