The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for UPM’s possible Kotka Biorefinery in Finland has been completed and given to the authorities for their final conclusions. The UPM Kotka Biorefinery would produce approximately 500,000 tonnes of advanced biofuels made from sustainable raw materials for use in the road transport, marine and aviation sectors. The biorefinery’s products could also be used for replacing fossil raw materials in the chemical industry.
The European Commission launched today the updated Bioeconomy Strategy “A sustainable Bioeconomy for Europe. Strengthening the connection between economy, society and the environment”.
Braskem is to become a Green Plastic supplier for the traditional Rio de Janeiro-based brand Café Favorito. The first polyethylene of renewable origin to be produced in the world, the resin will be applied in the 500 g coffee pillow packs.
“We produce over one million metric tons of coffee annually, sold mainly in the Lagos and Serrana regions and in the south of the state of Rio de Janeiro. The use of Green Plastic in our packaging reinforces our effort in the search for sustainable performance,” explained Adriana de Oliveira, Chief Commercial Officer of Café Favorito.
Italian Industrial Biotech company Bio-on has been awarded the “Best Practices” award by Frost & Sullivan for New Product Innovation in the Bio-based Ingredients for the Cosmetics industry. In particular the analysts at Frost & Sullivan examined the extraordinary performances of the Minerv Bio Cosmetics bioplastic microspheres designed to replace the polluting oil- based microplastics that are now found in many cosmetic formulations. An innovation certified by Nature and Cosmos that looks set to profoundly transform the beauty products sector.
“We expect full support for the bioeconomy in close connection with the circular economy. Together they can tackle two very pressing societal issues i.e. climate change (through lowering carbon footprint) and the plastic waste problem (through collection, reuse and recycling)”. Marcel Lubben, President of Reverdia, the JV between Royal DSM and Roquette which is producing bio-based succinic acid, talks to Il Bioeconomista. In this exclusive interview he talks about Reverdia and his expectations related to the new EU bioeconomy strategy that will be presented next October 22 in Brussels.
Interview by Mario Bonaccorso
Eni and AMA, a public company of Roma Capitale, signed an agreement to launch collection points for waste cooking oil produced in the homes of its employees at Eni’s Rome offices in Piazzale Mattei and Via Ribotta, which will then be converted into high quality biofuels.
Rubbish is about to take off, thanks to BP’s interest in turning household waste into low carbon jet fuel. The chemical process behind the technology that can turn rotting organic matter into liquid fuels has been around 100 years. But, recent developments, including the use of ‘clever baked beans cans’, have transformed its commercial potential, leading BP-backed US start-up Fulcrum Bioenergy to use it to produce biojet fuel.
She fascinated everyone with her key note speech last Thursday in Turin (Italy) at the International Forum on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioeconomy (IFIB). Presenting the results achieved by her company, LanzaTech, she has clearly paved the way for a carbon smart future. Because climate change is happening right now and is producing very evident catastrophic effects on the whole planet. Jennifer Holmgren is the classic example of a leader driven by a gentle force able to realize the changes that the historians of the French Annales would have call structural.
More than 300 delegates from EU, USA, Indonesia, Australia, Latin America and Canada. High relevant speakers such as Jennifer Holmgren, Ceo LanzaTech, Tony Duncan, CEO Circa Group, Philippe Mengal, Executive Director at BBI JU, Mieke De Schoenmakere at European Environment Agency, Elisabetta Balzi at European Commission, and many others. Two round tables focused on Investments and the role of clusters in the bioeconomy. This is IFIB, the International Forum on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioeconomy, which opens today in Turin at the Congress Center of Cavallerizza Reale (University of Turin).
Scottish company Ingenza, a leader in the application of industrial biotechnology and synthetic biology, has become a stakeholder in Amprologix, a spin-out company from the University of Plymouth. Launched in collaboration with Frontier IP – a specialist in commercialising university intellectual property and a stakeholder in the new company – Amprologix aims to develop and bring to market novel antimicrobials to tackle antibiotic resistance, a global threat to human health.
