Technology

Avantium successfully starts up first part of its FDCA flagship plant

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CEO Tom Van Aken and Her Majesty Queen Maxima. Source: Avantium

Avantium N.V., a Dutch company focused on renewable and circular polymer materials, successfully started up the sugar dehydration (SDH) unit and all auxiliary systems and utilities at its FDCA Flagship Plant in Delfzijl. This achievement marks a key technical achievement in the phased commissioning and start-up of the world’s first commercial facility dedicated to the production of FDCA (furandicarboxylic acid), a key building block for the 100% plant-based and recyclable polymer PEF (polyethylene furanoate), branded as releaf®. Avantium now expects to begin commercial sales under its existing offtake agreements in the first quarter of 2026.

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DuPont Water Solutions Wins BIG Sustainability Award for Advancements in Industrial Wastewater Reuse

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Source: Dupont

The Water Solutions team of Dupont has been recognized as a 2025 “Sustainability Squad” in the BIG Sustainability Awards for its work to advance industrial wastewater treatment, reuse and minimal liquid discharge (MLD). The “Sustainability Squad” Award, presented by the Business Intelligence Group, celebrates the DuPont Water Solutions team’s development and commercialization of the FilmTec™ Fortilife™ membranes, which enable industrial customers to treat and reuse wastewater more efficiently, reduce discharge volumes, and recover valuable resources—all while lowering energy consumption and operational costs.

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Braskem’s I’m green bio-based Polyethylene Drives 470,000-Ton Carbon Reduction in Japan’s Retail Packaging

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According to Braskem, the largest polyolefins producer in the Americas and a global pioneer in large-scale biopolymer production, the demand for bio-based shopping bags is increasing in the Japanese market. In Japan, bio-based polyethylene (PE) is gaining attention as a sustainable material, particularly because CO2 emissions from its incineration can be counted as zero in the case of a biomass plastic-an attribute that aligns with the calculation of the effects in the Japanese government’s global warming countermeasures plan.

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LG Chem and Enilive breaks ground on Korea’s First HVO/SAF plant

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LG Chem’s Daesan Chemical Complex in Seosan, South Korea. Source: Eni

South Korean LG Chem and Italian Enilive have taken a major step toward biofuels growth by breaking ground on Korea’s first hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) and Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production plant in LG Chem’s Daesan Chemical Complex located in Seosan, Chungcheongnam-do, 80 kilometers southwest of Seoul. The plant is going to be constructed by the LG Chem and Enilive joint venture, called LG-Eni BioRefining, and it is scheduled for completion in 2027 and will annually process approximately 400,000 tons of renewable bio-feedstock.
 

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Clariant Catalysts and Shanghai Electric launch alliance to advance China’s energy transition

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Source: Clariant

Clariant, a sustainability-focused specialty chemical company, signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Shanghai Boiler Works, a full subsidiary of Shanghai Electric, specializing in energy conversion and the development of new energy applications, to jointly foster innovation in sustainable energy solutions. The partners will combine their expertise to advance green energy projects in China.

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DMC Biotechnologies launched a next generation ingredient for better health and wellness

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DMC Biotechnologies, a leading U.S.-based biochemical company, launched his D-chiro-inositol. This new ingredient joins DMC’s growing portfolio of sustainable health actives, produced through fermentation, and now available for health-forward nutraceutical brands in the U.S.

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The German Cluster CLIB launched the new edition of the SME and Start-up Pitch Event in Düsseldorf

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CLIB, the Cluster industrielle Biotechnologie, is organizing an event for SMEs and start-ups. The Duesseldorf-headquartered cluster is inviting both SMEs and start-ups, as well as investors, industry experts, and consultants to apply for the fourth “SME & Start-up Pitch Event @ CLIB” on 3 September 2025 in Düsseldorf (in-person event).

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Brazil’s ERT Bioplastics creates compostables for US market using Luminy® PLA

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Thomas Philipon and Mr. Hong showcasing the Luminy PLA based noodle cups. Source: TotalEnergies Corbion

TotalEnergies Corbion, a global leader in PLA bioplastics, is strengthening regionally-produced compostable food serviceware availability in the United States through its ongoing partnership with Brazil-based Earth Renewable Technologies (ERT Bioplastics). By supplying its Luminy® PLA resin, a biobased and industrially compostable material, TotalEnergies Corbion enables ERT® to manufacture durable, high-quality food serviceware such as cutlery, cups, plates, and straws. These products are designed to meet the growing demand for sustainable, compostable packaging in the U.S. while also supporting supply chain flexibility through ERT’s® operations in Brazil.

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Evonik to reduce carbon footprint and plastic use with new paper bags for MetAMINO®

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Source: Evonik

Evonik has introduced a more environmentally friendly 25-kilogram paper bag for MetAMINO® (DL-methionine) by eliminating the plastic film layer. This change not only benefits customers with easier disposal options but also aligns with the EU’s new ‘Packaging & Packaging Waste Regulation’ (PPWR) aimed at enhancing recycling efforts.

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Avantium signed an offtake agreement with PLIXXENT for FDCA in insulation foams

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CEO Tom Van Aken and Her Majesty Queen Maxima. Source: Avantium

Avantium, a leading company in renewable and circular polymer materials, signed a conditional offtake agreement for five years with PLIXXENT, a leading producer of polyurethane systems. Under this offtake agreement, PLIXXENT will purchase FDCA (furandicarboxylic acid), produced in Avantium’s FDCA Flagship Plant, for the use in foams for insulation materials. 

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