DSM, the Dutch life and material sciences group, is set in December to begin selling an environmentally-friendly version of a widely-used chemical that could reduce costs dramatically for manufacturers.

Feike Sijbesma, chairman, told the Financial Times he had already received customer orders for a “green” plant-based version of succinic acid, which is used in polymers, resins, food and pharmaceuticals and normally made from oil and gas. Succinic acid becomes cost-efficient when oil prices are above $80 a barrel.