Clariant is a focused, sustainable and innovative specialty chemical company based in Muttenz, near Basel/Switzerland. On 31 December 2020, the company employed a total workforce of 13 235. In the financial year 2020, Clariant recorded sales of CHF 3.860 billion for its continuing businesses. The company reports in four business areas: Care Chemicals, Catalysis, Natural Resources, and Plastics & Coatings. Clariant’s corporate strategy is led by the overarching purpose of ‘Greater chemistry – between people and planet’ and reflects the importance of connecting customer focus, innovation, sustainability, and people.

The Clariant Biotech & Renewables Center, located in Planegg, Germany, develops solutions for biocatalysis and biorefinery. The innovation focus here is on the energy-efficient and resource-saving development and production of bio-based chemicals and fuels. Clariant has developed the sunliquid® technology that uses enzymatic hydrolysis followed by fermentation to produce second-generation bioethanol, so-called cellulosic ethanol, from wheat straw or other agricultural residues.

Since July 2012, Clariant has been operating a precommercial plant in Straubing, Germany, which produces up to 1,000 metric tons of cellulosic ethanol every year, confirming technical and economic performance.

In September 2018, Clariant broke ground for its first-of-its-kind commercial facility in Podari, Romania, which is now completed. Clariant licenses its sunliquid^® technology platform globally.

So far, five license agreements have been concluded with renowned industry players in Slovakia, Poland, Bulgaria and China.