
Avantium last Thursday inaugurated its plant-based MEG (mono-ethylene glycol) demonstration factory in Chemie Park Delfzijl, the Netherlands, bringing industry yet another solution to reduce the reliance on fossil resources. The opening ceremonies was hosted by Nienke Homan, regional minister of the province of Groningen, the Netherlands and Avantium CEO Tom van Aken. Avantium additionally announced the naming of this innovative technology to produce plant-based MEG: Ray Technology – A Bright Step to The Future.
Borealis, a leading provider of innovative polyolefin solutions headquartered in Vienna, and Teste, the world’s leading provider of renewable diesel, renewable jet fuel and an expert in delivering drop-in renewable chemical solutions, entered into strategic co-operation for the production of renewable polypropylene (PP). The co-operation will enable Borealis to start using Neste’s 100% renewable propane produced with Neste’s proprietary NEXBTL™ technology as renewable feedstock at its facilities in Kallo and Beringen, Belgium, starting end of 2019.
From new models of circular economy development to technological solutions for managing and protecting resources. Ecomondo opened its doors yesterday at Rimini Expo Centre to generate Italian Exhibition Group´s vast international platform aimed at favouring the growth of an innovative entrepreneurial ecosystem, the only one able to lead to building a more sustainable future.
According to Thomson Reuters, “corn farmers, ethanol producers, refinery representatives, energy traders and state and local officials from the Midwest all blasted away at the Trump administration’s proposed biofuels plan for next year during a public hearing on Wednesday hosted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).”
Ineos Olefins & Polymers Europe announced a range of Bio-Attributed Olefins and Polyolefins, based on renewable bio-based raw materials that do not compete with food production. Products will be supplied from the Ineos Koeln site, Germany, later this year. The company stated that bio-attribution measures the extent to which fossil fuel-derived feedstocks have been substituted by renewable or bio-feedstocks.

SABIC, a global leader in the chemical industry, launched a polycarbonate (PC) based on certified renewable feedstock – a first in the industry, providing SABIC and its direct and ultimate customers with a solution that has the potential to reduce both CO2 emissions and the use of fossil feedstock during production.
Nouryon has inaugurated a demonstration plant in Stenungsund, Sweden to showcase a revolutionary and more sustainable technology platform to produce ethylene amines and their derivatives. The technology, which is based on ethylene oxide (EO), allows for selective production of a wide range of end products, enabling Nouryon to expand its ethylene amine product offering.