From Il Bioeconomista a great wish of a Happy New Year! We’ll keep fighting and informing you about the BioRevolution
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An exclusive interview with Jennifer Holmgren, the Most Innovative Bioeconomy CEO 2021
The bioeconomy is key to our future! We are a community of business leaders working to solve our world’s greatest challenges. I am honored to be named among these visionaries and grateful to the readers of Il Bioeconomista for taking such a big interest in the work we all do. To say it – in this exclusive interview with Il Bioeconomista – is Jennifer Holmgren, the Most Innovative Bioeconomy CEO 2021 according to our readers. She talks about this recognition but above all about the bioeconomy and our carbonsmart future.
Interview by Mario Bonaccorso
Suntory introduces 100% Plant-Based PET bottle prototypes thanks to a partnership with Anellotech
Suntory Group, as a crucial step toward its aim to use 100% sustainable PET bottles globally by 2030 and eliminate all petroleum-based virgin plastic from its global PET supply, has successfully created a prototype PET bottle made from 100% plant-based materials. The prototype has been produced for the company’s iconic Orangina brand in Europe along with its best-selling bottled mineral water brand in Japan, Suntory Tennensui. This achievement marks a breakthrough after a nearly decade-long partnership with the US-based sustainable technology company Anellotech.
The Most Innovative Bioeconomy CEO is Jennifer Holmgren, CEO of LanzaTech
Our readers have voted. The most innovative bioeconomy CEO 2010 is Jennifer Holgren, CEO of LanzaTech, the Illinois-based company that is the global leader in gas fermentation technology. The company provides novel and economic routes to ethanol, jet fuel and high-value chemicals from gas streams including industrial off-gases from steel and alloy mills; petroleum refineries, petrochemical complexes and gas processing facilities; syngas generated from any biomass resource (e.g. municipal solid waste (MSW), organic industrial waste, agricultural waste); and reformed biogas.
BASF is accelerating the implementation of its CO2reduction targets
With a new project organization, BASF is bundling and accelerating its extensive cross-company activities to reduce its CO2 emissions by 25 percent by 2030 compared with 2018 and become climate neutral by 2050. The unit, called “Net Zero Accelerator”, focuses on implementing and accelerating projects relating to low-CO2 production technologies, circular economy and renewable energies. “With the new project organization, we are continuing to accelerate and create more powerful structures within BASF to achieve our ambitious goals,” said Martin Brudermüller, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF SE. “This further step demonstrates the determination to drive forward our transformation to a climate-neutral company.”
New Report by FAO: Forests products in the global bioeconomy
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations’ (FAO) presented a new report on forest products and the vital role they play in the global bioeconomy and climate change mitigation.
The report, Forest products in the global bioeconomy: Enabling substitution by wood-based products and contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals, provides a set of recommendations to increase the contribution of forest products for climate change mitigation and sustainable development.
Ferrari Formula 1 goes green with Brazilian energy company Raizen SA
Brazilian energy company Raizen SA and its shareholder Royal Dutch Shell Plc signed an agreement with the Ferrari Formula 1 team to supply second-generation, high-performance ethanol from next year, when the main motor racing category will begin using 10% ethanol blend in gasoline.
COP26 signals accelerated zero carbon investment drive. Severe climate risks remain
Commitments made in advance and during COP26 have put keeping global warming to 1.5°C within reach, accelerating investment towards net zero emissions. Stronger policies and 2030 targets are still required to unlock the trillions of dollars required to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.
“Global warming of above 1.5°C presents irreversible, foreseeable and large-scale risks to investors and financial markets,” Rebecca Mikula-Wright, Chief Executive Officer of the Asia Investor Group on Climate Change (AIGCC), said. “The commitments that have come out ahead and as part of Glasgow have been significant but global action is still falling short.
Deutsche Post DHL Group partnered with Neste to use SAF at the UK’s East Midlands airport
As part of the COP26 climate conference, Deutsche Post DHL Group has announced a further step towards introducing climate-friendly aviation logistics. The Group has agreed a new partnership with Neste1 to supply the DHL Express division with Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) at the UK’s East Midlands Airport. In total, DHL will purchase SAF for more than EUR 60 million by mid- 2022, reducing around 70,000 tons of CO2. This is a first step for the Group to reach its ambitious 2030 target of meeting at least 30 per cent of its fuel needs in aviation through sustainable fuels.
Sports brand On launched CleanCloud, a new foam material made using carbon emissions as a raw material
Swiss sports brand On is moving away from petroleum-based resources by creating a new foam material called CleanCloud™, made using carbon emissions as a raw material. On is the first company in the footwear industry to explore carbon emissions as a primary raw material for a shoe bottom unit, specifically EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate) foam, that could also be used in other shoe parts and products in the future.
“On – the company claims – is convinced that innovation is pivotal to cutting greenhouse gas emissions. CleanCloud™ is the result of four years of dedicated work, which began with finding the best possible partners. We are adopting a collaborative approach to overcome the challenges of connecting these technologies at commercial scale.”
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