New European Partnerships and nearly €10 billion for the green and digital transition

Berlaymont, European Commission’s Headquarter in Brussels

The European Commission proposed yesterday to set up 10 new European Partnerships between the European Union, Member States and/or the industry. The goal is to speed up the transition towards a green, climate neutral and digital Europe, and to make European industry more resilient and competitive. The EU will provide nearly €10 billion of funding that the partners will match with at least an equivalent amount of investment. This combined contribution is expected to mobilise additional investments in support of the transitions, and create long-term positive impacts on employment, the environment and society.

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Metsä Fibre invested €1.6 billion to build a new bioproduct mill in Kemi, Finland

Metsä Fibre, part of Metsä Group, made the investment decision to build a new bioproduct mill in Kemi, Finland. The value of the investment is €1.6 billion and it is the largest investment ever made by the Finnish forest industry in Finland. The construction phase will take approximately two and a half years, and the mill will be completed during the third quarter of 2023.

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British Airways is to power future flights with SAF produced by LanzaJet

British Airways is to power future flights with sustainable aviation fuel produced from sustainably sourced ethanol, as part of a new partnership with sustainable jet fuel company LanzaJet. The partnership, which reflects the importance the airline is placing on sustainability and its continued investment in sustainable aviation fuel, will see British Airways invest in LanzaJet’s first commercial scale Freedom Pines Fuels facility in Georgia, USA and acquire cleaner burning sustainable aviation fuel from the plant. It expects the fuel to be available to power a number of its flights by the end of 2022. In addition, the partnership will involve LanzaJet implementing early stage planning and design for a potential commercial facility for British Airways in the UK.

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An interview with Jukka Kantola, CEO NC Partnering

“The pandemic is still with us and it’s not over. I think it only reminds humankind to have more balance with nature. The signs of climate change are there for all to see, for instance more storms and drought. We have seen the damage just one virus has caused, there are millions of these in nature and they have been here much longer than human beings.” To say it – in this interview with Il Bioeconomista – is Jukka Kantola, CEO of NC Partnering and founder of the World Bioeconomy Forum.

Interview by Mario Bonaccorso

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Boeing goes green: 100% sustainable aviation fuels by 2030

KLM Boeing powered by biofuel

Boeing is setting an ambitious target to advance the long-term sustainability of commercial aviation, committing that its commercial airplanes are capable and certified to fly on 100% sustainable aviation fuels by 2030. Boeing has previously conducted successful test flights replacing petroleum jet fuel with 100% sustainable fuels to address the urgent challenge of climate change. 

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UPM Raflatac scales up its linerless business in Poland

Source: UPM

UPM Raflatac is strengthening its position in the fast-growing linerless labelstock market by scaling up its production capacity and building a new production line in Nowa Wieś, Poland. Direct Thermal (DT) linerless labeling is a cost-efficient and sustainable alternative to traditional label stock. Driven by sustainability trends and the need for increased efficiency, linerless has quickly gained ground alongside traditional labeling technologies. Boosted by growing demand in end-uses such as grocery labeling, logistics and quick service restaurants, the DT linerless market has seen approximately 15 percent year-on-year growth in recent years.

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Bilfinger commissioned by Clariant for the construction of the cellulosic ethanol plant in Romania

Mercedes-Benz fleet at Clariant´s sunliquid® demonstration plant for production of cellulosic ethanol from agricultural residues

Bilfinger has been commissioned by the Swiss specialty chemical company Clariant to deliver EPCM (engineering, procurement, overall project and construction management) services for the construction of their commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol production plant using Clariant’s sunliquid® technology in southwest Romania.

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Novamont acquired Norway-based BioBag Group

Catia Bastioli, Ceo of Novamont

Novamont, a world leader in the development and production of biochemicals and compostable bioplastics, acquired BioBag Group, a Norway-based leading supplier of low-impact solutions for waste collection and packaging. The acquisition will allow Novamont to benefit from BioBag’s highly specialised independent distribution in areas where the buyer is less present. The two companies will be able to offer a more complete solution set to the market and to create long-lasting alliances with key stakeholders such as large retailers and communities.

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Metsä Spring and Valmet began construction of the 3D fibre product pilot plant in Finland

Metsä Spring’s team. Source: Metsä Group

Metsä Group’s innovation company Metsä Spring and Valmet last December bagan construction of the 3D fibre product pilot plant in Äänekoski, Finland. The pilot plant enables testing and further development of the novel process for producing of a new type of packaging solution.The greenfield building will host the pilot line, which converts wood fibre into ready-to-use 3D fibre products, which, in turn, can replace similar packaging solutions made from plastic and aluminium. The goal of the pilot plant project is to develop a new competitive product and the supporting production process and equipment.

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OMV and AustroCel joined forces in the second-generation bioethanol field

A bioethanol plant

“Austria’s first plant for the production of second-generation bioethanol is now up and running in Hallein and we have started our trailblazing cooperation with OMV. With our advanced biofuels, we are taking a responsible approach to resources and helping to reduce fossil fuel use. We will continue to pursue our long-term strategy of ‘Green AustroCel’, uniting sustainability and economic success”, said Jörg Harbring, CEO of AustroCel Hallein.

The first successful trial delivery of advanced bioethanol marks the start of the long-term cooperation between OMV, the integrated, international oil, gas and petrochemicals company headquartered in Vienna, and AustroCel Hallein GmbH. The Hallein-based bioethanol plant has an annual capacity of up to 35 million liters, making it the world’s largest bioethanol plant based on wood. In the first year AustroCel Hallein will already supply more than 1.5 million liters per month of second-generation bioethanol to OMV. With this, the cooperation partners are contributing to climate protection. 

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