EuropaBio and Smithers Rapra unveil the agenda for the European Forum for Industrial Biotechnology and Bioeconomy (EFIB) 2015. Taking place on 27-29 October 2015 at Square, Brussels, EFIB combines high-level discussions on business and policymaking and is the perfect setting for businesses looking to benefit from the next wave of activity in Europe.
ArcelorMittal, the world’s leading steel and mining company, LanzaTech, the carbon recycling company, and Primetals Technologies, a leading technology and service provider to the iron and steel industry, announced last Monday they have entered into a letter of intent to construct Europe’s first-ever commercial scale production facility to create bioethanol from waste gases produced during the steelmaking process.
Japanese Sharp launches the first bio-based smartphone. Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation announced that its bio-based engineering plastic DURABIO™ has been chosen by Sharp Corporation for the front panel of its new smartphone, the AQUOS CRYSTAL 2, slated to go on sale in the middle of July 2015 through SoftBank Corporation.
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation, the McKinsey Center for Business and Environment, and SUN (Stiftungsfonds für Umweltökonomie und Nachhaltigkeit), presented the results of a major new study at the European Commission’s stakeholder conference on the circular economy in Brussels last June 25. “Growth Within: A circular economy vision for a competitive Europe” reveals that by adopting circular economy principles, Europe can take advantage of the impending technology revolution to create a net benefit of 1.8 trillion euro by 2030, or €0.9 trillion more than in the current linear development path.
The Greek crisis is an opportunity to reflect again on our idea of Europe. In our opinion the euro is an irreversible process. But it is absurd to weigh on the ECB, in fact the only European institution truly federal, the task to deal with the crisis with the only instrument of monetary policy.
Versalis, Italian oil giant Eni’s chemical company and a major producer in the polymers and elastomers industry, Ecombine and EVE Rubber Institute – respective subsidiary and affiliate companies of Mesnac, a Chinese global leading rubber & tire machinery corporation – announced a Joint Technology agreement to develop an innovative technology for high performance green tires.
Fulcrum BioEnergy, Inc. and United Airlines, Inc. announced that United Airlines has invested $30 million in Fulcrum and will have the option to directly participate in Fulcrum’s waste-to-jet fuel plants across North America.
The Flokser Group, a global leader in leather and suede fabrics, has successfully developed an innovative artificial leather fabric using bio-based materials supplied by DuPont Tate & Lyle Bio Products and BioAmber.
The Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking, a public-private partnership between the EU and the Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC), has approved the funding of 10 projects totalling €120 million to boost the EU capacity to stimulate growth and jobs via a more circular, low carbon and sustainable bioeconomy.
The LEGO Group announced a significant investment of DKK 1 billion (approximately € 135 million) dedicated to research, development and implementation of new, sustainable, raw materials to manufacture LEGO® elements as well as packaging materials. The LEGO Group believes a new sustainable material must have an ever-lighter footprint than the material it replaces across key environmental and social impact areas such as fossil resource use, human rights and climate change.
IL BIOECONOMISTA 