With a new, natural product rich in capsaicinoids, polyphenols, and flavonoids, Evonik aims at helping the dairy industry address two major challenges: nutrient deficiency in early lactation and heat stress. The German company has developed BoruCare® Capsin in cooperation with Heidi Botanicals, a French specialist in plant-based products for livestock. The product has been presented at SPACE 2025 and it will be commercially available in Europe from Q4 2025.
In one week Turin, Italy, will be the center of gravity of world bioeconomy. The Italian city capital will host the International Forum on Industrial Biotechnology from 24 to 26 September. IFIB will be held at the stunning Cavallerizza Reale hosted by the University of Turin. 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.
Enerkem, a Canada-headquartered global technology provider enabling low-carbon fuels and chemicals founded in 2000, started a new phase of growth, supported by a strengthened financial foundation, renewed investor confidence, and a clear strategy for global market leadership.
UPM Specialty Papers has partnered with EvoPak to support Walkers Chocolates’ transition from a plastic wrapper to recyclable paper-based packaging. This will help Walkers Chocolates achieve its sustainable packaging ambition while reducing plastic usage across their site.
The largest and most modern consumer packaging board production line in Europe was inaugurated in Oulu, Finland. The new line was inaugurated by Prime Minister of Finland Petteri Orpo, Chair of Stora Enso’s Board of Directors Kari Jordan, President and CEO of Stora Enso Hans Sohlström, and Oulu mill’s Chief Shop Steward Olli-Pekka Kaikkonen. Stora Enso’s Oulu unit serves the growing demand for renewable packaging globally and contributes to the transition to a circular bioeconomy. At the same time, the production site supports Finland’s competitiveness and increases exports with products of higher added value.
Avantium N.V., a Dutch company focused on renewable and circular polymer materials, successfully started up the sugar dehydration (SDH) unit and all auxiliary systems and utilities at its FDCA Flagship Plant in Delfzijl. This achievement marks a key technical achievement in the phased commissioning and start-up of the world’s first commercial facility dedicated to the production of FDCA (furandicarboxylic acid), a key building block for the 100% plant-based and recyclable polymer PEF (polyethylene furanoate), branded as releaf®. Avantium now expects to begin commercial sales under its existing offtake agreements in the first quarter of 2026.
According to Braskem, the largest polyolefins producer in the Americas and a global pioneer in large-scale biopolymer production, the demand for bio-based shopping bags is increasing in the Japanese market. In Japan, bio-based polyethylene (PE) is gaining attention as a sustainable material, particularly because CO2 emissions from its incineration can be counted as zero in the case of a biomass plastic-an attribute that aligns with the calculation of the effects in the Japanese government’s global warming countermeasures plan.
South Korean LG Chem and Italian Enilive have taken a major step toward biofuels growth by breaking ground on Korea’s first hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) and Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production plant in LG Chem’s Daesan Chemical Complex located in Seosan, Chungcheongnam-do, 80 kilometers southwest of Seoul. The plant is going to be constructed by the LG Chem and Enilive joint venture, called LG-Eni BioRefining, and it is scheduled for completion in 2027 and will annually process approximately 400,000 tons of renewable bio-feedstock.
Clariant, a sustainability-focused specialty chemical company, signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Shanghai Boiler Works, a full subsidiary of Shanghai Electric, specializing in energy conversion and the development of new energy applications, to jointly foster innovation in sustainable energy solutions. The partners will combine their expertise to advance green energy projects in China.
CLIB, the Cluster industrielle Biotechnologie, is organizing an event for SMEs and start-ups. The Duesseldorf-headquartered cluster is inviting both SMEs and start-ups, as well as investors, industry experts, and consultants to apply for the fourth “SME & Start-up Pitch Event @ CLIB” on 3 September 2025 in Düsseldorf (in-person event).
IL BIOECONOMISTA 