An exclusive interview with Nick Smith, Head of Development and Commercialisation at Circa Group

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“When we consider that nearly all of the materials and products in society today are essentially 100% based on petrochemicals and that the chemical sector is responsible for 10% of global carbon emissions, half of that from the fossil-based feedstock used to produce the chemicals, we see that the world is not only dependent on petroleum but also on petrochemicals. To transition to a lower carbon economy, we need renewable chemicals just as much as renewable energy.” Nick Smith, Head of Development Commercialisation at Circa Group, talks to Il Bioeconomista. In this exclusive interview, he talks about the ReSolute plant in Eastern France, the new partnerships and the next steps of the Australian company and the role of the bioeconomy to make industries more sustainable.

Interview by Mario Bonaccorso

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BIC and Tech Tour launched the Bio-based Industries Investment Programme

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A picture from the Bioeconomy Investment Summit 2017 in Helsinki

Tech Tour and the Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC) launched the Bio-based Industries Investment Programme 2023/2024. “The Programme – both organizations state – aims to facilitate investments into the most promising European bioeconomy scale-ups selected by the most active investors and corporate partners.

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MAIRE Tecnimont Acquires Conser to Strengthen Energy Transition Portfolio

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MAIRE Tecnimont S.p.A., a leading player in the engineering and construction of plants in the energy, infrastructure, and petrochemical sectors, announced the completion of the acquisition of an 83.5% stake in Conser.

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Fragrance & Beauty: Amyris closed strategic transaction with Givaudan

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Amyris, Inc., a US leading synthetic biotechnology company, completed the previously announced strategic transaction with Givaudan SA for the worldwide exclusive licensing of certain cosmetic ingredients, including Neossance® Squalane, the highest performant emollient, Neossance® Hemisqualane, the plant-based silicone alternative, and CleanScreen™, the sustainable sun protector.

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Negotiations in final stages for Versalis’ acquisition of Novamont, leader in the chemicals from renewables

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Adriano Alfani, CEO Versalis

Versalis, Eni’s chemical company and 36% shareholder of Novamont, and Mater-Bi, a company controlled by Investitori Associati II and NB Renaissance, shareholder of Novamont’s remaining 64%, announce exclusive negotiations to finalise the acquisition by Versalis of Novamont’s entire share package.

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An exclusive interview with Marc Palahí, Director EFI. “We need a massive Innovation plan to realise the potential of the circular bioeconomy”

EFI  Director Marc Palahí, Joensuu 21.6.2021.
Photo: Johanna Kokkola
EFI Director Marc Palahí, Joensuu 21.6.2021. Photo: Johanna Kokkola

“One of the greatest advantages of the circular bioeconomy is the fact that it relies on renewable biological resources and renewable energy which we can develop, manage and process in Europe, which is not a continent rich in fossil resources or rare earth materials.” To say it – in this exclusive interview with Il Bioeconomista – is Marc Palahí, director of the European Forest Institute. He talks about circular bioeconomy, the role played by the forest-based sector, the Circular Bioeconomy Alliance founded by His Majesty King Charles III (formerly The Prince of Wales) and the next event focused on Biocities, which will take place in Rome on April 20.

Interview by Mario Bonaccorso

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L’Oréal and Geno create bio-based alternatives to key ingredients in beauty products

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Christophe Schilling, CEO of Genomatica during his speech at the Grand Opening of Mater Biotech’s plant in Bottrighe di Adria, Italy

L’Oréal invested in a venture led by Geno, the California-headquartered biotechnology company, to create sustainable alternatives to key ingredients in beauty products. The French multinational company will be a founding member of the venture alongside Unilever and Kao.

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Avantium signed an offtake agreement with Kvadrat for the development of PEF for interior textiles

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Avantium’s pilot plant in the Nerherlands

Avantium N.V., a leading technology provider in renewable chemistry, signed an offtake agreement with Kvadrat A/S, a leader in design innovation, producing quality contemporary textiles and textile related products for architects, designers, and private consumers across the world.

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Eni and Unicredit partner to support companies in measuring and improving their ESG performance

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Unicredit Tower in Milano

Eni and Milano-headquartered banking group UniCredit partnered around Open-es, an ecosystem initiative seeking to enhance cross-business collaboration and support companies in measuring and improving their ESG performance. Open-es is an alliance that joins together entrepreneurial, financial and associative networks, supporting all stakeholders on their sustainable development path through a digital and innovative platform.

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Neste, Airbus, Safran and Microflite jointly operated Australia’s first helicopter flights using SAF

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Source: Airbus

Neste, Airbus, Safran Engines and Microflite, a leading Australian helicopter operator, have jointly operated Australia’s first helicopter flights using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). On this demonstration flight, an Airbus H130 helicopter powered by a Safran Arriel 2D engine used blended sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) supplied by Neste.

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