Bio-Based Propylene Glycol: Driving Green Innovation and Low-Carbon Solutions

January 16, 2026

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Propylene glycol (PG) is traditionally produced from petrochemical sources, specifically through the hydration of propylene oxide. However, recent developments in green chemistry have led to the development of a bio-based alternative to propylene glycol, which is derived from renewable vegetable oils such as soybean oil, palm oil and rapeseed oil, as well as, in some cases, from other biomass-derived glycerin. The bio-based propylene glycol is derived from a process known as hydrogenolysis, in which glycerin and hydrogen react at high temperature and pressure to produce bio-based propylene glycol. These two types of polypropylene glycol serve the same functions in a final product and are chemically identical. However, they are prepared from different materials using the conventional route, which involves petroleum-based propylene oxide and the bio-based route, which utilizes renewable glycerin derived from vegetable oils.

According to Corpus Naturals, more than seven million barrels of oil are used annually to produce traditional propylene glycol. In contrast, bio-based propylene glycol is manufactured from renewable, low-carbon feedstocks, including corn and sugarcane. It also provides a 61% decrease in greenhouse gas emissions when compared to conventional propylene glycol. Due to the availability of bio-based propylene glycol, there is a reduced reliance on oil and a lower carbon dioxide impact compared to its petroleum-based counterpart. Bio-based propylene glycol is further refined into either an industrial-grade or a United States Pharmacopeia (USP)-specification-grade propylene glycol. Industrial-grade bio-based propylene glycol is an odorless, slightly viscous, colorless liquid used in a variety of applications, including coolants and antifreeze, unsaturated polyester resins, heat transfer fluids, aircraft de-icing fluid, paint and coatings, and liquid detergents. Moreover, environmental benefits, the adoption of bio-based propylene glycol provides industrial and economic advantages such as reduced raw material volatility, improved supply chain stability, and alignment with Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) goals, enhancing brand sustainability and market competitiveness.

USP-specification-grade propylene glycol is a pharmacopeia-specifications-grade excipient of PG or monopropylene glycol (MPG) with a specified purity greater than 99.5% according to Corpus Naturals. This grade is tested for compliance with the current USP. Applications for bio-based pharmaceutical and food-grade propylene glycol include fragrance, cosmetics and personal care, pharmaceutical excipient, food and flavorings, food-grade functional fluid, household, industrial and institutional use, and pet food.

Evolution of Bio-Based Propylene Glycol

Year	Key Milestone
1997	Ø Some initial studies recognized copper chromite catalysts as more effective for glycerol hydrogenolysis to propylene glycol under moderate conditions.
2007	Ø Comparative analysis of ruthenium (Ru) and platinum (Pt) carbon-supported catalysts in aqueous glycerol hydrogenolysis. Ø Exploration of how base additives impact selectivity between propylene glycol and ethylene glycol.
2011	Ø Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) started its first commercial production of bio-based propylene glycol at its Decatur, Illinois, U.S. plant. The facility began startup operations in late March and started producing industrial-grade, biobased propylene glycol.
2012	Ø Oleon has started a new manufacturing plant to produce bio–based PG from glycerin in Ertvelde, Belgium. This is the first plant to have glycerine to propylene glycol via liquid-phase hydrogenolysis over a copper catalyst process. This process was developed and licensed by BASF and jointly realized with Oleon.
2015	Ø Research explored generating hydrogen in situ, from aqueous phase reforming glycerol to feed hydrogenolysis, decreasing external H₂ needs and simplifying plant utilities. This line of work aimed to lower operating costs and H₂ risks.
2021	Ø Research pushed Catalytic Transfer Hydrogenolysis (CTH) and aqueous-phase reforming approaches (using glycerol as both H₂ source and substrate) to reduce external H₂ demand and energy intensity, which is essential for plant economics and footprint.
2022	Ø Various groups issued papers or articles mentioning new Cu–Zn–Mg/La oxide supports, promoted metals and bimetallic catalysts that achieved very high reported yields. Papers also documented improved resistance to deactivation and leaching, a key factor in longer commercial runs.

Key Factors that Accelerate the Adoption of Bio-Based Propylene Glycol

Environmental Benefits: The manufacturing process of bio-based propylene glycol emits nearly 60% fewer greenhouse gases than petroleum-based propylene glycol. This helps reduce industrial carbon emissions and supports global climate targets.
Sustainable Feedstock: Bio-based propylene glycol is produced from renewable feedstock such as glycerin, glucose and sorbitol, decreasing reliance on fossil fuels and promoting a circular economy. The production of bio-based propylene glycol can valorize waste glycerol from biodiesel production, offering a sustainable chemical route and supporting the bioeconomy.
Pricing Stability: Derivatives of crude oil can experience significant price fluctuations in the event of major global events. Prices for bio-based products tend to be more reliable.
Regulatory Compliance: Government regulations supporting the bio-based economy have led to an increase in biodiesel production, resulting in an abundance of waste glycerol available as a low-cost feedstock for producing bio-based propylene glycol.
Performance Parity with Petroleum-Based Propylene Glycol: Bio-based propylene glycol exhibits similar safety, stability and functional performance to its petroleum-derived counterpart, making it a suitable substitute across various end-use industries, including food, pharmaceutical and care, without compromising functionality.

Industry-Wise Applications of Bio-Based Propylene Glycol

Industry

Application

Benefits

Pharmaceuticals

Solvent, stabilizer and carrier in oral, topical and injectable medications

Enhances drug solubility and bioavailability, ensuring consistent delivery of active ingredients.

Cosmetics and Personal Care

Humectant, emulsifier and preservative in skincare, hair care and cosmetic products

Improves texture, extends shelf life and maintains moisture balance.

Food and Beverages

Humectant, stabilizer and solvent in food products and flavourings

Enhances product stability, maintains moisture and ensures uniform flavour distribution.

Automotive and Industrial Fluids

Antifreeze, de-icing fluids and coolants

Non-toxic, biodegradable, effective freeze protection, reduces environmental impact.

Marine and Transportation

Coolants, hydraulic fluids and antifreeze solutions

Non-toxic, biodegradable and reduces ecological impact in aquatic environments.

Construction and Coatings

Adhesives, sealants and coatings

Enhances product performance while supporting sustainability.

Unsaturated Polyester Resins (UPR)

Monomer for fiberglass and composite production

Produces lightweight, durable materials with a lower environmental footprint.

Technological Advances and Innovations in Bio-Based Propylene Glycol

In 2024, researchers from Dalian University developed a cobalt-on-alumina catalyst promoted with silver (CoAg/Al₂O₃) that does not require prereduction treatment. Silver (Ag) promotes the in situ decrease of Cobalt (II,III) oxide (Co₃O₄) and generates oxygen vacancies, which facilitate hydrogenolysis under high glycerol concentrations. This simplifies catalyst preparation and maintenance.
In 2024, a new method was developed using 12-crown-4 ether during impregnation to prepare copper on silicon dioxide (Cu/SiO₂). The catalyst yields more than 97% of propylene glycol with low carbon–carbon bond cleavage (C–C cleavage) side products in vapor-phase glycerol conversion under ambient hydrogen gas (H₂) flow. It maintains performance over ~98 hours of time-on-stream. Mega-high selectivity and stability are innovative, where stability refers to the catalyst’s ability to maintain its high activity and selectivity over long operational periods without degradation or loss of performance

Future Outlook

Becoming a green alternative to petroleum-derived propylene glycol, bio-based propylene glycol is a promising, renewable, bio-based chemical with a significant ability to reduce carbon emissions. Producers in the pharmaceutical, personal care, food and industrial sectors are seeking low-carbon options, and bio-based propylene glycol shows strong potential to help meet those needs. It offers a sustainable alternative as the world strives to reach net-zero. Policy and incentive coverage for bio-based chemical uptake in North America and Europe are beginning to take shape. However, long-term, comprehensive regulatory structures and direct investment protection are still necessary to gain the confidence of investors and facilitate market growth.

Bio-based propylene glycol opens up the potential for a significant market in the chemical sector to respond to the prevalent policies. Its feedstock of propan-1,2-diol, bio-based renewable glycerol, glucose and starch, and the potential for high carbon emissions during its manufacturing, justify a heavy investment in bio-based propylene glycol as the chemical market pivots toward bio-based propylene glycol alternatives. The production and adoption of bio-based propylene glycol contribute to positive overall environmental benefits, including net carbon emissions, lower fossil fuel depletion, and improved resource efficiency. The rising consumer interest in biodegradable and environmentally friendly products is matched by end-use firms adopting bio-based propylene glycol to meet environmental, social and governance (ESG) stipulations.

Advances in technology applied to the production of bio-based chemicals, such as improvements in biomass conversion, flexibility in feedstock and the integration of more energy-efficient processing, contribute to improved operational efficiencies, lower production costs and enhanced scale-up capabilities. Given these refinements, bio-based propylene glycol can be justified as an economically viable and environmentally responsible chemical alternative to several sectors, including pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food and beverages, industrial fluids, and coatings. With increasing attention to sustainable products, bio-based propylene glycol has the potential to become a dominant product in the green chemical industry and an essential part of carbon reduction and the circular bioeconomy.

Strategic Takeaways for Industry Leaders

The bio-based propylene glycol market is moving towards greater commercialization after recently moving past the early phases of adoption. This is because innovative manufacturers are opting for renewable feedstocks and considering sustainable production. Such opportunities come from the combined policies and regulations pertaining to the bio-based and low-carbon chemicals market, which shape adoption on a global scale.

For strategic success, long-term supply arrangements and partnerships in cross-sector collaboration are beneficial, especially in the pharmaceuticals, personal care, food and industrial value chains that cross multiple sectors. Collaborative action on sustainability, carbon footprint mitigation and ESG initiatives opens the door to bio-based market leadership, reputation enhancement, and market capital accessibility. This is particularly evident for players equipped with advanced production technologies that utilize renewable feedstocks, poised to meet the demand for bio-based, low-carbon, eco-friendly propylene glycol and its alternatives.

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