Jacco van Haveren is an organic chemist and has been conducting research into natural resources for more than thirty years. ‘I hate all those single-use plastic bags; I always check to see what they’re made of, an occupational disability really. I hope to contribute to a better world which we will be able to enjoy for the long term. Our research rarely leads to tangible results in the short term, so you need to be patient in this line of work.’
The industry is seeking alternatives to petroleum-based products to help achieve the climate targets. Substitutes for petroleum can be extracted from biomass obtained from agricultural and organic waste streams. Scientists from Wageningen University & Research have been developing such green alternatives for use in cosmetics, detergents, paints and plastics. This…