Politics

EU Commission presents recommendation for 2040 emissions reduction target to set the path to climate neutrality in 2050

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Berlaymont in Brussels
Berlaymont, European Commission’s Headquarter in Brussels

The Commission published a detailed impact assessment on possible pathways to reach the agreed goal of making the European Union climate neutral by 2050. Based on this impact assessment, the Commission recommends a 90% net greenhouse gas emissions reduction by 2040 compared to 1990 levels, launching a discussion with all stakeholders; a legislative proposal will be made by the next Commission, after the European elections, and agreed with the European Parliament and Member States as required under the EU Climate Law. This recommendation is in line with the advice of the European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change (ESABCC) and the EU’s commitments under the Paris Agreement.

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An exclusive interview with Thomas Philipon, CEO TotalEnergies Corbion: “Today the European Commission is at a crossroad when it comes to bioplastics, and it needs to tell us where they intend to go”

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Thomas Philipon is the CEO of TotalEnergies Corbion, a global leader in the marketing, sales and production of PLA (Poly Lactic Acid). He is also the Most Innovative Bioeconomy CEO 2023 according to the readers of Il Bioeconomista. In this exclusive interview with us, Philipon talks about the meaning of innovation in the bioeconomy, the role played by TotalEnergies Corbion and above all the European legislative framework to support the ecological transition, in comparison with USA and China. “Europe – he states – is leading in the bioeconomy, but needs to support sectors like bioplastics, otherwise the risk is that we develop the know-how, but other areas of the world (USA and China), will scale up the production of these products”.

Interview by Mario Bonaccorso

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IBioIC secures funding to continue growth of Scotland’s bioeconomy

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There is a Scottish bioeconomy beyond Brexit. The Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (IBioIC) has been awarded long-term investment from the Scottish Funding Council (SFC), securing its position at the forefront of Scotland’s emerging bioeconomy. The commitment, announced by the First Minister yesterday, will enable the innovation centre to continue the development of a greener economy and support Scotland’s transition to net zero. Industrial biotechnology explores the creation of more sustainable materials, consumer goods and pharmaceuticals by using bio-based alternatives to petrochemicals.

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Happy New Year

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Dear Readers,

we want to wish all of you a very happy, peaceful and healthy year, where we all will keep working together to make the circular bioeconomy happen.

The Most Innovative Bioeconomy CEO 2023 is Thomas Philipon, CEO TotalEnergies Corbion

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Our readers have voted. The most innovative bioeconomy CEO 2023 is Thomas Philipon, CEO of TotalEnergies Corbion, a global technology leader in Poly Lactic Acid (PLA) and lactide monomers. PLA is a biobased, recyclable, and biodegradable polymer made from annually renewable resources, offering a reduced carbon footprint versus traditional plastics. TotalEnergies Corbion, headquartered in the Netherlands, operates a 75,000 tons per year PLA production facility in Rayong, Thailand. The company is a 50/50 joint venture between TotalEnergies and Corbion.

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The 10 Most Innovative Bioeconomy CEOs 2023. Now choose the number 1

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The circular bioeconomy is innovation, the result of the skills and passion of researchers and managers able to create value and new high-qualified jobs, reconciling economy, society and the environment. At the end of 2014 Il Bioeconomista launched a new initiative: The 10 Most Innovative Bioeconomy CEOs.

We have asked a panel of world bioeconomy experts to tell us the Chief Executive Officers that have stood out as the most innovative during the last year.

Now we ask you to choose the most innovative CEO responding to our survey (open till December 13 at 7 am, Western European Time).

The most innovative CEO 2016 was Ken Richards (CEO of Leaf Resources, Australia)

The most innovative CEO 2017 was Tony Duncan (CEO of Circa Group, Australia)

The most innovative CEO 2018 was Jürgen Eck (CEO of BRAIN AG, Germany)

The most innovative CEO 2019 was Alex Michine (CEO of MetGen, Finland)

The most innovative CEO 2020 was Simão Soares (CEO of SilicoLife, Portugal)

The most innovative CEO 2021 was Jennifer Holmgren (CEO of LanzaTech, USA)

The most innovative CEO 2022 was Tom van Aken (CEO of Avantium, Netherlands)

This is the result of 2023 (in alphabetical order)

Catia Bastioli, Novamont (Italy)

John Bissel, Origin Materials (USA)

Annika Bresky, Stora Enso (Sweden)

Marc Delcourt, Global Bioenergies (France)

Jennifer Holmgren, LanzaTech (USA)

Dave Kettner, Virent (USA)

Thomas Philipon, TotalEnergies-Corbion (France/Netherlands)

Christophe Schilling, Genomatica (USA)

Frederic van Gansberghe, Futerro (France)

Niklas von Weymarn, Metsä Spring (Finland)

Here the survey closed

Clariant shuts down its sunliquid bioethanol production in Romania

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clariant
Courtesy of Clariant

Another bad news for the European bio-based economy. Clariant, a sustainability-focused specialty chemical company, today announced its decision to shut down its sunliquid® bioethanol production in Podari, Romania, and to downsize related activities of the business line Biofuels & Derivatives in Germany (Straubing, Planegg and Munich).

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COP28 opens today in Dubai with a resounding call to accelerate collective climate action

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The United Nations Climate Change Conference COP28 opens today with a resounding call to accelerate collective climate action. The conference takes place in what is already known to be the hottest year ever recorded in human history and as the impacts of the climate crisis wreak unprecedented havoc on human life and livelihoods around the world.

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An exclusive interview with Nicolò Giacomuzzi-Moore, Acting Executive Director CBE JU

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“The bioeconomy can be a catalyst for sustainable systematic change and transition, tackling key economic, societal and environmental challenges”. To say it – in this exclusive interview with Il Bioeconomista – is Nicolò Giacomuzzi-Moore, Executive Director ad interim of CBE JU, Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking.

Interview by Mario Bonaccorso

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Global bioeconomy stakeholders will gather in Washington DC next week

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EPA in Washington DC

Washington DC will be the center of gravity of the global bioeconomy starting from this Sunday. The US capital will host the third edition of the Global Biobased Economy Conference and Exhibition organized by the Alternative Fuels & Chemicals Coalition.

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