TotalEnergies Corbion presented Luminy® PLA bioplastics in Shanghai at Chinaplas 2024, April 23-26, Asia’s premier plastics and rubber trade fair. This was an opportunity to highlight the work in the region, with customers such as Changsu. It also showcased how easily companies can transition to PLA bioplastics solutions and lower their products’ carbon emissions by up to 75% versus conventional plastic solutions.
BASF expands its offering for sustainable food production: Its certified compostable biopolymer ecovio® can now also be used to manufacture black twines used to grow annual fruit and vegetables in commercial greenhouses. The grade ecovio® T 2206 is certified industrial compostable according to EN13432. This means that after harvesting the twines can be collected together with the plant residues and transported to industrial composting facilities (depending on local regulations) where they biodegrade. With this new end-of-life option for twines, persistent microplastics in organic waste can be avoided while at the same time more green waste can be turned into valuable compost. The industrial compostable ecovio® thus supports organic recycling and helps to close the nutrient loop to achieve a circular economy.
Evonik is strengthening its offering of botanical extracts and natural actives by bringing its expertise together under a newly established business segment. The Botanicals & Natural Actives segment draws on expertise built up through legacy products together with a series of recent acquisitions. Evonik – the German company claims – can now better meet the growing demand for botanical extracts and claim-substantiated natural actives, which are supported by its recently established Skin Institute.
Boeing is buying 9.4 million gallons (35.6 million liters) of blended sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to support its 2024 U.S. commercial operations, reducing its carbon emissions and working to help grow the supply of the fuel globally. This is the company’s largest annual SAF purchase, more than 60% higher than its buy in 2023. The blended fuel – 30% SAF made from waste by-products such as fats, oils, and greases and 70% conventional jet fuel – will support the Boeing ecoDemonstrator program and Boeing U.S. commercial operational flights.
Repsol is entering the biomethane market with an agreement to take a 40% shareholding in Genia Bioenergy. This alliance allows Repsol to add significant human and technical capabilities to position itself early in this growing sector. Biomethane is considered strategic by the European Union – which has set itself an ambition to increase its production eightfold by 2030 compared to that recorded in 2022 – in its RePower EU program. The Spanish Gas Association (Sedigas) estimates that biomethane could account for almost half of Spain’s natural gas consumption.
UPM Biochemicals launched a new range of bio-based plant stimulants, UPM SolargoTM. This launch marks UPM’s entry into the large and profitable agrochemicals market with an innovative, sustainable alternative to fossil raw materials-based products.
Neste has started supplying sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to Emirates at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, expanding the partnership the two companies announced in October last year. Over 6,000 tons (2 million gallons) of blended SAF will be supplied into the fueling system at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol over the course of 2024.
Eni, a global energy company, Fincantieri, one of the world’s largest shipbuilding groups, the only one active in all high-tech marine industry sectors, and RINA, a multinational inspection, certification, and engineering consultancy, have signed an agreement to develop joint initiatives for the energy transition. The partnership formalises the commitment to develop joint projects, in line with the partners’ strategies, to decarbonise the maritime sector in the medium to long term with the goal of Net Zero by 2050. Additionally, the establishment of a permanent global observatory regarding future technological, regulatory, and market developments will be evaluated.
Together with TotalEnergies Corbion, Korean water producer Sansu is developing an embossed label water bottle made of Luminy® PLA bioplastics to speed adoption of recycled PLA as feedstock. This innovation is set to revolutionize recycled PLA production processes – both companies claim – marking a significant leap towards a more sustainable future.
Afyren, a greentech company that offers manufacturers natural, low-carbon ingredients produced using unique fermentation technology based on a completely circular model, and Suez, a world leader in circular solutions for water and waste management, are working together on a new way of creating value from organic waste.
IL BIOECONOMISTA 