DSM, Sabic and UPM Biofuels partner for a transition to renewable resources

Headquarter of Royal DSM in Heerlen (The Netherlands)

Royal DSM, a global science-based company in Nutrition, Health and Sustainable Living, Sabic, a global leader in the chemical industry, and UPM Biofuels, a leading producer of sustainable raw materials, signed a partnership that will help to reduce the environmental footprint of Dyneema®, the world’s strongest fiber. The collaboration will see Dyneema® transition to bio-based feedstock leveraging SABIC’s ground-breaking TRUCIRCLETM solutions for certified renewable products. As such, DSM is delivering on its commitment to improve the sustainability footprint of Dyneema®, moving towards a circular, bio-based economy.

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Nouryon and INEOS joined forces to produce raw materials for biodegradable chelates

Nouryon and INEOS Nitriles have broken ground on new facilities to be built at INEOS’ Köln site in Germany. The units will produce raw materials for Nouryon’s high-quality, readily biodegradable chelates, used in detergents and other industries. The plants are due to be completed in 2021-2022.

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

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)

A new JRC report illustrates the work in building a database of EU facilities producing bioproducts

The EU bio-based industry is quickly evolving but clear data on the development of this emerging sector are still missing. A new JRC report illustrates the work of the JRC in building an extensive database of EU facilities producing different categories of bio-based products:

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

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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Unilever switches Ingman ice cream to fully renewable packaging material from Stora Enso

Supporting the company’s environmental targets, Unilever Finland is introducing Ingman ice cream in a newly designed 1 litre carton made of Stora Enso’s fully renewable and recyclable packaging board in early March.

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Comet Bio selected by AB InBev to join its 100+ Accelerator to pilot technology on brewers’ grain

Comet Bio, a Canadian manufacturer of award-winning healthy and sustainable ingredients, has been selected by Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev), the world’s largest brewer, to join its 100+ Accelerator to pilot technology on brewers’ grain. Through the 100+ Accelerator, AB InBev partners with companies who can deliver breakthrough advancements in sustainability.  The 100+ Accelerator builds off of AB InBev’s 2025 Sustainability Goals, with six challenges around smart agriculture, water stewardship, circular economy and climate action.

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

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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Japanese company Toray is going to start mass production of biopolyester jointly with Virent

Image by MAKY OREL on Pixabay

Japanese materials maker Toray Industries is going to start mass production of polyester made entirely from plants, a breakthrough poised to cut reliance on petroleum and slash carbon emissions, Nikkei has learned. Toray developed what is being described as the world’s first 100% plant-based polyester jointly with Virent, a U.S. biofuels company. Production is set to begin in the early part of this decade, people familiar with the matter said.

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Towell Engineering Group and GF Biochemicals set up the Joint Venture NxtLevvel Biochem

Oman-based Towell Engineering Group and GF Biochemicals set up a joint venture (JV) for the production and marketing of biochemicals using GF Biochemicals proprietary technology.
The aim of the JV, whose name is NextLevvel Biochem, is to build a leading position in bio-solvents and bio-plasticizers based on levulinic acid. Levulinic acid is considered a key bio-based building block enabling a wide portfolio of derivatives.

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