article_detail

Murcia’s countryside is largely given over to the cultivation of fruit and vegetable crops. In the Region as a whole, an estimated 9,867 hectares of land are dedicated to orange tree cultivation alone. This represents 6.4% of the total area of all orange trees cultivated in Spain.

 

Most of these cultivated oranges go towards the commercial consumption market, but as you can imagine this sector still creates unbelievable amounts of waste, not least of which is in the form of orange peel.

 

That’s why, in the interest of being more sustainable and hosting projects linked to the circular economy, Murcia will soon become home to Peelpioneers, a Dutch company that specialises in reusing orange peels and giving them a new use within the food and cleaning industries.

 

The Dutch company already runs a successful facility in the Netherlands, but has chosen Murcia as the launchpad for its expansion into Spain, mainly thanks to the raw material they can get their hands on here. Citrus cultivation is widespread across the Mediterranean, and Murcia’s steady supply of oranges makes it an ideal location for sourcing peel year-round, which Peelpioneers then repurposes into ingredients to be used in a variety of products from vegan burgers and ice cream to custard and even soap.

 

The future Murcia plant is expected to process around 30 million kilos of orange peel annually by 2027, tripling the company’s current capacity. This ambitious project will also generate local employment, requiring a team of 45 workers to keep the operation running smoothly.

 

Before construction can begin, however, Peelpioneers needs to secure funding, specifically, a €35 million investment round set to take place this year.

 

But groundwork has already begun. A local subsidiary, Peelpioneers España SL, has been established in Murcia with a starting capital of €3,000. Managed by the parent company in the Netherlands, this new firm will focus on food production, as well as research and development in natural and technical sciences. If needed, it may also serve as a holding company, according to the Spanish commercial register.

 

Peelpioneers specialises in repurposing orange peel into high-value materials. Among its most exciting innovations is a plant-based fibre extracted from the peel that can be used as a vegan alternative to gelatine. It’s already found its way into meat substitutes and egg-free mayonnaise, offering a sustainable option for food producers catering to the growing vegan market.

 

The company also produces orange oil used in eco-friendly cleaning products and a natural flavour extract that’s been featured in a craft beer brewed in Amsterdam. Looking further ahead, Peelpioneers has set itself the ambitious goal of processing 150 million kilos of citrus peel annually by 2030.

 

With its expansion into Murcia, the company is not just setting up a new factory. It’s planting the seeds of a greener, more circular economy, right in the heart of Spain’s citrus belt. Sounds a-peeling!