Swiss-based biotech company Evolva teams up with Paris-based FCI to expand the European sales, marketing and distribution of its high-purity, sustainably sourced citrus ingredients, nootkatone and valencene.
Economy
Oriflame Products Poland joins UPM Raflatac’s RafCycle recycling program
Cosmetics industry giant Oriflame Products Poland has joined UPM Raflatac’s RafCycle recycling program. RafCycle recycles and reuses pressure sensitive label waste to create new materials. The partnership supports Oriflame’s target to reduce its landfill waste to zero across all their manufacturing sites. Oriflame is a leading beauty company selling direct. It has its origin in Sweden with corporate offices in Switzerland. The company offers a wide range of high-quality beauty products.
Successful IPO of Avantium which raised €103 million on Euronext

The European bioeconomy takes another step forward thanks to the successful initial public offering of Avantium which raised €103 M on Euronext Amsterdam and Euronext Bruxelles. Sofinnova Capital VI – Sofinnova Partners states – remains the main shareholder after the IPO. The initial public offering was multiple times oversubscribed.
Vivergo Fuels: UK’s £1.2 billion bioethanol industry at risk of closure

Vivergo Fuels, the UK’s largest producer of bioethanol, is warning that the UK’s bioethanol industry and the thousands of jobs it supports are at risk, unless the Government backtracks on a recent recommendation.
A tribute to the 8 women who have distinguished themselves in the bioeconomy in 2016
Even this year for the International Women’s Day, we dedicate a tribute to the 8 women who have distinguished themselves in the bioeconomy in 2016. With their huge competences and their infinite passion, they are the stars of the world bioeconomy. Our best and warmest wishes to all women.
Ylwa Alwarsdotter, Senior VP Sekab (Sweden)
Catia Bastioli, CEO at Novamont (Italy)
Louise Batchelor, VP Strategy at BioAmber Inc. (Canada)
Jennifer Holmgren, CEO at Lanzatech (New Zealand/USA)
Nathalie Moll, Secretary General at EuropaBio (UE)
Theodora Retsina, CEO at American Process (USA)
Margaret Smallwood, CEO at BioVale (UK)
Marie Wheat, Industry Economist at USDA BioPreferred Program (USA)
A bio-based packaging revolution: Danone and Nestlé Waters form the NaturalALL Bottle Alliance
A packaging revolution: Danone and Nestlé Waters, the world’s two largest bottled water companies, have joined forces with Origin Materials, a startup based in Sacramento, California, to form the NaturALL Bottle Alliance. Together, the three partners aim to develop and launch at commercial scale a PET plastic bottle made from bio-based material, i.e. 100% sustainable and renewable resources. PET (Polyethylene terephthalate) is the most common plastic in polyester family and is used in fibers for clothing, containers for liquids and foods, thermoforming for manufacturing, and in combination with glass fiber for engineering resins.
Total Corbion PLA launched its operations to produce and market Poly Lactic Acid polymers
Total Corbion PLA yesterday officially launched its operations to produce and market Poly Lactic Acid (PLA) polymers. PLA is a biobased and biodegradable polymer made from annually renewable resources. As announced by parent companies Total and Corbion last November, the new company is a 50/50 joint venture based in the Netherlands.
Bio-on and Sadam Group launch a shared project to produce bio-levulinic acid

Two Italian companies, Bio-on and Sadam Group, has begun working on a project to develop innovative industrial processes, at competitive cost and with low environmental impact, to produce levulinic acid, a key element of the sustainable chemical industry of the future.
Comet completed a round of equity financing led by PM Equity Partner
Comet Biorefining, the Canadian company focused on the production of high-purity cellulosic dextrose, completed a round of equity financing led by new investor PM Equity Partner. Current investor Sofinnova Partners and new investor Bioindustrial Innovation Canada (BIC) also participated in the financing, whose terms were not disclosed.
Novozymes launches an enzyme that adds nearly $1 million per year in revenue for a plant

Novozymes launched the Spirizyme® T Portfolio, an advanced suite of glucoamylase enzymes with trehalase and other yield enhancing activities that provide the most total sugar conversion in the industry. Trehalase is an enzyme that converts trehalose, a type of sugar that cannot be fermented to ethanol, to glucose, which is easily fermentable.