GFBiochemicals

What GFBiochemicals does

GFBiochemicals SAS, founded in 2013 by former professional footballer Mathieu Flamini and Pasquale Granata, is a French-headquartered specialty chemicals company that converts agricultural biomass feedstock into levulinate-based chemical ingredients at industrial scale. Its core technology, branded RE:CHEMISTRY, is a proprietary one-step process claimed to be the first globally to scale levulinate commercialization, protected by 197+ active patents covering esters, ketals, bio-solvents, polyols, and plasticizers. The company's product portfolio under the RE:CHEMISTRY brand consists of four primary bio-based solvents: SOLVE100 (ethyl levulinate), MOVE200 (butyl levulinate), CLEAN300 (levulinate propanediol ketal), and NEW320 (levulinate propanediol ketal), positioned as drop-in replacements for petrochemical solvents in industrial cleaning, coatings, inks, personal care, and fragrance applications.

The company operates a global footprint with manufacturing in Belgium and Asia, R&D and sales operations in the Netherlands and France (Aix-en-Provence), and a representative office in Minneapolis, USA. GFBiochemicals monetizes through direct B2B enterprise sales of its chemical ingredients under quote-based contracts to industrial buyers in chemicals, cosmetics, personal care, cleaning products, and coatings sectors. Distribution is supported by an owned brand storefront at re-chemistry.com and a multi-channel marketing mix spanning LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and earned media in The Guardian, Financial Times, Bloomberg, and Les Echos.

The business is funded primarily through a €15 million 2022 round led by Sofinnova Partners with Sparta Capital, and operates with 11-50 employees. It pursues strategic R&D collaboration through consortia including Project SUSINKCOAT with AkzoNobel, Canon, Evonik, and Dutch universities, and Project SOURCE with French and Belgian universities for waste-stream valorization. Its sustainability positioning is reinforced by EcoVadis Platinum (91/100, 99th percentile, 2026), SolarImpulse, Ecocert, and USDA Biobased certifications.

Name

GFBiochemicals

Legal name

GFBiochemicals SAS

Website

http://www.gfbiochemicals.com/

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

GFBiochemicals is a French specialty chemicals company that produces plant-based levulinate solvents and derivatives from agricultural biomass for industrial buyers in cleaning, coatings, cosmetics, and personal care, marketed under the RE:CHEMISTRY brand.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Bio-based Specialty Chemicals

NAICS

Other Basic Organic Chemical Manufacturing (32519), Chemical Manufacturing (325), Cyclic Crude, Intermediate, and Gum and Wood Chemical Manufacturing (325194)

SIC

Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860), Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890)

akta.pro primary industry

Bio-based Solvents & Process Chemicals (e.g., bio-acetone, bio-butanol, bio-IPA, green solvents) (EUAAAIAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Biochemicals & Bio-based Platform Chemicals (cellulose sugars, lignin derivatives, organic acids) (IMAMALAB)

Keywords

• Bio-based solvents
• Levulinic acid production
• Green chemistry ingredients
• Plant-based specialty chemicals
• Biomass-derived chemicals

Headquarters

HQ city

Milan

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Chemical Product Sales: Sale of bio-based chemical ingredients and solvents derived from levulinate technologies. Products are sold under the RE:CHEMISTRY brand including SOLVE100 (ethyl levulinate), MOVE200 (butyl levulinate), CLEAN300 (levulinate propanediol ketal), and NEW320 (levulinate propanediol ketal). Revenue is generated through direct B2B sales to industrial customers in various sectors.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

GFBiochemicals produces and sells plant-based chemical ingredients derived from levulinate technology at commercial scale, replacing conventional petrochemical solvents. Its core offerings are four branded bio-based solvents under the RE:CHEMISTRY platform—SOLVE100 (ethyl levulinate), MOVE200 (butyl levulinate), CLEAN300, and NEW320 (levulinate propanediol ketals)—manufactured via a proprietary one-step process from agricultural biomass and sold B2B to industrial customers in cosmetics, personal care, cleaning products, and coatings sectors.

Product overview

GFBiochemicals operates as a single unified product company centered on its proprietary RE:CHEMISTRY technology platform, which produces a portfolio of plant-based chemical ingredients derived from levulinate technologies. The core offering consists of four main bio-based solvent products: SOLVE100 (Ethyl Levulinate), MOVE200 (Butyl Levulinate), CLEAN300 (Levulinate Propanediol Ketal), and NEW320 (Levulinate Propanediol Ketal). These products are positioned as sustainable alternatives to conventional petrochemical solvents, targeting applications across industrial cleaning, coatings, personal care, and fragrance industries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• RE:CHEMISTRY: The breakthrough technology platform developed by GFBiochemicals for producing levulinate technologies and derivatives from plant-based biomass feedstock.

Products and services

• SOLVE100 (Ethyl Levulinate) Bio-based ethyl levulinate solvent marketed under the SOLVE100 brand as part of the RE:CHEMISTRY technology platform. A plant-based ingredient designed to replace conventional petrochemical solvents in various industrial applications.
• MOVE200 (Butyl Levulinate) Bio-based butyl levulinate solvent marketed under the MOVE200 brand as part of the RE:CHEMISTRY technology platform. Provides high solvency power as a plant-based alternative to petrochemical solvents.
• CLEAN300 (Levulinate Propanediol Ketal) Levulinate propanediol ketal marketed under the CLEAN300 brand as part of the RE:CHEMISTRY technology platform. Features no labelling requirements, making it suitable for industrial cleaning applications.
• NEW320 (Levulinate Propanediol Ketal) Levulinate propanediol ketal marketed under the NEW320 brand as part of the RE:CHEMISTRY technology platform. Serves as a safe alternative to silicones and petrochemical solvents in cosmetics, skincare, and hair care products.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 100% CO2 reduction compared to traditional petrochemical incumbents
• +3 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Bio CIRCE / MASTER BIOCIRCEcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025GFBio is a founding member of the first master's program in Bioeconomy in Europe. Partners include Frioer, Bicocca, Master, Sigil, Intesa, Novamont, PTR, CAN, Spring.
• University of GroningencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in PROJECT SOURCE developing technologies to create value from waste streams and maximize valorization of all outputs. Also partner in PROJECT SUSINKCOAT.
• AkzoNobelflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in PROJECT SUSINKCOAT developing safe, functional polymers and additives with low environmental footprint for inks and coatings. GFBio provides its bio-based glycerol ketal derived from ethyl levulinate.
• CanoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in PROJECT SUSINKCOAT developing safe, functional polymers and additives for inks and coatings using GFBio's bio-based glycerol ketal.
• EvonikcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in PROJECT SUSINKCOAT developing next-generation solutions based on GFBio's proprietary technologies for inks and coatings.
• TU EindhovencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in PROJECT SUSINKCOAT developing safe, functional polymers and additives for inks and coatings.
• University of TwentecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in PROJECT SUSINKCOAT contributing to development of low environmental footprint polymers and additives.
• Maastricht UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in PROJECT SUSINKCOAT developing next-generation ink and coating solutions.
• NHL StendenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in PROJECT SUSINKCOAT contributing to development of functional polymers and additives.
• PTG (Printing Technology Group)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in PROJECT SUSINKCOAT developing safe, functional polymers and additives for printing inks.
• RUG VenturesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in PROJECT SUSINKCOAT supporting development of sustainable coating solutions.
• ECORASminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in PROJECT SUSINKCOAT contributing to sustainable coating and ink development.
• Green CampusminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in PROJECT SUSINKCOAT focused on sustainable and green solutions.
• Chemport EuropeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in PROJECT SUSINKCOAT supporting circular economy and sustainable chemistry initiatives.
• Université Côte d'AzurcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in PROJECT SOURCE developing technologies to create value from waste streams.
• UCSS / Sorbonne UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in PROJECT SOURCE developing technologies to create value from waste streams.
• University of LyoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in PROJECT SOURCE developing technologies to create value from waste streams.
• Université Nice Côte d'AzurcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in PROJECT SOURCE developing technologies to create value from waste streams.
• KU LeuvencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in PROJECT SOURCE developing technologies to create value from waste streams.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Cargill: Global agribusiness and bio-based industrial ingredients supplier (e.g., vegetable oils, lactic acid, fermentation-derived chemicals). Comparable as a scaled, feedstock-advantaged incumbent in bio-based industrial chemistries.
• Croda International: UK-listed specialty chemicals company with a strong bio-based personal care and coatings ingredient portfolio. Comparable as an established incumbent serving overlapping end-markets (cosmetics, cleaning, coatings) with sustainability-positioned chemistries.
• Eastman Chemical: US-listed specialty chemicals company with circular and bio-based product initiatives (e.g., molecular recycling, cellulosic-based materials). Comparable as an established incumbent pursuing sustainable chemistry reformulation across solvents, coatings, and personal care.
• Braskem: Brazilian petrochemical leader with a dedicated bio-based polyolefins ('I'm green') line from sugarcane ethanol. Comparable as a scaled bio-based chemicals producer serving industrial customers globally.
• BASF: Global chemical giant with extensive bio-based and circular economy initiatives across solvents, polymers, and agricultural inputs. Comparable as a broad incumbent that GFBiochemicals competes against (and could supply as a customer) in bio-based solvents.
• Corbion: Dutch-listed leader in lactic acid fermentation and bio-based food ingredients/specialty chemicals. Comparable as an established, scaled bio-refinery platform with overlap in sustainable industrial ingredients for cosmetics, cleaning, and personal care.

Direct peers

• Borregaard: Norwegian biorefinery operating one of the world's most advanced lignocellulosic biorefineries, producing lignin-based bio-chemicals, bioethanol, and vanillin. Comparable as a commercial-scale producer of specialty bio-based industrial chemicals from biomass.
• Novamont: Italian bio-based chemicals company producing bioplastics and bio-lubricants from agricultural feedstocks. Comparable as a European bio-refinery focused on biomass-to-chemicals conversion; also a listed partner in GFBiochemicals' Bio CIRCE consortium.
• Avantium: Amsterdam-based bio-based chemicals company developing plant-based platform chemistries (e.g., FDCA, PEF, glucose-based MEG). Directly comparable to GFBiochemicals as a European bio-refinery converting biomass into industrial chemical intermediates.
• Circa Group: Producer of Cyrene, a bio-based solvent derived from cellulose waste, marketed as a sustainable alternative to petrochemical solvents like NMP and DMF. Closely comparable to GFBiochemicals in target market (industrial solvents) and feedstock (biomass).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/gfbiochemicals
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC95ILCDQeNXI0NIYxEivRgA
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php?id=61575626721764
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gfbiochemicals
• Instagraminstagram.com/rechemistry
• TikToktiktok.com/@rechemistry_gfb

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about GFBiochemicals