Today is the International Day of Forests, which promotes education to learn to love forests. Europe – as a global leader on climate action – is working to make forests a priority for the bio-economy and water policies. Over 50 cities from six continents are coalescing around a new initiative called Cities4Forests that connects citizens and decision-makers with inner, nearby and faraway forests around the world to help end deforestation and advocate for a stronger role of forests and nature.
Brazilian company GranBio completed the acquisition of 100% equity in American Process Inc. and affiliate companies including AVAPCO LLC and API Intellectual Properties Holdings. The acquired assets include the Alpena Biorefinery in Alpena Michigan, the Thomaston Biorefinery and R&D center in Thomaston, Georgia, operations, research, and business development staff and an extensive intellectual property portfolio in the biorefinery, biofuels, biochemicals, and nanocellulose fields with over 200 granted and pending patents. Continue reading
“Roquette is taking a holistic approach of bioeconomy by integrating various applications of plant-based resources and in particular those serving Nutrition and Health markets.” Christophe Rupp-Dahlem, Head of Global Public Affairs at Roquette, talks to Il Bioeconomista. In this exclusive interview he tells us what are Roquette’s main achievements in the bioeconomy and what the next steps.
Interview by Mario Bonaccorso
Sweden has an ambitious target of being fossil-free by 2045. As a part of the initiative, a proposal for decarbonizing aviation in Sweden was announced ten days ago. The proposal suggests that Sweden would introduce a greenhouse gas reduction mandate for aviation fuel sold in Sweden. The reduction level would be 0.8% in 2021, and gradually increase to 27% in 2030. The reduction levels are estimated to be equivalent of 1% (11.000 tons) sustainable aviation fuel in 2021, 5% (56.000 tons) in 2025 and 30% (340 000 tons) in 2030. This makes Sweden an undisputed leader in decarbonizing aviation.
BP, Virent Inc. and Johnson Matthey (JM) signed an agreement that will further advance the commercialization of Virent’s Bioforming® process for production of bio-paraxylene (PX), a key raw material for the production of renewable polyester.
More and more women are protagonists of the bioeconomy. 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.
Royal DSM and Cargill established Avansya V.O.F. The 50:50 joint venture is a partnership between the two companies. Both parties announced their intention to establish this joint venture on 8 November 2018 subject to regulatory approvals. Avansya will produce zero-calorie, great-tasting sweeteners through fermentation and will be headquartered at the Biotech Campus Delft (Netherlands).
Royal Dutch Shell will join a consortium of world-leading companies comprising Air Liquide, Nouryon (formerly AkzoNobel Specialty Chemicals), Enerkem and the Port of Rotterdam as a partner in Europe’s first advanced waste-to-chemicals facility in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Shell will become an equal equity partner in the proposed commercial-scale waste-to-chemicals (W2C) project, which will be the first of its kind in Europe to make valuable chemicals and bio-fuels out of non-recyclable waste materials.
Nouryon (formerly AkzoNobel Specialty Chemicals) and Gasunie have agreed to supply green hydrogen to BioMCN for the production of renewable methanol from CO2. The companies say it marks the next step in the sustainability of processes in the industry.
U.S. sustainable technology company Anellotech and its joint development partners IFPEN and Axens have processed renewably-sourced aromatics made at Anellotech’s TCat- 8® pilot plant to successfully recover high-purity bio-based paraxylene – a key component for making 100% bio- based PET bottles a reality.
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