Royal DSM, the Dutch global science-based company in Nutrition, Health and Sustainable Living, is helping professional cyclists Team Sunweb to recover faster in this year’s Tour de France with its dietary antiplatelet, Fruitflow®. This forms part of the innovation partnership between DSM and Team Sunweb that aims to improve the health, nutrition and cycling materials of the professional athletes.
Technology
Avantium is ready to open a pilot biorefinery for its Zambezi technology in Delfzijl, Netherlands
Amsterdam-based Avantium, a leading technology development company and forerunner in renewable chemistry, will officially open a pilot biorefinery for its Zambezi technology in Delfzijl, Netherlands. Opening ceremonies will take place in Amsterdam on 10 July and in Delfzijl on 13 July. The province of Groningen is supporting the pilot biorefinery with a RIG (‘Regionale Investeringssteun Groningen’) subsidy of €1.8 million.
Leaf Resources is the first bioeconomy company to be selected by Unreasonable Impact
Leaf Resources has been selected by Unreasonable Impact, a global partnership between Barclays and Unreasonable Group focused on scaling up ventures that have the potential to solve major environmental and societal problems while creating the jobs of tomorrow. Leaf is the only Australian company – as well as the only bioeconomy company – chosen for the current programme, focused on the Asia-Pacific region.
An interview with Andreas Kiesel, University of Hohenheim. “A CO2tax for fossil-based products”
“Cascade use and reuse/-cycling are important factors for the success of the bioeconomy, but the products need to be designed in an appropriate way for recycling. For sure, carbon storage in the material is a positive side effect, but I see this more as a leverage to increase competitiveness of bio-based products compared to fossil-based products, e.g. through a CO2tax for fossil-based products”. To say it – in this interview with Il Bioeconomista – is Andreas Kiesel, a researcher at the University of Hohenheim, who is coordinating the BBI JU Demo Project GRACE, “which is demonstrating the feasibility of 10 bio-based value chains for hemp and miscanthus biomass at an industry relevant scale”.
Interview by Mario Bonaccorso
Bio-on inaugurated its plant to produce 100% biodegradable PHAs bioplastics for cosmetics
Bio-on, the Italian company operating in the high quality bioplastic sector, yesterday inaugurated its first owned plant designed to produce 100% natural and biodegradable special PHAs bioplastics for high added value niche markets, such as the microbeads used in the cosmetics sector.
LanzaTech and Shougang Group towards a carbon-smart economy in China
LanzaTech, and its joint venture partner, Shougang Group, a leading Chinese iron and steel producer, announced the successful start-up of the world’s first commercial facility converting industrial emissions to sustainable ethanol. The facility, located at the Jingtang Steel Mill in Caofeidian in Hebei Province, began operations on May 3.
Bio-on and GimaTT together for the bio-based packaging of products derived from tobacco
Italian industrial biotech company Bio-on, specialized in the sector of bioplastic of high quality, organic and biodegradable at 100%, set up AMT Labs S.p.A., a newco dedicated to the study, development and production of innovative materials for the tobacco world. Now AMT Labs company, capitalised with 10 million euros, sees the entry of GimaTT, with a 20% share for an investment of 2.2 million euros. GimaTT is a leader in the design and assembly of automatic machines on eletronic basis for the the packaging of products derived from tobacco and, in particular, those of new generation at reduced risk. Gima TT is controlled by IMA S.p.A. and is listed on the Star segment of the Italian Stock Exchange since October 2017.
Green Biologics and Kreussler to develop a new biobased alternative for dry cleaners
A new bio-based alternative solution is now available for dry cleaners. Working with UK company Green Biologics and their facility in Minnesota, German chemical company Kreussler Inc. is now making dry cleaning solvent from corn grown by about 500 family-owned farms in the heartland of America. SOLVONK4 offers one single ultrapure solvent that cleans better than Perc without any of the environmental or health-related concerns.
Metsä Group established Metsä Spring to develop the sustainable forest-based bioeconomy
There is a new company in the world bioeconomy: Metsä Spring Ltd, the new innovation company established by Metsä Group. The company will, together with partner organisations, invest in new endeavours with the target to identify and develop new business opportunities in sustainable forest-based bioeconomy and circular economy. Niklas von Weymarn has been appointed CEO of the company. He transferred to Metsä Spring from the position of VP, Research in Metsä Fibre, also part of Metsä Group. The office of Metsä Spring is in the heart of the internationally-acknowledged Otaniemi innovation campus in Espoo, Finland. The establishment of the new innovation company – the Finnish multinational company underlines – does not affect the current research and development activities of Metsä Group’s current business areas.
An interview with John Bell, Director at the EU Commission in charge of bioeconomy. “The bioeconomy promises to lead the next rising wave of global economic development”
“The bioeconomy promises to lead the next rising wave of global economic development. Renewable energy, renewable raw materials and recyclable products pose a positive challenge to our current fossil fuel dependence”. John Bell, Director at the European Commission in charge of bioeconomy, talks to Il Bioeconomista.
In this long exclusive interview, he talks about the new strategy on bioeconomy, the EU’s new research and innovation programme, the role of member states and regions and the connection between bioeconomy and society.
Interview by Mario Bonaccorso
