ChainCraft has officially launched construction preparations for its first commercial factory, which will produce sustainable fatty acids from potato processing waste in Ter Apelkanaal, Netherlands.
The flagship facility represents a significant step toward circular chemistry at industrial scale. Located next to Royal Avebe’s production site, the plant will convert local potato sidestreams into high-value fatty acids used in flavors, fragrances, food, animal nutrition, home and personal care products, and industrial applications like lubricants and cooling fluids.
The facility will produce approximately 20,000 tonnes of fatty acids annually, reducing dependency on fossil resources while supporting the region’s chemical sector. The total investment exceeds €100 million, with construction starting in 2026 and operations expected to begin in early 2028.
ChainCraft deliberately chose an Early Contractor Involvement approach, where engineering, technology, and construction partners collaborate from the outset. This methodology allows design choices and technical optimizations to be developed and validated simultaneously, shortening lead times and reducing costs.
Geert van Ek, Project Director at ChainCraft, said complex sustainable industrial facilities develop faster when all parties collaborate early. Integration at this stage creates a strong foundation for successful project realization.
The plant will directly employ approximately 35 people in operations, supported by a broader ecosystem of service providers and contractors. The project contributes to employment and workforce development in Northern Netherlands while advancing industrial sustainability.
Each partner brings specialized expertise. Visser & Smit Bouw handles civil works and foundations, Verwater delivers electrical and automation systems, and SPIE manages piping and steel structures. Additional process installations come from Colsen and K-Utec & Andritz, with KH-Engineering responsible for overall design.
The project builds on a long-standing collaboration between ChainCraft and Royal Avebe, creating a regional circular value chain that converts agricultural byproducts into industrial chemicals at scale.
