Economy

Six bio-based materials and products nominated for the Award Bio-based Material of the Year

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Maternushaus, venue of the conference

For the eighth year running the Innovation Award “Bio-based Material of the Year” will be awarded to the young, innovative bio-based material industry, finding suitable applications and markets for bio-based products. The competition focuses on new developments in these areas, which have had (or will have) a market launch in 2014 or 2015. The winners will be elected at the International Conference on Bio-based Materials, 13-15 April 2015 in Cologne, Germany, organised by nova-Institut. This year, six bio-based materials and products have been nominated for the Award by the advisory board – out of 24 submitted products. The nominated companies are from the United Kingdom, the United States and Germany.

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Toray Plastics announces a new bio-based film technology for frozen, wet and dry food

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Technology Centre of Toray in Malaysia
Technology Centre of Toray in Malaysia

“The next generation of innovative, bio-based film technology has arrived,” says Milan Moscaritolo, Senior Director of Sales and Marketing of Toray Plastics. The company based in North Kingstown (Rhode Island, US) announced the introduction of new bio-based lidding films.

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John Bell talks to Il Bioeconomista. An interview with the Director of Bioeconomy Directorate

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John Bell, Director Bioeconomy Directorate EU Commission
John Bell, Director Bioeconomy Directorate EU Commission

The European bioeconomy and its contribution to the creation of jobs and economic growth. The Juncker agenda and the new plans of the European Commission to foster the development of the bioeconomy . These are just some of the topics addressed by John Bell – Director of Bioeconomy Directorate of the European Commission – in this exclusive interview with Il Bioeconomista.

“The Bioeconomy – Bell says – contributes to generating jobs and growth, whilst increasing Europe’s competitiveness worldwide as well as decreasing the environmental footprint of our economy. It is furthermore closely related with other key priorities of the Juncker Commission, such as the Climate and Energy Union.”

Interview by Mario Bonaccorso

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We will have bio-based ski boots, skates and shoe soles

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Headquarter of Basf in Ludwigshafen

“The bio-based PolyTHF 1000 is identical in quality to the petrochemical-based product.” To say it is Andrej Brejc, director Renewable Diols from BASF’s Intermediates division (sales to third parties of about 2.8 billion euro in 2014), which has made bio-based Polytetrahydrofuran 1000 (PolyTHF® 1000) available for the first time. The chemical company headquartered in Ludwigshafen is now providing this intermediate to selected partners for testing various applications in a large scale.

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Exclusive interview with Ernst Kloosterman, Ceo of the IBN Norway: “Europe is good in science and not so good in upscaling and commercialization”

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Ernst Kloosterman, CEO of the Industrial Biotech Network Norway
Ernst Kloosterman, CEO of the Industrial Biotech Network Norway

“Europe has traditionally large and strong chemical, food and consumer goods industries, and these have shown that they are very aware of the necessities and opportunities to change more and more to biotech enabled or biobased production and products. Perhaps there should be more that do so and it should be faster, reflecting the often-heard statement that Europe is good in science and not so good in upscaling and commercialization. Some of them point however to the more attractive business environments in for example the USA and Brazil, and act subsequently”. To say it in this long interview with Il Bioeconomista is Ernst Kloosterman, CEO of the Industrial Biotechnology Network Norway, a not-for-profit member association of organizations and individuals who want to stimulate to more research, knowledge transfer and innovation within the Norwegian biobased industry and industrial biotechnology sectors. With him we talk about the bioeconomy in Norway and Europe, with a look outside Europe.

Interview by Mario Bonaccorso

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A tribute to the eight women who have distinguished themselves in the bioeconomy

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mimoseFor International Women’s Day, we dedicate a tribute to the eight women who have distinguished themselves in the bioeconomy in the last year. With their huge capacity and their infinite passion, they are the stars of the world bioeconomy. Of course, best wishes to all women.

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Finnish bioeconomy takes another step forward

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Alexander Stubb, prime minister of Finland

The Finnish Ministry of Employment and the Economy is implementing the Government’s bioeconomy, cleantech, and digitalisation strategy for accelerating new areas for growth. In June 2014 an international competition was launched as part of the bioeconomy strategy to expedite the commercialisation of bioeconomy innovations and the emergence of new biorefineries in Finland.

Spinnova Ltd. has won the international biorefinery competition with its new textile fibre production technology. Two other proposals to receive awards in the competition are Biovakka Suomi’s concept for combining the production of biogas, nutrients, and transport fuel, and a proposal by the  that incorporates novel Finnish technology for the production of new biomaterials and biochemicals.

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In memory of Guido Ghisolfi: The green technologies are the drivers of the modern economy

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In memory of Guido Ghisolfi we publish the interview he released to us in 2013.

The green technologies are the drivers of the modern economy

“The green technologies  are some  of the driving forces of the modern economy,  this is not only my view, but also other important national and international groups have begun to invest and diversify their production in a green vision. The objectives that arises in such investments are long term but the results arrive, if one knows how to wait”. To say it, in this long interview, is Guido Ghisolfi, the vice president of MG Group headquartered in Tortona, and president and Ceo of Biochemtex, the architect of the conversion of the second Italian chemical group in one of the world major players in the bioeconomy, with the largest plant in the world for the production of second generation bioethanol inaugurated in Crescentino, in the province of Vercelli (Italy). With engineer Ghisolfi we talk about bioeconomy, research and industrial innovation, because “the industrial policy of the future can’t be separated from the concept of environmental sustainability”. “The raw materials alternatives to oil can be obtained through the use of biomass grown on marginal land without competing with food through innovative technologies. We must, however, continue to invest in industrial research to ensure the development of technological excellence in Italy, these are the variables of an equation that leads as a result of the competition system of the country”.

Interview by Mario Bonaccorso

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Guido Ghisolfi died tragically today

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9 October 2013 in Crescentino: Guido Ghisolfi inaugurates the biorefinery

Guido Ghisolfi, VP of Mossi Ghisolfi Group, died tragically today. We lose a great person and a great protagonist of world bioeconomy.

I was lucky enough to know him and to interview him for the blog. He was a gentleman with great vision. A true leader, as there are only a few in Italy.

MB

GFBiochemicals is starting commercialization of its biobased levulinic acid

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Royal Palace of Caserta

Despite the lack of a National strategy, the Italian bioeconomy is a reality. Italian biobased chemicals company GFBiochemicals is starting commercialization of its levulinic acid thanks to its proprietary breakthrough technology. Commercial-scale production will start in Summer 2015 in Caserta, Italy plant, close to Naples.

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