PeelPioneers expands with new citrus peel factory in Spain

PeelPioneers expands operations in Den Bosch and Spain to further develop circular processing of citrus peels. The Dutch company, founded by Sytze van Stempvoort, Lindy Hensen, and Bas van Wieringen, launched Europe’s largest orange peel processing plant in 2021. PeelPioneers now processes 70% of all available citrus peels in the Netherlands, converting them into valuable raw materials like essential oils, natural fibers, and food, cosmetic, and cleaning product aromas. This circular approach has resulted in the annual processing of 30 million kilos of peels, with supplies going to Jumbo and various hospitality businesses.

With a team of 50, PeelPioneers aims to further expand its operations. The company is focusing on sustainability and the expansion of its Den Bosch facility, as well as its Research & Development department to explore new applications for citrus peels. Innovations such as extracting natural colorants and producing ingredients via precision fermentation are being explored to optimize technology.

Additionally, PeelPioneers is planning international expansion with the construction of a new plant in the Murcia region of Spain. This facility will be two to three times larger than the one in Den Bosch and will process 30 million kilos of citrus peels annually. The company has raised €4 million from investors and impact funds, and it is launching a crowdfunding campaign to raise another €4 million through Invesdor.

This funding will allow PeelPioneers to further develop its technology and lay the groundwork for the new Spanish plant, which is expected to be funded by a new investment round in 2025. The crowdfunding campaign offers individuals the chance to contribute as little as €250 to this sustainable project and be part of the industrial-scale circular economy that PeelPioneers is creating.

Interested individuals can participate starting from that date with a contribution of €250 through this link.