Today we welcome Denys Shevchenko, the CEO of the start-up Copper Lavender on our Hot Seat. Denys explains us the technology of Copper Lavender.

Hello Denys, your startup converts CO2 into acetylene – a key building block for the chemical industry. How does your technology differ from other CO2 utilization approaches, and what specific advantages does it offer to companies in the chemical industry?

To some extent, our approach is similar to other companies developing the electrochemical conversion of CO₂ to ethylene, a high-market-volume chemical used as a starting material for many plastics.

However, our key difference lies in our choice of platform molecule. Instead of targeting ethylene, which has a massive market but requires large-scale production to be profitable, we concentrate on acetylene, a basic chemical with a smaller market but a direct pathway to high-value specialty chemicals.

When commercializing a lab-scale technology, the best strategy is to generate revenue as early as possible. That means prioritizing low production volumes with high margins, which is exactly what acetylene enables. Acetylene is already a well-established building block in the chemical industry, used to produce perfumes, pharmaceuticals, plastics, and coatings. Our entry point into the market is perfumery and pharmaceuticals, where demand for sustainable ingredients is growing, and premium pricing makes early commercialization viable.

However, we don’t plan to stop there. Our long-term goal is to scale up production and expand into larger markets like plastics and advanced materials, making our CO₂-derived acetylene a mainstream alternative to fossil-based chemicals. By starting with high-value, low-volume applications and gradually expanding, we are building a scalable and economically sustainable pathway toward a truly fossil-free chemical industry.

For companies in the chemical industry, our CO₂-derived chemical products provide a seamless, drop-in replacement for fossil-based alternatives. They enable a reduced carbon footprint without requiring changes to existing infrastructure, production methods, or supply chains. This means companies can lower their Scope 3 emissions and future-proof their operations without compromising on performance, quality, or cost-effectiveness.

From perfumery to pharmaceuticals – your acetylene-based products have diverse applications. What specific cooperation opportunities do you see with the German chemical industry, and how could both sides benefit from such partnerships?

Connecting with the German chemical industry is a strategic decision for us. Germany has a long-established acetylene value chain, thanks to BASF and the pioneering work of Prof. Walter Reppe, who advanced the industrial chemistry of acetylene in the 1930s-1950s. This means we don’t need to explain to German chemists why acetylene is a critical feedstock—they already understand its importance and versatility.

In addition, Germany has a strong tradition in the fragrance and flavor industry, with companies like Symrise, whose 150-year history traces back to Haarmann & Reimer Vanillinfabrik, founded in 1874. This makes Germany an ideal place for us to collaborate, as it already has both the industrial infrastructure and market demand for acetylene-derived products.

German companies can benefit from our technology because it is a drop-in solution—it does not require any changes to their existing chemical processes. Companies can simply switch from fossil-based suppliers to our renewable alternatives without modifying their infrastructure, technology, or production methods. Our CO₂-derived acetylene and first downstream products, such as 1,4-butanediol and 2-methyl-3-butyn-2-ol, are chemically identical to their fossil-based counterparts. This allows German chemical companies to make their products renewable and fossil-free without any operational disruptions, helping them meet sustainability goals while maintaining business continuity.

Your company has committed to becoming completely fossil-free by 2040. What does your roadmap look like, and what role do partnerships with established chemical companies play in achieving this goal?

I believe it’s easier to build a fossil-free company from scratch than to rebuild an existing one. Established chemical companies have complex supply chains and long-standing processes that rely on fossil-based inputs, making defossilization slow and expensive. As a young company, we don’t have these constraints. Instead, we have the freedom to make the right choices from the start, ensuring that fossil-free alternatives are integrated into our operations rather than retrofitted later.

For example, we can sign contracts for 100% renewable electricity, made possible by Sweden’s electricity production, which is already 98% fossil-free. Our process for converting CO₂ into acetylene does not require fossil-based chemicals, giving us a strong starting position.

However, achieving a fully fossil-free chemical industry requires collaboration. This is where partnerships with established chemical companies are essential. Our goal is to provide fossil carbon-negative chemicals that help companies reduce their carbon liabilities, particularly Scope 3 emissions—those generated in their supply chains—without requiring major infrastructure changes.

At the same time, as a young chemical company, we recognize the value of guidance from experienced industry players. Understanding which chemicals have the highest impact allows us to focus on the most effective solutions and accelerate the transition toward a sustainable future.

Denys Shevchenko holds a PhD in Coordination Chemistry from Kyiv University, Ukraine. From 2009 to 2011, he was a Marie Curie Individual Fellow at the Swedish Consortium for Artificial Photosynthesis, where he developed catalysts for light-driven water oxidation, contributing to advancements in sustainable energy research. In 2022, he founded Copper Lavender with the mission to make the chemical industry circular by utilizing CO₂ as a renewable carbon source to replace fossil feedstocks. Prior to founding Copper Lavender, Denys gained extensive expertise in contract research, analytical chemistry, mass spectrometry, and toxicology while working at Recipharm, a leading international CDMO.