5 minute read
Pure sustainability Cargill
PURE SUSTAINABILITY
Cargill is a global leader in the production of food and agricultural products, as well as in financial and industrial products and services. Philip Yorke talked to Carel van Buchem, the company’s commercial manager for ethanol product, about its advanced automated fermentation processes and his view on the ethanol markets.
Cargill is one of the largest multinational companies of its kind. Founded in 1865, this privately owned company employs around 139,000 people in 65 countries worldwide. Cargill is dedicated to helping its customers succeed through collaboration and innovation and is committed to sharing its global knowledge to help meet today’s complex economic, environmental and social challenges. In fiscal year 2011, Cargill had $119.5 billion in sales and other revenues.
Long before Cargill acquired the Royal Nedalco’s ethanol business from its parent company, Royal Cosun, it was operating ethanol plants in North America. However the acquisition certainly added significantly to Cargill’s product portfolio and its capabilities in Europe as major supplier of grain and grainbased food and industrial products. In Europe the majority of Cargill ethanol production is committed to the UK, Ireland, Germany and the Benelux countries.
Today Cargill produces and commercialises ethanol for an increasingly wide range of industrial applications for use in products such as solvents, extractants, anti-freeze and intermediates in the synthesis of a variety of natural chemicals. This includes natural ethanol in a wide range of qualities, either with or without the use of denaturants. Applications for the company’s ethanol products include adhesives and binders, paints, coatings and inks, as well as those for the chemical and bioindustrial industries. In addition other important applications are the alcoholic beverages and food industry supplied by the high-purity potable and grain-based ethanol product range. In this sector, Cargill’s high quality ethanol is the main ingredient for the production of premium products such as vodka, gin, cream liquors and aniseed spirits, due to its exceptionally high purity and neutral organoleptic characteristics. Last but not least Cargill also specialises in natural ethanol for the pharmaceutical and cosmetics applications. In that perspective ethanol can be used as carrier in deodorants, perfumes, aerosols and as an excipient to the production of medicines.
Mr Van Buchen said, “We are proud of our heritage and the premium, high quality products that leading global companies rely on. We produce two main grades of ethanol: the first is 96 per cent ethanol which has 4 per cent water content; and 99 per cent ethanol which has maximum 1 per cent water content. Our products are used throughout the alcoholic beverages industry, the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries as well as the technical industries. For these markets we specialise in the manufacture of natural ethanol. Our natural ethanol gives our customer advantages against synthetic ethanol, which is not allowed for human consumption by law. We aim to produce sustainable and green products for all applications. As far as our future growth is concerned, this will be based upon our ability to strengthen our position in Europe.
“Cargill is an important player on European ethanol markets overall, but we enjoy a greater position in certain markets where we have been well established for many years. These are countries such as the Netherlands and the UK, Ireland and Germany for example. We also have a strong growth opportunity for our products in many areas where synthetic, oil-based derivative ethanol is currently used. In particular, this relates to the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries where our natural, fully sustainable and high-purity products contribute to the care of the planet and have a much more attractive image than that of its synthetic alternative.”
Mr Van Buchem added, “It helps that since the acquisition our customers benefit from the Cargill skills and network. We have also invested heavily over the last five years in improving automation in our distillation plants, which makes us highly efficient and a very competitive supplier. In addition, it guarantees our customers optimal quality and consistency which is vital to many of them, especially those in the spirits industry. We are a high quality premium company in
all aspects of our business and offer the best facilities available anywhere in the world – we are therefore the natural alternative.”
Perfection in personal care
For personal care applications, Cargill’s ethanol products, ‘Alcohol Absolutus 99.9 per cent’ and ‘Alcohol Fortior 96 per cent’ are highly purified products of agricultural origin. These entirely natural ethanols are produced by the fermentation of sugars, using yeast, with the sugars derived mainly from grain or molasses. These products, which can be denatured according to the customer’s needs, are used broadly in the manufacturing of products such as anaesthetics, antiseptics, drugs, lotions and tinctures. They are also widely used in disinfection products, and for cosmetics such as deodorants, soaps and shampoos.
In addition, this perfectly pure, sustainable product can also be used as an important process aid in the manufacture of colourants, flavours and aromas for the food and cosmetics industries and naturally complies with all international regulatory standards. For certain applications organoleptics are key to the success of the end product. Cargill has a large and very professional panel of noses who tests the various grades of ethanol against strict requirements. This way Cargill is able to provide the best and most stable product which will enhance the end product.
In addition, Cargill’s technical agricultural ethanol products are also highly purified and have a clean, characteristic and constant odour. This range of speciality Cargill product is used in the industry as an ethylating agent, cleansing agent and as a solvent for gums and resins. Other applications include solvents for ink ingredients, insecticides, antifreezes and polishing mediums. Furthermore, Cargill is able to denature its technical agricultural ethanol to suit individual, tailor-made conditions and applications. n
Logistics at the heart of the Netherlands
Van Appeldoorn offers a broad range of logistics services to manufacturers and firms trading in hazardous and non-hazardous goods. Services include transportation of liquid chemicals and packed goods, storage, drumming and other services. Our guiding principles are safety, reliability, sustainability and flexibility. This solid foundation serves as the basis of our commercial operations.
Tel: +31 (0)33 2859070 Fax: +31 (0)33 2859071 Email: info@vanappeldoorn.nl www.vanappeldoorn.nl
