Technology

International Women’s day: a tribute to all women who are making the bioeconomy happen

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The Bioeconomy is led by women. This year, as every year, for the International Women’s Day, we dedicate a tribute to all women who are making the bioeconomy happen all around the world. With their huge competences and their infinite passion, they are the stars of the world bioeconomy. Our best and warmest wishes to all women.

This is just a partial list.

Ylwa Alwarsdotter, Executive VP Sekab (Sweden)

Iris Aquilina Anderson, leader of the Bioladies Network (UK)

Catia Bastioli, CEO at Novamont (Italy)

Véronique de Bruijn, CEO at Photanol (Netherlands)

Joanna Dupont at EuropaBio (UE)

Carina Håkansson, DG at The Swedish Forest Industries Federation (Sweden)

Sarah Hickingbottom, CEO at BioVale (UK)

Jennifer Holmgren, CEO at Lanzatech (USA)

Virginia Klausmeier, CEO at Sylvatex (USA)

Christine Lang, chairwoman at German Bioeconomy Council (Germany)

Electra Papadopoulou, co-founder Greek Bioeconomy Forum (Greece)

Theodora Retsina, CEO at American Process (USA)

Kathryn Sheridan, CEO at Sustainability Consult (Belgium)

Mariagiovanna Vetere, Global Public Affairs at NatureWorks (USA)

Mari Walls, President and CEO at Natural Resources Institute Finland (LUKE)

Alex Ward, President at Origin Materials (Canada)

Marie Wheat, Industry Economist at USDA BioPreferred Program (USA)

Eleni Zika, Head of Programme at BBI JU (EU)

The Thailandese bioeconomy takes a step forward thanks to Advanced Biochemical Co.

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Thailandese bio-based chemical company Advanced Biochemical Co., Ltd. announced a capacity increase at its plant in Map Ta Phut, Thailand, which will now produce 120,000 mt/year of bio-based epichlorohydrin (ECH) – an increase of 20,000 mt/year. Permission for this increase was granted by the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand.

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Metsä Spring and Valmet initiated a joint project for a novel wood-based 3D product

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Metsa Group Aanekoski pulp mill. Source: http://www.metsafibre.com

Metsä Group’s innovation company Metsä Spring and Valmet initiated a joint project for the development of a novel wood-based 3D product to replace similar products made out of fossil resources, especially in consumer products like packaging. The joint project focuses on fine-tuning properties of the new environmentally-friendly material and on developing a highly automated and digitalized manufacturing technology. Utilising Metsä Group’s current industrial side streams as the raw material of the new product will also be assessed.

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INEOS and UPM Biofuels signed an agreement for new and innovative bio-attributed polymers

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Cologne Central Station

INEOS, the global manufacturer of petrochemicals, speciality chemicals and oil products headquartered in UK, and UPM Biofuels signed a long-term agreement to supply a renewable raw material for new and innovative bio-attributed polymers to be produced at INEOS Köln, Germany. INEOS will use UPM BioVerno, a sustainable raw material from a renewable residue of wood pulp processing, to produce bio-attributed polyolefins.

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Braskem joined forces with Biowash and Greco & Guerreiro for 100% renewable homecare products

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Working to drive the circular economy in packaging as well, one of its main business segments, Braskem signed a partnership to leverage the development of sustainable solutions. All 1-liter and 5-liter packaging of the Brazilian company Biowash , a pioneer in the development of 100%-biodegradable natural homecare products, now will be made from a mixture of renewable plastic, made from sugarcane , and post-consumer resin (PCR).

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DMC Biotech completed successful pilot of L-alanine at BPF in Delft

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Matt Lipscomb, CEO of DMC

DMC Biotechnologies, the US BioBased specialty chemical company, has successfully produced its lead product, L-alanine at pilot scale. Commercial key performance metrics were achieved and performance from the bench scale was also demonstrated at 3m3scale fermentation and for each of the downstream purification unit operations.  The robustness of DMC’s Dynamic Metabolic Control technology to the process environment was also validated.

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Neste and Outotec joined forces for a fully bio-based diluent

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Neste’s headquarter in Espoo, Finland

Neste and Outotec have jointly verified the viability of applying Neste MY Renewable Isoalkane™ as a fully bio-based diluent for extracting metals in hydrometallurgical processes. The diluent is based on Neste’s NEXBTL technology and produced entirely from bio-based waste and residue raw materials.

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UPM enters the biochemicals business by investing in a biorefinery at Leuna, Germany

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Fraunhofer in Leuna

Finnish company UPM takes the next transformative growth step and enters the biochemicals business by investing in a biorefinery at Leuna, Germany. The biorefinery will produce a range of 100% wood-based biochemicals which enable a switch from fossil raw materials to sustainable alternatives in various consumer-driven end-uses. The investment opens totally new markets for UPM with large growth potential for the future.

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Genomatica Hits Industry-First Milestone in Nylon Sustainability

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Christophe Schilling, CEO of Genomatica during his speech at the Grand Opening of Mater Biotech’s plant in Bottrighe di Adria, Italy

Eighty years after nylon’s first commercial production, clean manufacturing technology leader Genomatica achieved a new milestone for the material — its production of the world’s first renewably-sourced ton of the key ingredient for nylon-6, made from plants instead of crude oil.

Nylon, the first totally synthetic fiber to be made into consumer products including apparel and carpet, is responsible for an estimated 60 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions per year through traditional production which begins with crude oil. Continue reading →

German Biotech company BRAIN AG expands production capacities in Germany and Wales

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Jürgen Eck, former CEO of BRAIN AG, Most Innovative Bioeconomy CEO 2018

The BRAIN Group announced an expansion of its production capacities. The installation of new production facilities in both Büttelborn, near Darmstadt, Germany, by WeissBioTech GmbH (WBT) and in Cardiff, Wales, by Biocatalysts Ltd. lays the foundation for future growth.

The companies of the BRAIN Group form a closely knit network in the fields of R&D and production or as suppliers in specific markets. Drawing on the particular competencies of its subsidiaries, BRAIN brings its own innovative research results to market launch and commercializes existing products. By expanding its production capacities, BRAIN reinforces the strategic focus on its product business.

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