An exclusive interview with Nick Smith, Head of Development and Commercialisation at Circa Group

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“When we consider that nearly all of the materials and products in society today are essentially 100% based on petrochemicals and that the chemical sector is responsible for 10% of global carbon emissions, half of that from the fossil-based feedstock used to produce the chemicals, we see that the world is not only dependent on petroleum but also on petrochemicals. To transition to a lower carbon economy, we need renewable chemicals just as much as renewable energy.” Nick Smith, Head of Development Commercialisation at Circa Group, talks to Il Bioeconomista. In this exclusive interview, he talks about the ReSolute plant in Eastern France, the new partnerships and the next steps of the Australian company and the role of the bioeconomy to make industries more sustainable.

Interview by Mario Bonaccorso

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Fragrance & Beauty: Amyris closed strategic transaction with Givaudan

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Amyris, Inc., a US leading synthetic biotechnology company, completed the previously announced strategic transaction with Givaudan SA for the worldwide exclusive licensing of certain cosmetic ingredients, including Neossance® Squalane, the highest performant emollient, Neossance® Hemisqualane, the plant-based silicone alternative, and CleanScreen™, the sustainable sun protector.

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An exclusive interview with Marc Palahí, Director EFI. “We need a massive Innovation plan to realise the potential of the circular bioeconomy”

EFI  Director Marc Palahí, Joensuu 21.6.2021.
Photo: Johanna Kokkola
EFI Director Marc Palahí, Joensuu 21.6.2021. Photo: Johanna Kokkola

“One of the greatest advantages of the circular bioeconomy is the fact that it relies on renewable biological resources and renewable energy which we can develop, manage and process in Europe, which is not a continent rich in fossil resources or rare earth materials.” To say it – in this exclusive interview with Il Bioeconomista – is Marc Palahí, director of the European Forest Institute. He talks about circular bioeconomy, the role played by the forest-based sector, the Circular Bioeconomy Alliance founded by His Majesty King Charles III (formerly The Prince of Wales) and the next event focused on Biocities, which will take place in Rome on April 20.

Interview by Mario Bonaccorso

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L’Oréal and Geno create bio-based alternatives to key ingredients in beauty products

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Christophe Schilling, CEO of Genomatica during his speech at the Grand Opening of Mater Biotech’s plant in Bottrighe di Adria, Italy

L’Oréal invested in a venture led by Geno, the California-headquartered biotechnology company, to create sustainable alternatives to key ingredients in beauty products. The French multinational company will be a founding member of the venture alongside Unilever and Kao.

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Avantium signed an offtake agreement with Kvadrat for the development of PEF for interior textiles

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Avantium’s pilot plant in the Nerherlands

Avantium N.V., a leading technology provider in renewable chemistry, signed an offtake agreement with Kvadrat A/S, a leader in design innovation, producing quality contemporary textiles and textile related products for architects, designers, and private consumers across the world.

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Ortholite and Novamont joined forces for the creation of the world’s first circular foam material solution for footwear

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Glenn Barrett and Catia Bastioli at Novamont in Novara

OrthoLite, the global leader of sustainable, performance and comfort insoles and footwear materials solutions, and Novamont, the international leader in the development, production and eco-design of biodegradable and compostable bioplastics and biochemicals, joined forces for the creation of OrthoLite Cirql™, the world’s first circular foam material solution for footwear. 

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International Women’s Day: our tribute to all women who are making the bioeconomy happen

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Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), around the world finding a job is much tougher for women than it is for men. When women are employed, they tend to work in low-quality jobs in vulnerable conditions and there is little improvement forecast in the near future. The current global labour force participation rate for women is close to 46% (for men it is 71%, according to the International Labour Organization). The freedom to work – by choice, in conditions of dignity, safety and fairness – is integral to human welfare. 

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One Planet Summit: Emmanuel Macron and Ali Bongo called the world for action to preserve biodiversity

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Held jointly by France and Gabon, the 6th One Planet Summit took place on 1 and 2 March 2023 in Libreville, Gabon. This Summit focused on common challenges for the three tropical forest basins of the Congo Basin, the Amazon forest and the forests of South-East Asia. The choice of Gabon to host the Summit highlights the rich heritage of African forests.

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World BioEconomy Forum launched a survey on forming a global hub for the bioeconomy

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Jukka Kantola

The World BioEconomy Forum and partners launched a survey on the formation of a global hub to serve the bioeconomy sector. The aim of the hub is to encourage dialogue relating to all important matters concerning the global bioeconomy as well as its challenges and opportunities. The survey will allow stakeholders across the globe to advise and inform as to what the topics and subjects the hub should be comprised of. The bioeconomy is set to become a major economic stream in the future, and therefore will require growing international collaboration between the various parties. 

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Metsä Group’s nature programme providing funding for restoration projects: application process started yesterday

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Metsa Group Aanekoski pulp mill. Source: http://www.metsafibre.com

The application period for Metsä Group’s funding programme for nature restoration projects started yesterday. Funding for planned and targeted measures aiming at safeguarding biodiversity can be applied for until 30 April. Metsä Group’s nature programme is a ten-year funding scheme, launched in 2021, which finances development projects promoting biodiversity implemented outside commercial Finnish forests. To date, 16 different projects across Finland have been granted funding, amounting to €600,000. The company does not seek business profit through the projects. 

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