Society
Finland is increasingly Bio-land: Helsinki switches to biofuels
Finland is the cradle of the bioeconomy. And maybe someone could someday propose to change the name from Finland to Bio-land. The latest news is that buses in the Helsinki region and most of machinery and trucks used by the City of Helsinki are switching to waste and residue-based biofuels. Helsinki Region Transport HSL, the City of Helsinki and the producers of renewable fuels involved in the project are all pioneers in carbon-neutral transport. The project is internationally significant.
Gina McCarthy: Trump’s administration fails to respect the science on climate change
Last Thursday’s decision to pull out of the Paris Climate Agreement was short-sighted and contrary to the best interests of this country, not to mention disappointing and embarrassing.
It fails to respect the science on climate change. It abandons the best opportunity we have to protect the health and well-being of American families and our children’s future. It runs contrary to the advice of hundreds of business leaders and investors who want the U.S. to lean into climate action — not run away and bury our heads in the sand. And it neglects the wishes of nearly 70 percent of the American public who want strong actions to curb climate change.
Braskem and Brazil’s largest retail chain GPA Group join forces for the circular economy
Braskem, the largest producer of thermoplastic resins in the Americas, and the GPA Group, Brazil’s largest retail chain, will be recycling 60 metric tons of plastic every year to produce the new packaging of the Qualitá stain remover, an exclusive brand marketed at the Extra and Pão de Açúcar stores, across Brazil.
Neste launches an international environmental exchange open to schools throughout Finland
There is a new Finnish initiative to educate children in bioeconomy and climate change. Neste Corporation has launched an international environmental exchange that is open to schools throughout Finland. Pupils in schools can exchange experiences of climate change with their counterparts in schools abroad. The schools selected for the exchange will be given an EduCycle game. It is an augmented reality game created by Neste that makes it clear what climate change means in practice.
An interview with Boris Mannhardt, BIOCOM AG: People need to know that bioeconomy is not just an abstract concept
“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 goes green with Novamont
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.
Neste and Fazer Bakery support together the bio-circular economy
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.
Ford is increasingly bio-based: the new frontier is bamboo
“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 joined forces with Air Liquide to open the first of its biomethane stations in France
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.
IL BIOECONOMISTA 