Green Chemistry: Oleochemicals for Sustainable Materials
Can we create high-performance materials without fossil fuels? In many industrial sectors, the answer may lie in bio-based oleochemicals—renewable compounds derived from natural oils—are gaining ground as sustainable alternatives to petrochemicals.
Oleochemicals are renewable, often plant-based chemicals used to make materials like bio-based resins, plasticizers, and surfactants. They play an increasingly important role in green chemistry and industrial sustainability.
What are oleochemicals?
Oleochemicals are chemical substances derived from natural fats and oils—often from plants like sunflower, soybean, and castor. These oils are then converted into building blocks and used across a wide range of industries.
Figure 1: Common raw material sources for oleochemicals: sunflower, castor, soybean, and spruce. Their oils form the basis for polyols, hardeners, epoxy diluents, and more.
From soap to high-performance applications
While oleochemicals have long been used in soaps, cosmetics, and detergents, their role is rapidly expanding.
Examples of modern industrial applications include:
- Polyurethanes made with plant-based polyols for foams and coatings
- Alkyd resins in decorative and protective paints
- Diluents for epoxy resins and composites
- Plasticizers for PVC and other plastics
- Corrosion protection via oleochemical epoxy hardeners in coatings
✅ Internal resource: Learn more about bio-based polyols here
Figure 2: Industrial applications of oleochemical products
Global Usage: How Big Is the Oleochemical Share?
Only a small portion of vegetable oils go into oleochemical products—and an even smaller share into high-performance industrial materials.
Table 1: Global breakdown of vegetable oil use (source: IUCN, exploring the future of vegetable oils)
| Application | Global Share (%) |
|---|---|
| Food (human consumption) | 72% |
| Biofuels (e.g., biodiesel) | 16% |
| Animal feed | 5% |
| Oleochemicals | 7% |
Noteworthy, the global consumption of vegetable oils for biofuels is roughly 17 % but regional shares can already pass 50 % like for rapseed oil in the EU (source: IEA Biofuel Industry Report, 2022).
Are Oleochemicals Sustainable?
Just because something is renewable doesn’t mean it’s automatically sustainable.
Key sustainability concerns
- Land use and deforestation: Palm oil (≈60% of the oleochemical feedstock) is linked to deforestation in Southeast Asia. Soybean oil (≈20%) poses similar risks in South America.
- Biodiversity and monocultures: Unsustainable practices reduce biodiversity and deplete soil health.
Although oleochemicals account for only about 7% of global vegetable oil use and are not the main driver of these issues, manufacturers still have a responsibility to act.
It’s not the crop itself that’s unsustainable—it’s the way it’s farmed. Without safeguards for biodiversity and responsible land use, any environmental benefit of using bio-based materials can be quickly lost.
That’s why transparency in the supply chain is critical. Manufacturers should ask:
- Where does the oil come from?
- How is it produced?
- Is it certified?
Sustainability certifications such as:
- RTRS (Round Table on Responsible Soy)
- RSPO (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil)
- Donau Soja (regional, non-GMO soy from Europe)
can help ensure that the raw materials used in green chemistry are also responsibly sourced.
Conclusion: The Future of Green Chemistry
Oleochemicals offer a promising route to fossil-free, high-performance materials—if produced responsibly. Their renewable origin supports bio-based innovation, but their sustainability hinges on ethical sourcing, transparency, and smart industrial use.
The transition to greener chemistry is a shared responsibility. As producers, researchers, and engineers, we must continue asking the right questions—and hold ourselves to high sustainability standards.
👉 Want to learn more about how to make your coatings greener? Check out our website for information about bio-based polyols, diluents for epoxy resins, epoxy hardeners, epoxidizes esters and oils as well as conjugated fatty acids for your various applications.
References
(1) Meijaard, Erik, et al. Exploring the Future of Vegetable Oils: Oil Crop Implications – Fats, Forests, Forecasts, and Futures. IUCN and Sustainable Nutrition Scientific Board, 2024. https://doi.org/10.2305/KFJA1910.
(2) IEA (2022), Is the biofuel industry approaching a feedstock crunch?, IEA, Paris https://www.iea.org/reports/is-the-biofuel-industry-approaching-a-feedstock-crunch, Licence: CC BY 4.0
FAQ: Oleochemicals in Green Chemistry
1. What exactly are oleochemicals?
They’re chemical compounds derived from natural fats and oils—especially from plants like soybean and sunflower. They include fatty acids, alcohols, and esters used in everything from soaps to polymers.
2. How do they differ from petrochemicals?
Petrochemicals come from fossil fuels, while oleochemicals are renewable. This gives oleochemicals a potential edge in sustainability—if sourced responsibly.
3. Do they compete with food production?
Only marginally. Oleochemicals use ~7% of vegetable oils. Biofuels, not chemicals, pose the bigger competition for edible oils.
4. Are there sustainability certifications?
Yes. Common ones include RTRS (soy), RSPO (palm), and Donau Soja (European soy). These standards help ensure responsible practices.