IL BIOECONOMISTA

BIOWEG to build Europe’s largest bacterial cellulose plant, backed by Series A of €30 million

14 September 202613 September 2026Il BioeconomistaLeave a comment

BIOWEG, the German deeptech company producing high-performance, biodegradable bacterial cellulose to replace fossil-based polymers and intentionally added microplastics, will begin construction of Europe’s largest bacterial cellulose production plant in Q4 2026. The first-of-a-kind facility, located in Elsdorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, will produce up to 10,000 tonnes a year, with first commercial volumes expected in 2028 — bringing onshore production of a material that Europe today almost entirely imports.

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Novonesis to build next generation enzyme production facility in India

7 September 20266 September 2026Il BioeconomistaLeave a comment

Novonesis will expand its facility in Patalganga and build one of the world’s most advanced enzyme production facilities. The €600 million investment will increase Novonesis’ production capacity to meet rising worldwide demand for the company’s biosolutions and strengthen the flexibility and resilience of its global supply network.

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Sukano signs capacity reservation agreement for releaf® with Avantium

3 September 2026Il BioeconomistaLeave a comment

CEO Tom Van Aken and Her Majesty Queen Maxima. Source: Avantium

Avantium N.V., a leader in renewable and circular polymer materials, and Sukano AG, a global specialist in additive and colour masterbatches for polyesters, biopolymers, and specialty resins headquartered in Switzerland, has signed a capacity reservation agreement for Avantium’s PEF (polyethylene furanoate), marketed as releaf^®. Masterbatches are specialty additive and colour concentrates that improve plastics performance during manufacturing and amplify its properties in multiple end-use applications. The agreement builds on the collaboration and conditional offtake agreement the two companies entered into in 2022 to develop masterbatches for PEF and marks a further step toward the commercial adoption of releaf^® across a broad range of packaging, consumer goods and specialty applications.

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BASF Agricultural Solutions invests in new Climate Center at its headquarters to strengthen research capabilities

31 August 202630 August 2026Il BioeconomistaLeave a comment

BASF Agricultural Solutions is investing a low double-digit million-euro amount in a new Climate Center at its headquarters in Limburgerhof, Germany. The purpose-built facility will strengthen the company’s research and regulatory capabilities and support the generation of scientific data required for the registration of crop protection products worldwide.

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Eni and SONATRACH expand cooperation to reduce emissions in Algeria

24 August 202623 August 2026Il BioeconomistaLeave a comment

Headquarter of Eni in San Donato Milanese (Milan)

Eni and SONATRACH signed a new Memorandum of Intent aimed at expanding cooperation between the two companies in the promotion of concrete initiatives for the decarbonisation of the Oil & Gas sector and the reduction of emissions in Algeria, while adopting international best practices. The agreement represents a further evolution of the cooperation pathway launched in January 2023 with the signing of a three-year Memorandum of Intent dedicated to reducing gas flaring, valorising recovered gas, and mitigating emissions associated with upstream activities in Algeria.

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Metsä Group invests EUR 25 million in the production of Muoto fibre packaging in Äänekoski, Finland

17 August 202616 August 2026Il BioeconomistaLeave a comment

The Finnish company is investing 24 million € in a new production line for Muoto food packaging in Äänekoski, Finland. Metsä Group’s Muoto™ products can be used instead of plastic in food packaging for applications that are more demanding, for example. As for Metsä’s other innovation projects, the development of the lignin product and carbon capture is continuing as planned, but the conditions for the Kuura textile fibre project are estimated to have changed significantly due to the global market situation.

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IFIB 2026 will be held on October 1-2 in Rome. The Eternal City will be the world capital of circular bioeconomy

10 August 20269 August 2026Il BioeconomistaLeave a comment

On October 1-2, Rome, Italy, will be the center of gravity of world bioeconomy. The Italian city capital will host the International Forum on Industrial Biotechnology. IFIB will be held at the WeGil hosted by Lazio Innova and Lazio Region. With more than 200 delegates in attendance from approximately 25 different countries from all around the world, also thanks to a partnership with the Italian Trade Agency, the conference truly succeeds one more time in its ambitions aim to be one of the leading bioeconomy events at global level.

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Thailand’s Minister of Industry, Varawut Silpa-archa, visited NatureWorks’ new manufacturing facility at the Nakhon Sawan Biocomplex

3 August 20263 August 2026Il BioeconomistaLeave a comment

A high-level delegation led by Varawut Silpa-archa, Minister of Industry of Thailand, visited NatureWorks’ manufacturing site at the Nakhon Sawan Biocomplex (NBC). The visit – the American company claims – follows the successful inauguration of the site on April 29, 2026, and highlights the role of public-private collaboration in advancing Thailand’s sustainable industrial development and bioeconomy ambitions.

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Metsä Group and Qutwo take the next step in advancing AI in the forest industry

27 July 202626 July 2026Il BioeconomistaLeave a comment

Metsä Group and Qutwo, a Finnish AI and quantum technology company, are launching a collaboration aimed at deepening the use of artificial intelligence at Metsä and bringing next-generation AI into the core processes of the forest industry. Next-generation AI refers to solutions that can take into account a broader range of variables and simultaneously optimise complex systems.

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Stora Enso sets new circularity target aligned with Global Circularity Protocol

20 July 202619 July 2026Il BioeconomistaLeave a comment

Stora Enso paper mill in Hyltebruk (Sweden)

Stora Enso has published its Circularity Plan, aligned with the first version of the Global Circularity Protocol for Business (GCP), and introduced a new target to increase material circularity in its direct operational control. The plan outlines the company’s comprehensive approach to advancing circularity, including target setting and the integration of circular economy principles into its strategy and daily operations.

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