The Lenzing Group, a world-leading provider of specialty fibers for the textile and nonwoven industries, has made significant technical improvements to its Purwakarta site (PT. South Pacific Viscose). Lenzing has invested more than EUR 100 million since 2021 to convert existing production capacity to specialty viscose. With the imminent completion of the investment, Lenzing is in a better position to serve the strongly growing demand for specialty fibers.
Neste Corporation, Gasgrid Finland Ltd, Helen Ltd, and Vantaa Energy Ltd have in collaboration started preliminary studies on the development of an industrial hydrogen valley in the Uusimaa region, Finland. This joint effort is a step forward in driving Finland towards a leading hydrogen economy in Europe that creates industrial investment opportunities and supports Finland’s and Europe’s carbon neutrality goals.
Florence, Italy, will be the capital of circular bioeconomy from 27 to 29 September. The International Forum on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioeconomy (IFIB) will be held in this beautiful city this year at the Innovation Center of Fondazione CR Firence.
Virgin Atlantic and Rolls-Royce confirmed the successful Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) blend ground test on the Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engine. The test marks a key milestone in the project which will see the world’s first 100% SAF flight travel across the Atlantic from London Heathrow to New York JFK on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, set to take off on 28 November 2023.
On 6 and 7 July, the partners of B-FERST, a project financed by Bio Based Industries Join Undertaking (now CBE JU) under the Horizon 2020 program, met in Caserta to discuss developments in project activities and define the following actions to be undertaken.
The Biden-Harris Administration released a new action plan to rapidly and equitably expand biotechnology and biomanufacturing education and job training programs in the United States. The action plan accompanies the second round of the Administration’s Investing in America tour, where President Biden, Vice President Harris, First Lady Jill Biden, Cabinet members, and Senior Administration Officials will visit communities benefitting from the historic levels of private sector investments mobilized by the President’s Investing in America Agenda. Since the beginning of the Biden-Harris Administration, private companies have announced $470 billion in manufacturing and clean energy investments, including in biomanufacturing.
New legislation to tackle waste by improving recycling rates and increasing reuse has been published by the Scottish Government. The Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill was introduced by Lorna Slater MSP, the Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity. The ambition of a circular economy is to generate a society where products are used and re-used for as long as possible, maximising their value and minimising waste, and where by-products are captured and used to create additional valuable commodities.
Trollhättan-Vänersborg Airport in the southwestern part of Sweden, will be the first airport in the world to offer only blended sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for all aircraft refueling at the airport, which will significantly reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of departing flights. Neste will supply its Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel™ to the Trollhättan airport in a 30-40% blend with conventional jet fuel and the airport will make it available for refueling by the end of June.
UPM Biochemicals and URSA, one of the leading producers of glass wool and mineral wool in Europe, joined forces to develop more environmentally friendly building insulation that will help to reduce energy consumption and lower CO2 emissions. URSA will produce sustainable glass wool made from an innovative, binder based on UPM BioPiva™ lignin. It will be one of the most natural insulation material available on the market.
“One of the great challenges is to use fewer resources by regenerating territories and taking care of biodiversity and soil health. Diversifying bio-based value chain is then a crucial point to meet the challenge of raw material shortages.” To say it – in this interview with Il Bioeconomista – is Roberto Marangon, Senior Application Development Manager at Novamont, the Italian company which is one of the leading players in the world bioplastics’ market. With him we talk about innovation in the bioplastics sector and the next steps of the company headquartered in Novara.
Interview by Mario Bonaccorso
IL BIOECONOMISTA 