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A step forward towards a more sustainable chemical industry: bio-aromatics company Relement secures first capital investment.

June 9, 2021

Today, Relement BV has raised their first capital investment from the TTT Smart Industries Fund that is managed by Innovation Industries, a leading deep-tech Venture Capital fund. Relement BV is a spin-off from Dutch Research and Development institute TNO. The company is uniquely positioned as a manufacturer of ingredients for coatings and materials, for which there is no renewable alternative today. The investment will enable Relement to contract partners for scaling up sample production for customers and strengthen technological development. An important milestone in the realisation of a more sustainable chemical industry.


“Relement is very happy with the support from Innovation Industries. This is an important step in making the critical change towards a more sustainable chemical industry. Innovation Industries is known for investing in knowledge-intensive and deeptech companies. Relement is such type of company and welcomes visionary investors who understand the large opportunities that the chemicals market has to offer” comments Roger Blokland, CEO of Relement. “Relement is managed by a strong team of founders, has access to disruptive technology and impactful customers. This first investment will enable Relement to reach important milestones towards the realisation of greener chemicals, coatings and materials industry.”


Innovation Industries considers this impact investment as a way to support Relement in its journey to make the chemical industry more sustainable. “Relement has proven that it is possible to use inedible biomass instead of a fossil feedstock while making a product that has superior quality and durability. We have invested with our Technology Transfer Fund and are aware that our support is only a modest step towards a more sustainable world. We hope that our investment encourages other investors to support Relement and to join this round.” – according Harm de Vries, partner at the fund. 


About TTT Smart Industries and Innovation Industries

The Smart Industries Thematic Technology Transfer (TTT) consortium is a cooperative alliance between the Technology Transfer Offices of TNO, the four Dutch technical universities and Innovation Industries. It aims to bring promising early-stage tech spin-offs to the next level. The Smart Industries TTT Fund is managed by Innovation Industries. Please visit www.tech-transfer.nl for more information.



Innovation Industries is a leading Netherlands-based venture capital firm focused on high tech, med tech and agri-food tech companies. Next to financial support, Innovation Industries provides operational and strategic support in order to optimally position portfolio companies for success. Innovation Industries has over € 250 million under management and invests across all growth and development stages. For more information, please visit: www.innovationindustries.com


About Relement BV

Relement BV is a spin-off from Dutch Research and Development institute TNO. The technology, to which Relement has an exclusive world-wide license, has been developed by TNO within the shared research centre Biorizon. Relement can convert inedible biomass residues into high-quality chemical ingredients called bio aromatics. Today’s aromatics can only be produced from fossil feedstock and are not sustainable. Relement bio-aromatics are the missing link to obtain fully renewable products. 

Relement is a company for the development, production, and marketing of bio-aromatics. Bio-aromatics are essential raw materials for coatings, adhesives, insulating foam and other high-quality applications. These special bio-aromatics are not only much more sustainable, but they also provide better performance: for example, improved hardness of paint and stronger insulating foam. It is Relement’s mission is to change the world by creating a fossil free chemical industry.

Relement won a Tech Tour Bio-Based Industries 2024 Award

November 21, 2024
Relement is honored and grateful to be among the winners of the Tech Tour Bio-Based Industries 2024 Award. The Tech Tour event highlighted >30 selected companies at the forefront of bio-based innovation, chosen through a rigorous selection process led by a panel of active investors. Our CEO Roger Blokland was on site to present our activities. He pitched about transforming sustainable biomass residues into high-performance bio-aromatics for coatings, adhesives, and materials, offering a renewable alternative to fossil-based ingredients while also enhancing product performance. The expert jury acknowledged Relement as one of the companies that is setting new benchmarks in sustainability, circular materials, and green technology. The Tech Tour Bio-based Industries 2024 event was co-organized by Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC) and co-hosted by Circular Valley and City of Wuppertal, as well as supported by partners like Bayer, DWNRW, ZAZ Ventures, and Shaping Bio. Of course, we would also like to congratulate the other winners: Arda Biomaterials, Blue Ocean Closures, Mevaldi, Origin by Ocean, Quorium and SenseUP Biotechnology.

Collaboration project with Fontys University of Applied Sciences completed

July 1, 2024
Relement has completed its first collaboration project with Fontys University of Applied Sciences, Eindhoven (The Netherlands). During a 18 months period, a team of teachers and 21 students worked on alkyd coating research based on Relement’ launching product bio MPA. To accelerate the research, coating experts Joost van Dijk (Puroc) and Henk van den Haak (Resinconsult) advised the students with experimental setup and formulation work. A wealth of knowledge has been created supporting the commercial use of bio MPA in performance alkyd coatings. The Relement team enjoyed the project and is convinced about the effectiveness of collaborative applied research. We are thankful with at least 21 new ambassadors for sustainable chemistry! This project is partially funded with subsidy from KIEM GoChem, a joint subsidy program from the Dutch Regieorgaan SIA and ChemistryNL. 

Bio MPA production process improved

June 24, 2024
Relement has contracted R&D partners to further optimize the production process for our launching product bio MPA (3-methylphthalic anhydride), enabling us to commence industrial-scale manufacturing soon. The efforts resulted in: a leaner and more robust process; increased bio MPA product recovery; reduced formation of byproducts such as humins; reduced the use of organic solvents; reduced energy requirement. After the summer, we will select a Contract Manufacturing Organisation to begin the production of our launching product bio MPA. Join us on our mission towards a greener chemical future. Get in touch if you would like to purchase bio MPA for your coating, adhesive or composite resin. For more information please contact our CTO Stefano Iannacone: Stefano.iannacone@relement.eu 

HOBUM and Relement created high performing biobased composite material

June 17, 2024
Relement achieved an important milestone by successfully demonstrating the use of our ingredient bio MPA in high-quality composite materials. Relement worked with Hobum to create this game-changing material: a high-performance, biobased composite material with a glass transition temperature of >110 degrees Celsius. Hobum aimed to develop composites parts made of plant fibres and a vegetable oil-based resins using a resin-transfer moulding process to create a bisphenol A-free product. Hobum reached out to Relement for the utilisation of our ingredient bio MPA to replace fossil-based anhydrides such as MHHPA in their resins. After 1.5 year of testing of various formulations, the partnership hit a breakthrough with a recipe based on admergenic acid (ADA), epoxidized linseed oil (ELO) and Relement’s ingredient 3-methylphthalic anhydride (bio MPA). This resulted in a prototype car interior panel part. The composite material reached the highest % biobased (85%) and the highest glass transition temperature (Tg 95-120 °C depending on catalyst and temperature). A higher Tg results in enhanced strength, stiffness and heat resistance. There is a strong demand worldwide on availability of lightweight composite materials with high performance. Bio MPA can be a gamechanger for this industry. HOBUM recently showed all technical data at their HOBUM Innovation Exchange Webinar. Please view the complete record using the link below:

Akzo Nobel entered into a collaboration with Relement

June 4, 2024
Following meetings with AkzoNobel, Relement is excited to note that AkzoNobel has been following our progress and technology development to date with interest. Relement and Akzo Nobel are working together to explore use of Relement's launching product bio MPA (3-methylphthalic anhydride) in coatings and measure the impact of our bio MPA in coating performances. Together, we have also identified a number of other opportunities that can broaden the scope of this partnership and add value in multiple areas. For more information please contact our Chief Commercial Officer Monique Wekking: monique.wekking@relement.eu

Relement part of AROMATICS consortium

December 14, 2023
We are excited to be part of the consortium AROMATICS in which 3 promising bio-aromatics production platforms will be further developed and scaled, including furfural based aromatics such as our launching product bio MPA The consortium consists of 14 partners and the entire value chain is on board including brandowners. We are looking forward to explore new applications based on bio MPA and bio HMA. AROMATICS stands for Aromatic Renewables as an Opportunity for MATerials with Improved Circularity and Sustainability and this 3-year project is performed with MOOI-funding from the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs & Climate.

First biobased industrial coating demonstrated with partners Worlée Chemie and Baril Coatings

December 14, 2023
An important milestone for Relement has been achieved: the successful demonstration of bio MPA in industrial coatings! Relement teamed up with Worlée Chemie and Baril Coatings to successfully demonstrate this game-changer industrial coating: a first of a kind, high performance, waterborne alkyd coating. Incorporating our ingredient bio MPA to replace the fossil-based ingredient phthalic anhydride.

Pre-order bio MPA from our 2024 production

December 14, 2023
Relement is in the final stage of selecting a European Contract Manufacturing Organisation that will produce our launching product bio MPA at ton-scale in 2024. It is possible to pre-order samples now. Please indicate to us the volume bio MPA you would like to purchase in 2024 to boost the sustainability and performance of your products. Fill in the form below:

Carbon footprint study conducted for product bio MPA

November 28, 2023
Relement conducted a carbon footprint analysis as part of the initial Life Cycle Assessment for our launching product bio MPA (3-methylphthalic anhydride) A cradle-to-grave analysis has been carried out by E-hoch-3 and confirms: the production of specialty bio-aromatics from furfural, derived from non-edible residual streams, results in a significant reduction in CO2 emissions compared to fossil equivalent. It’s Relement’s mission to change the world, starting with fossil free coatings. We provide the missing renewable element for coatings and more. Our specialty bio-aromatic products provide an unmatched combination of sustainability and performance. All elements matter. Are you interested in the details and would you like to join us and green the chemical industry together? Please contact Roger Blokland for more information at roger.blokland@relement.eu

Relement selected for the Pole Position batch 2023 of Techleap.nl

November 28, 2023
Relement is one of the 10 startups selected for the Dutch Pole Position Greentech Program of Techleap.nl in 2023. This batch showcases the brightest minds and boldest innovations with a focus on sustainability and environmental impact in the Netherlands. Relement is part of this the Greentech Pole Position program together with CarbonX, CyBe Construction, OneThird , Photanol, QuinteQ Energy, SeaQurrent®, Tarnoc, RIFT and Thorizon. The team will experienced coaches, entrepeneurs, investors and of course it is always good to challenge and learn from other passionate deep tech entrepreneurs. The program runs until January 2024 and will accelerate our biobased scale-up journey.
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