Biodegradable bags? Yes, thanks

In this early 2018 it seems the main problem for Italians is the price of biodegradable bags for fruit and vegetables. Many Italians complain about the cents to buy the biodegradable bags but say nothing about toxic clouds that devastate the territory from North to South. What are we talking about for the benefit of our non-Italian readers?

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An interview with Jennifer Holmgren, CEO of LanzaTech: “We want to see a Carbon Smart Future take off”

Jennifer Holmgren at the Bioeconomy Investment Summit in Helsinki

“Our goal is to reduce carbon and to do this we must adopt new approaches by using alternative feedstocks, including existing wastes and residues instead of fossil. Today we have an abundance of carbon in all the wrong places. We can turn it from a liability to an opportunity by using it again and again”. Jennifer Holmgren, CEO of LanzaTech, on of the most dynamic and growing bioeconomy companies at world level, talks to Il Bioeconomista, in an interview released after the Bioeconomy Investment Summit, which was held on December 14 in Helsinki.

Interview by Mario Bonaccorso

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NUI Galway and Gas Networks Ireland lead a new transport revolution

CNG Truck travelling around Dublin City Centre.
Picture Colm Mahady / Fennells – Copyright© Fennell Photography 2016.

The Irish bioeconomy takes a step forward: NUI (National University of Ireland) Galway and Gas Networks Ireland are leading a new transport revolution as they introduce compressed natural gas (CNG) and renewable gas for trucks, vans and buses. The project, named ‘Causeway’, marks a first for NUI Galway, as this is the first time that the University has been successful in securing a funding application from the European Union’s Connecting Europe Facility. The Causeway project received approval for €6.5 million co-funding from the European Commission.

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Clariant and Global Bioenergies developed a new biopolymer for cosmetic creams and lotions

Clariant Industrial Biotechnology Group in Germany

Clariant, a Swiss leader in specialty chemicals, and French industrial biotech company Global Bioenergies last Tuesday announced the development of a new bio-based polymer for cosmetic creams and lotions, which is derived from renewable isobutene.

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An interview with Marc Palahí, director of EFI. “We must place the bioeconomy at the core of the EU Industrial, Climate and Sustainability Agenda”

Marc Palahi at the European Bioeconomy Summit in Helsinki

“We need an ambitious and long-term bioeconomy policy framework to enable the creation of a Bioeconomy Single Market. The framework needs to ensure predictability to investors and companies, enhance risk-taking capacity and define priority pathways to move towards a low carbon economy, where a circular bioeconomy becomes a growth engine”. Marc Palahí, director of the European Forest Institute, talks to Il Bioeconomista. In this long and exclusive interview, released after the Second edition of the European Bioeconomy Summit, he talks about the next steps which are needed to place the bioeconomy at the core of the EU industrial, climate and sustainability agenda.

Interview by Mario Bonaccorso

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2017: another a very positive year for Il Bioeconomista. Thank you and happy 2018!

Dear Readers,

thank you very much, again. 2017 was another very positive year for Il Bioeconomista: 12% more visits to our blog.

Il Bioeconomista confirms itself as one of the world’s leading blog on bieconomy. Our readers are mainly Europeans, but a growing number of readers are from Turkey, the United States, Canada, Brazil, India, Australia, Japan and Malaysia.

The year that has just ended was very important for the global bioeconomy. And we are sure that the best has yet to come. 2018 will be another relevant year for the implementation of the bioeconomy, waiting for the pre-announced new strategy on bioeconomy in the European Union. We will be again on your side to tell the facts and continue growing.

Happy new year!

Mario Bonaccorso

From Helsinki the bioeconomy stakeholders call for action: “It’s time to deliver!”

Göran Persson, former Prime Minister of Sweden (1996-2006)

“It’s time to deliver!” This is, extremely briefly, the message that comes from the second edition of the Bioeconomy Investment Summit, which was held in Helsinki last Thursday, December 14. In this invitation made at the opening of the summit by the former Swedish prime minister, Göran Persson, it can be synthesized the will of over 300 summit participants to move rapidly towards the creation of new markets for the bioeconomy and to accelerate the transition to a new, more sustainable economy, which finally could leave the GDP behind as an indicator of welfare of the countries. “From the sustainable perspective, GDP is a misleading measure of success”, said Robert Costanza, professor at the Australian National University.

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There are several ways to move forward with sustainable solutions in the textile industry

Jukka Kantola, CEO of KaiCell Fibers

As the world population keeps growing and living standards improve in many third world countries, there is an ever-increasing demand for textiles and textile fibres. The global textile market currently amounts to about 90 Mtons per annum, but is projected to exceed 140 Mtons by 2025.

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Tony Duncan, CEO of Circa Group, is the Most Innovative Bioeconomy CEO 2017

Our readers have voted: the most innovative bioeconomy CEO 2017 is Tony Duncan, CEO of Circa Group, the Australian company headquartered in Melbourne that is converting waste biomass into advanced biochemical materials. For the second consecutive year is the CEO of an Australian company to win the award (in 2016 was Ken Richards, CEO of Leaf Resources).

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Bio-on strengthens its collaboration with AkzoNobel and becomes part of MSCI World Small Cap Index

Marco Astorri

Bio-on, listed on the AIM segment of Borsa Italiana and one of the main players in the new eco-sustainable chemical industry, starting from 1st December is listed on the MSCI World Small Cap Index. This announcement arrives after the agreement between the Italian company headquartered in Bologna and International Paint Ltd (AkzoNobel) to continue their collaborative relationship thanks to excellent results achieved within Synergistic Fouling Control Technologies-SEAFRONT project, funded by the 7th Framework Programme of the European Commission

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