Our readers have voted. The most innovative bioeconomy CEO 2024 is Frederic Van Gansberghe, CEO of Futerro, a a pioneer and world leader in bioplastics with the development and production of Poly-Lactic Acid (PLA, also called FUTERRO RENEW®). PLA is a well-recognized biopolymer able to replace a large number of traditional petro-based plastic used in several applications.
The circular bioeconomy is innovation, the result of the skills and passion of researchers and managers able to create value and new high-qualified jobs, reconciling economy, society and the environment. At the end of 2014 Il Bioeconomista launched a new initiative: The 10 Most Innovative Bioeconomy CEOs.
We have asked a panel of world bioeconomy experts to tell us the Chief Executive Officers that have stood out as the most innovative during the last year.
Now we ask you to choose the most innovative CEO responding to our survey (open till December 13 at 7 am, Central Europe Time).
Eni and MSC Group President signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at developing joint initiatives in the field of sustainability and energy transition. The two Italian companies – the first is an integrated energy company committed to the energy transition towards carbon neutrality by 2050, the second is a world leader in transport and cruise services – intend to extend the scope of their already fruitful business relationship to a broader geographic context and, in particular, to areas relating to sustainability and decarbonization of their operations.
Avantium N.V., a leading company in renewable and circular polymer materials, strengthened its partnership with SCG Chemicals Public Company Limited, a leading chemical player in Asia and an innovator of chemical innovations and solutions. The companies signed a multi-year collaboration to pilot the production of PLGA (polylactic-co-glycolic acid). This partnership marks a significant milestone in the development and commercialization of sustainable materials.
NewEnergyBlue, the clean-technology designer of biomass refineries that turn agricultural waste into highly decarbonized biofuels and biochemicals, and MetGen, the Finnish pioneer in advanced enzymes and lignin fractionization, began integrating their renewable technologies and business units to vigorously compete with fossil-carbon products not just environmentally but economically.
As first announced at the presentation of its 2024-2027 Strategic Plan, Eni has finalized its transformation and relaunch plan for its chemicals business, also as part of its decarbonization path. The transformation plan involves about 2 billion euros of investment and aims to reduce emissions by approximately 1 million tonnes of CO2, currently about 40% of Versalis’ emissions in Italy.
UPM Biochemicals, Selenis and Bormioli Pharma have partnered to produce the world’s first pharmaceutical bottles made from partially wood-based PET. This bottle takes sustainability in pharma packaging to a whole new level. As the high regulatory and performance requirements for pharma packaging may limit the use of new or recycled materials, this bottle uses standard PET which is made with UPM’s world first wood based BioMEG, UPM BioPuraTM, to take a real step forward in the sustainable transformation of the pharmaceutical sector.
As first announced at the presentation of its 2024-2027 Strategic Plan, Italian multinational company Eni has finalized its transformation and relaunch plan for its chemicals business, also as part of its decarbonization path. The transformation plan involves about 2 billion euros of investment and aims to reduce emissions by approximately 1 million tonnes of CO2, currently about 40% of Versalis’ emissions in Italy.
This is a great news for the European and the world bioeconomy. Avantium N.V., a leading company in renewable and circular polymers, last Tuesday celebrated the Official Opening Ceremony of its FDCA Flagship Plant in Delfzijl, the Netherlands. The plant opening was officiated by Her Majesty Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, in the presence of international and Dutch dignitaries, partners and Avantium employees.
Neste’s renewable diesel helps Verne, a provider of sustainable data center solutions for high intensity computing, to transition its operations from fossil to renewable fuels. Verne’s data centers in Helsinki, Pori and Tampere in Finland will use Neste MY Renewable Diesel™ to power their backup generators. The switch from fossil diesel to Neste’s renewable diesel helps Verne reduce the greenhouse gas emissions from their backup generators by on average 90% over the life cycle of the fuel when compared to fossil diesel. This contributes to Verne’s commitment to reducing the carbon footprint of its data center operations.
