Green chemistry in Hauts-de-France
As businesses reinvent themselves to meet stricter environmental standards, green chemistry has become vital to the chemical industry’s future. Hauts-de-France leads France in biomass development and one of the country’s most dynamic regions for the bioeconomy and biobased chemistry.
Green chemistry in Hauts-de-France
As businesses reinvent themselves to meet stricter environmental standards, green chemistry has become vital to the chemical industry’s future. Hauts-de-France leads France in biomass development and one of the country’s most dynamic regions for the bioeconomy and biobased chemistry.
Northern France—the place to be for biobased chemistry
We have the advantages you need to grow your green chemistry business:
- Agro-climatic outlook among the best in France—and the world
- Outstanding location
- Robust consumer demand
- Extensive multimodal logistics offer and a large distribution network
- Rich, diversified industrial ecosystem, backed by forward-looking investments in areas from process development to testing and pilot plants.
Green chemistry leaders
The Hauts-de-France industry is moving upmarket, backed by these major players:

Easy access to bioresource suppliers
Hauts-de-France is Europe’s leading source of beets, potatoes, wheat and endives—to name just a few—and accounts for 15% of Europe’s total agricultural output. Big producers include:
Bioeconomy for Change (b4c)—a world-class bioeconomy cluster driving green chemistry in the region
B4C is France’s leading bioeconomy cluster—a pacesetter in Europe and around the world.
Its members include agricultural cooperatives, research facilities, universities, businesses of all sizes, public sector entities and more, with operations ranging from upstream agricultural activities to marketing finished products.
B4C covers every aspect of the production and development of biological resources—from farm, forest and ocean, including by-products and waste—for use in food, industry and energy.
The bioeconomy spans extremely diverse markets, including:
- Food and animal feed
- Materials
- Cosmetics
- Pharmaceuticals
- Transport
- Construction
- Plastics
- Packaging
- Energy
- Other


Fast facts: B4C cluster
- 300+ accredited and funded projects
- €2 billion in investments
- 400 members
Areas of innovation
Advanced biofuels
- 2G and 3G biofuels
- Biogas
- And more
Biochemistry
- Chemical products
- Intermediates
- Biopolymers
- And more
Biomaterials
- Bioplastics
- Biocomposites
- Biobased fibers
- And more
Bioingredients
- Animal feed
- Food ingredients
- Nutritional supplements
- And more
How B4C serves businesses
- Set-up support
- Partnerships in European projects
- End-to-end assistance with regulatory applications
- Expertise and certification
- Lobbying, leverage and representation
Research centers and cutting-edge technologies, with pilot plants available on request
Extractis
The Extractis institute develops plant biomass extraction and fractioning processes from laboratory to production plant, specializing in nutraceuticals, cosmetics and chemical intermediates. Extractis uses scale-up tools to extract useful compounds at the lowest cost—without harming the environment.
SAS Pivert

SAS Pivert uses a biorefinery model to develop industrial products and processes for chemicals, plant nutrition and health, and human and animal nutrition. Its BIOGIS Center—a unique multi-disciplinary development platform for chemistry and biotechnology—provides support from the innovation process up to industrial development.
Improve

Improve is Europe’s #1 open platform dedicated to developing the proteins of the future.
It specializes in human and animal nutrition, cosmetics and agricultural materials, with expertise extending from fundamental research to market launch.
Codem/Batlab

Codem specializes in sustainable construction and innovative eco-materials. Expertise and equipment come together in a uniquely complementary way, guiding your business toward large-scale production through:
- Innovation
- Scale-up
- Technical and environmental evaluation
- Testing
- Accreditations