We looked at the images broadcast on television from Wuhan as if they came from another planet. Until February 21, with the first case of contagion in Italy, the coronavirus seemed something that could not concern us. Then everything changes from February 23. Suddenly we plunged in fear, sometimes in panic, but above all we realized in one fell swoop that the human being is part of nature, even if at some point of the evolutionary history it seemed to break away from it to dominate it and break the balance on which it is based. The coronavirus and the disease that derives from it, called covid19, puts us again and dramatic ally in front of the limits of nature, our limits and our role on earth. It puts us in all its urgency in front of the issue of our development model, the interdependence of the globalized world, the solidarity between people and between countries, between North and South of the world.
The European Commission adopted a new circular economy action plan
The European Commission has adopted a new Circular Economy Action Plan – one of the main blocks of the European Green Deal, Europe’s new agenda for sustainable growth.
The new Action Plan announces initiatives along the entire life cycle of products, targeting for example their design, promoting circular economy processes, fostering sustainable consumption, and aiming to ensure that the resources used are kept in the EU economy for as long as possible.
DSM, Sabic and UPM Biofuels partner for a transition to renewable resources
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.
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.
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:
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.
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.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.
Metsä Spring and Valmet initiated a joint project for a novel wood-based 3D product
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.
IL BIOECONOMISTA 