Bari, in South-eastern Italy, will be the capital of circular bioeconomy from 28 to 30 September. The International Forum on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioeconomy (IFIB) will be held in this city this year at the Kursaal Santalucia Theather. And it will be completely in presence.
Advanced Biochemical Thailand launched its new product brand, Epinity™, with a new website. EPINITY™ is the new brand name for ABT’s Epichlorohydrin (ECH), a bio-based, drop-in, and competitive ECH for use in a wide range of downstream industries.
Evonik Venture Capital has invested in two sustainability funds: Azolla Ventures I and the Chrysalix Venture Capital’s Carbon Neutrality Fund. Both companies are looking into CO2 reduction technologies, with Azolla focused on North America and Chrysalix globally. This is Evonik’s venture capital arm’s first investment using the new €150 million Sustainability Tech Fund. All parties have agreed to not disclose the amount of the investment.
Eni completed the construction of the oilseed collection and pressing plant (agri-hub) in Makueni, Kenya, and started production of the first vegetable oil for bio-refineries. The first agri-hub will have an installed capacity of 15,000 tons with an expected production of 2,500 tons in 2022.
Californian biotech company Genomatica (Geno) alongside longtime collaborator Aquafil successfully completed the first demonstration scale production runs for plant-based nylon-6. The material is intended to reshape the $22 billion nylon industry, enabling brands to meet demand from consumers for sustainable everyday materials from apparel to automotive parts to carpets.
Shell made its first order to Global Bioenergies, to provide volumes of bio-isobutene derivatives for performance assessment. The oil giant plans to explore the possibility of replacing current hydrocarbon-based isobutene and its derivatives with their equivalents from renewable resources, while maintaining the same level of performance.
Basf Venture Capital GmbH, the corporate venture arm of Basf, has invested in Climentum Capital’s first €150 million venture fund. Both organizations will engage in a strategic relationship fostering knowledge sharing, deal sharing and co-investment opportunities. The fund is backed by other renowned corporate investors, banks, industrial conglomerates as well as prominent family offices and successful tech entrepreneurs, all of which share the ambition to combat climate change through investing in disruptive technologies. The investors also include the Danish growth fund Vaekstfonden and Arbejdernes Landsbank.
Versalis, the chemical division of Italian oil giant Eni, met last week in Rome with representatives of national and local trade unions to present its business plan for the next four years. According to the company, more than 1.1 billion euros have been spent in the last four years and the plan is to continue with investments focused on four strategic areas: specialization, circularity, chemistry from renewables and efficiency.
Stora Enso is leasing the former paper machinery hall at its Veitsiluoto site in Finland to the textile technology company Infinited Fiber Company, which plans to build a commercial-scale factory to produce regenerated textile fiber from textile waste. Earlier this month Stora Enso sold its district heating business at Veitsiluoto to utility infrastructure company Nevel, a provider of advanced industrial and municipal infrastructure solutions.
Finnish giant Neste and Fly Victor, the on-demand private jet company, started a partnership which sets a new sustainability benchmark in business aviation. Victor members can now purchase Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel™ (SAF) for every private jet booking globally. This enables private jet charterers to reduce the carbon footprint of their private air travel in a credible and measurable way.
IL BIOECONOMISTA 