From lactose
to ethanol.
A new technology for a new generation of alcohol. VEY converts lactose into ethanol with an in-house developed, proprietary process: for premium drinking alcohol and as a feedstock for biofuels and sustainable aviation fuel.
01 — Technology
Turning lactose
into alcohol.
into alcohol.
Lactose is a naturally occurring sugar in milk and whey. VEY has developed a fermentation process that enables a special yeast to convert lactose into clean ethanol.
The result is an ethanol platform based on a feedstock that is already available at industrial scale through the global dairy industry. VEY's vision is to connect the dairy industry with the alcohol and renewable fuels industries.
The chemistry, simplified
C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁ + H₂O → 4 C₂H₅OH + 4 CO₂
Lactose + water → ethanol + carbon dioxide
Challenge
Conventional ethanol yeasts do not naturally utilise lactose efficiently. VEY's technology addresses exactly this step.
Process
Lactose is converted into ethanol and carbon dioxide. The fermentation broth is processed, and the ethanol separated and purified for its intended application.
Feedstock
Most fuel-ethanol pathways rely on sugar, starch or lignocellulosic biomass. VEY focuses on lactose.
Platform
Not a single beverage, but an ethanol platform with applications across several industries.
Built for industrial scale.
- FeedstockLactose from dairy-related streams
- BioconversionYeast-based fermentation
- EthanolEthanol suitable for downstream applications
- ScaleIntegration into existing industrial value chains
- ApplicationsBeverages, bioethanol and future SAF pathways
From laboratory to industrial scale
Next stages: process optimisation, feedstock integration, fermentation scale-up, ethanol purification, industrial validation and downstream fuel applications.
One technology
One technology.
Multiple markets.
Multiple markets.
Beverage
VEY Drinking Alcohol
A new type of drinking alcohol for distilleries and beverage producers: distilled, with a naturally distinctive sensory profile.
Discover VEYEnergy
Bioethanol & SAF
Ethanol is an important platform molecule for the renewable fuels industry. VEY is developing lactose-derived ethanol as a feedstock for future bioethanol and sustainable aviation fuel pathways.
Explore SAF02 — VEY Drinking Alcohol
A new drinking
alcohol.
alcohol.
VEY is produced from lactose through fermentation and distillation. Its sensory profile is distinctly different from conventional neutral alcohol.
VEY is designed as a versatile base for distilleries and beverage producers looking for a new alcohol platform and new sensory possibilities.
Caramel. Vanilla. Warmth.
Ageing taste
2 to 10 days.
Real wood.
Day 6 · Medium toast
Schematic colour illustration
Made for distillers
A base for
- Rum
- Whisky
- Liqueurs
- Aged spirits
Every spirit begins with its alcohol base. VEY brings its own sensory character into the formulation: new recipes, new categories, new product stories.
From lactose to the glass
- Lactose01
- VEY Technology02
- Distillation03
- VEY04
- Finished beverage05
VEY is the alcohol base. The final product remains in the hands of the distiller.
03 — Bioethanol & SAF
A new feedstock
for the energy
transition.
for the energy
transition.
The aviation industry is entering a period of fundamental fuel transformation.
The EU's ReFuelEU Aviation regulation requires sustainable aviation fuel to account for at least 2% of fuel supplied at EU airports from 2025, rising to 70% by 2050, with a growing share of synthetic aviation fuels. The scale of this transition requires new feedstocks, production routes and industrial infrastructure.
Source: Regulation (EU) 2023/2405 (ReFuelEU Aviation), Annex I.
Ethanol as a platform for SAF
VEY does not claim that lactose-derived ethanol is itself jet fuel.
VEY's technology produces ethanol. This ethanol can potentially enter downstream conversion pathways in which alcohol is transformed into aviation fuel, such as Alcohol-to-Jet (ATJ). Qualification depends on the complete production chain, including feedstock origin, process technology, lifecycle emissions and certification.
From dairy to aviation
- Dairy industry
- Lactose
- VEY technology
- Ethanol
- Alcohol-to-Jet
Sustainable aviation fuel
Building the SAF value chain
985 Mt
Global milk production in 2024.
Source: FAOSTAT
2% → 70%
EU minimum share of sustainable aviation fuel, 2025 to 2050.
Source: ReFuelEU Aviation
35%
Synthetic aviation fuel sub-target in 2050.
Source: ReFuelEU Aviation
04 — Lactose as feedstock
A carbohydrate
with a new
industrial
destination.
with a new
industrial
destination.
Lactose is the characteristic sugar of milk. The global dairy industry produces it at significant scale, particularly through the processing of milk and whey.
From whey today.
From milk tomorrow.
Today
Whey → Lactose → Ethanol
Tomorrow
Milk → Lactose → Ethanol
The objective is not to replace existing dairy applications, but to create an additional pathway for lactose within a growing circular bioeconomy. Global milk volumes do not mean that all of it can become ethanol: milk has established food uses, and lactose recovery needs specific infrastructure. VEY aims to identify where lactose can be recovered economically and converted at industrial scale.
05 — Partner with VEY
Let's build
the next generation
of ethanol.
the next generation
of ethanol.
About VEY
VEY Holding AG develops technology for converting lactose into ethanol. The company operates at the intersection of biotechnology, fermentation, dairy processing, beverages and renewable fuels.
Our first commercial application is VEY Drinking Alcohol, a new alcohol base for distilleries and beverage producers. The second strategic field is lactose-derived ethanol as a feedstock for bioethanol and sustainable aviation fuel pathways.
Vision
To transform lactose from a dairy carbohydrate into a scalable source of ethanol.
Mission
To develop industrial technology that connects existing biological resources with growing global demand for renewable alcohols and fuels.
We are interested in discussions with
Your contact
Marcel Amann
Technology, feedstock, industrial partnerships, commercial opportunities