The furniture industry is a front-runner in the implementation of waterborne coatings as an alternative to traditional solventborne systems. Now a collaboration between design furniture company Rifra Milano, coatings supplier Sirca and German chemical colossus Covestro shows that the sustainability of furniture can be improved even further.
“An ambitious bioeconomy strategy for Europe is needed. A strategy that coordinates the significant policy instruments relevant for it, including research and education, public procurement, infrastructure planning and development, and creates incentives for investors and businesses to lead the change towards a bio-based economy”. Marc Palahi, director of the European Forest Institute (EFI) talks to Il Bioeconomista. In this exclusive interview, he talks about bioeconomy and circular economy, Brexit and Donald Trump, the role of mass media and much more. And he launches also the second edition of the EU Bioeconomy Investment Summit, which will be held on 14 December in Helsinki (Finland).
Interview by Mario Bonaccorso
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation today launched a new scoping paper – Urban Biocycles –produced in collaboration with World Economic Forum, in front of delegates from leading international institutions, at the annual Forum for the Future of Agriculture (FFA2017) in Brussels. The paper provides the Foundation’s first exploration of how applying circular economy principles could capture new value from biological material flows, in an urban context.
The Italian biochemical company GFBiochemicals and Atlanta-based American Process Inc., which is specialized in the development of technologies for the commercial production of sugars and ethanol from biomass, have entered into a joint development agreement to create the largest integrated cellulosic biorefinery in the world. “The agreement – both companies stated – is rooted in our complementary industrial operations and joint vision for a lower-carbon future”. The proposed biorefinery, located in the U.S, is expected to create 50-200 thousand tonnes per annum of bio-based products, addressing markets with a potential annual value of USD 10 billion.
Amsterdam will be the center of gravity of the biobased economy this May. In its second year, Bio-Based Live Europe will bring together technology suppliers, chemical companies, start-ups, investors, government and brands to talk about the latest innovations and share best practice. With mergers and acquisitions, product launches, breakthroughs in the laboratory and rising consumer demand, the past 12 months has been an exciting time for those involved in the Bio-Based industry.
Swiss-based biotech company Evolva teams up with Paris-based FCI to expand the European sales, marketing and distribution of its high-purity, sustainably sourced citrus ingredients, nootkatone and valencene.
Cosmetics industry giant Oriflame Products Poland has joined UPM Raflatac’s RafCycle recycling program. RafCycle recycles and reuses pressure sensitive label waste to create new materials. The partnership supports Oriflame’s target to reduce its landfill waste to zero across all their manufacturing sites. Oriflame is a leading beauty company selling direct. It has its origin in Sweden with corporate offices in Switzerland. The company offers a wide range of high-quality beauty products.
The European bioeconomy takes another step forward thanks to the successful initial public offering of Avantium which raised €103 M on Euronext Amsterdam and Euronext Bruxelles. Sofinnova Capital VI – Sofinnova Partners states – remains the main shareholder after the IPO. The initial public offering was multiple times oversubscribed.
Vivergo Fuels, the UK’s largest producer of bioethanol, is warning that the UK’s bioethanol industry and the thousands of jobs it supports are at risk, unless the Government backtracks on a recent recommendation.
IL BIOECONOMISTA 