Silvia Luebben
Founder and CEO, Sustainable Chemicals
Silvia Luebben joins the Breakthrough Energy Fellows program from Sustainable Chemicals, LLC (Sust-Chem) in Golden, Colorado (USA). Silvia brings to the company over thirty years of experience in creating innovation within both small businesses and large corporations. She founded Sust-Chem to help solve the catastrophic pollution crisis caused by plastic worldwide. At Sust-Chem, Silvia oversees the overall technology strategy, spearheads fundraising efforts, cultivates tactical partnerships, and manages business operations.
Sust-Chem is dedicated to developing innovative, fully compostable, and renewable bioplastics. The approach involves using a plant-based raw material that is 20% cheaper than petrochemical counterparts and can be produced in volumes sufficient to meet the demands of the plastics industry. This strategic advantage positions Sust-Chem competitively against both traditional and bio-based plastics. Sust-Chem’s bioplastics are engineered for optimal circularity and have a benign end-of-life, whether recycled, landfilled, or lost in the oceans. The Breakthrough Energy Innovator Fellows program will enable Sust-Chem to further derisk technology by providing the resources needed to optimize the manufacturing processes, scale up synthesis, expand thermo-mechanical testing, and demonstrate biodegradability in environmentally relevant settings.
In her free time Silvia loves to explore the outdoors through camping, hiking, biking, and rock climbing. Between her scientific background and passion for nature, she’s become increasingly worried about the impacts of consumer products on the environment and climate, especially the buildup of plastic waste in our ecosystems and oceans and the impact of their production and disposal on Earth’s Climate. Silvia holds a Bachelor in Chemistry from the Universita’ degli Studi di Genova (Italy) and a PhD in Chemistry from the Scuola Normale Superiore of Pisa (Italy).
Q&A
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
The key to success is knowing when good enough is good enough.
What is the most impactful book that you have read?
One of my favorite books is the House of Spirits by Isabelle Allende. I love the mixing of reality and imaginary worlds on a historical backdrop.
What beliefs drive you?
Espresso is an invaluable solid/liquid extraction process.
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