“People need to know that bioeconomy is not just an abstract concept. What we need is a coherent narrative with clear explanations of what bioeconomy is, and how it can contribute to a more sustainable way of living”. To say it, in this exclusive interview with Il Bioeconomista, is Boris Mannhardt, CEO of BIOCOM AG, an information specialist for biotechnology and Life Sciences that provides markedly diverse products and services Boris Mannhardt joined BIOCOM in 2007 and established the service business unit there. Previously he spent more than 6 years in seed and start-up financing of biotechnology companies. He holds a degree in molecular biology and did his PhD thesis at the German Cancer Research Center. He talk with us about information and education on bioeconomy, presenting also the exhibition “Bioeconomy in everyday life”.
Interview by Mario Bonaccorso Continue reading
The Giro, one of three three-week Grand Tours that include the Tour de France and Vuelta a España, goes green. After the success of the first edition in 2016, the Ride Green project will once again accompany this year’s Giro d’Italia, the competition which for 100 years has showcased sporting competitiveness, the passion of the race fans and the beauty of Italy.
Finnish oil refining and marketing company Neste and Fazer Bakery, the leading bakery company in Finland and Russia’s major markets of St Petersburg and Moscow, are joining forces with their “Doughnut Trick campaign”. The oil that was used to fry Fazer Bakery’s May Day doughnuts will be recycled by refining it to produce Neste MY renewable diesel. The value of the fuel will be donated to the Finnish chapter of the charity SOS Children’s Village International. The amount of diesel that’s made from the oil used to fry every three doughnuts is enough to drive a distance of about one kilometer.
“You’ve probably sat on it, built with it, and maybe even eaten it, but did you know that your car could be next to benefit from bamboo, one of the world’s strongest natural materials?” This question is asked by the Ford Motor Company, the global automotive and mobility company based in Dearborn, Michigan, with about 201,000 employees and 62 plants worldwide. While investment in research has led to breakthroughs in new materials like super strong carbon fiber and lightweight aluminum, nature’s wonder material may have been growing all along and as much as three feet in a day. Soon, some surfaces inside Ford’s vehicles could be made from a combination of bamboo and plastic to create super hard material.
Carrefour, the French multinational retailer headquartered in Boulogne Billancourt, has kicked off roll-out of its bioNGV (a 100% renewable energy using waste to produce biogas) service stations, so it can expand its fleet of vehicles running on biomethane. Its aim before the end of 2017 is to have
9 service stations so that 200 lorries can make clean, silent deliveries to 250 urban stores in Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Bordeaux and Lille.
Amsterdam will be the center of gravity of the biobased economy this May. In its second year, 
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.
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