In recent years, sustainability has become a key driver in the coatings and surface treatments industry. More and more companies are seeking alternatives to traditional solvents to reduce the environmental impact of their production processes.
Among the most promising innovations are bio-solvents, a growing category with significant potential.

In this article, we explore what bio-solvents are, their main challenges, and why they are poised to play a central role in the industrial processes of the future.

To understand bio-solvents, we first need to define what a solvent is.
A solvent is a liquid substance capable of dissolving, suspending, or extracting materials—solid, liquid, or gaseous—without undergoing chemical changes. Solvents are essential in numerous processes, from application to cleaning, mixing, and separating components.

A bio-solvent, or biologically derived solvent, is a liquid obtained from renewable sources, such as agricultural crops, organic residues, or other forms of biomass. These molecules are produced through microbial, enzymatic, or physico-chemical processes and represent a more sustainable alternative to petroleum-based solvents.

Even though their widespread adoption is still at an early stage, bio-solvents represent one of the most promising areas of green chemistry. Their development has the potential to make industrial processes safer, more efficient, and more environmentally responsible, contributing to true circular economy models across the sector.

For this reason, at Astra Vernici, we are actively engaged in research projects aimed at developing new biologically based molecules and advanced production processes.
Every step forward in this direction is an investment in the future—a future built on cleaner technologies and low-impact products.

If you’d like to learn more about bio-solvents or understand how they can be integrated into your production processes, our technical team is here to support you.