Picture from the plant in Ludwigsfelde, Brandenburg. (Picture: SunCoal Industries)
UPM Biochemicals acquired SunCoal Industries GmbH, a German-based company that developed a unique technology portfolio to produce performance products from renewable raw materials. With this acquisition SunCoal Industries’ technology will be integrated into the production of UPM’s BioMotionTM Renewable Functional Fillers (RFF), one of the products to be produced at UPM Biochemical’s first-of-its kind biorefinery in Leuna and strengthen the overall technology portfolio of UPM’s biorefining businesses.
Global Bioenergies, a France-headquartered specialist in the conversion of plant-derived resources into chemical compounds used in many cutting-edge fields such as cosmetics and energy, has raised its industrial ambitions and decided to adjust its roadmap to focus as of now on a plant project with greater production capacity than the ViaViridia plant in order to meet the expectations of its industrial, commercial and financial partners.
Origin Materials, California-headquartered carbon negative materials company with a mission to enable the world’s transition to sustainable materials, began startup of Origin 1, the world’s first commercial CMF plant, located in Sarnia, Ontario, in-line with prior guidance.
Tony Duncan, CEO of Circa Group, at IFIB 2018 in Turin
Circa Group AS has applied for patents for two new solvents for CO2 capture processes. As both the interest and the urgency to capture and transform carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions increases, Circa has developed two new CO2 solvents from its platform molecule, levoglucosenone (LGO).
UPM Biochemicals and URSA, one of the leading producers of glass wool and mineral wool in Europe, joined forces to develop more environmentally friendly building insulation that will help to reduce energy consumption and lower CO2 emissions. URSA will produce sustainable glass wool made from an innovative, binder based on UPM BioPiva™ lignin. It will be one of the most natural insulation material available on the market.
Versalis, Eni’s chemical company and 36% shareholder of Novamont, and Mater-Bi, a company controlled by Investitori Associati II and NB Renaissance, shareholder of Novamont’s remaining 64%, announce exclusive negotiations to finalise the acquisition by Versalis of Novamont’s entire share package.
UPM and Dongsung Chemical announce a development partnership that will accelerate the introduction of renewable, sustainable forest-sourced materials into the Asian market and reduce fossil resource consumption.
Mathieu Flamini, CEO GFBiochemicals. He played as a midfielder for Olympique de Marseille, Arsenal FC, AC Milan, Crystal Palace FC and Getafe Club de Fútbol. Picture: courtesy of Flamini
I met Mathieu Flamini in Milano during the Design Week. Milano is vibrant again after the dark years of the pandemic. AC Milan won the championship, eleven years after the last success of which Mathieu was one of the architects. We do not talk about football, also because I cheer for the other team based in Milano. I am totally black and blue and I can’t share his joy for the AC Milan’s Scudetto. We talk about the bioeconomy, starting from his new role as CEO of GFBiochemicals, which he is enthusiastic about. Mathieu is a friend, so I immediately declare that this is a somewhat unusual interview. With Mathieu we talk about the need to accelerate on the path of the paradigm shift that leads us from fossils to the use of renewable biological sources, the importance of communicating the damages produced by industrial activity on the environment in order to promote sustainable solutions, the role of the sport’s world in a campaign that highlights the contradictions of a development model based on profit at all costs and the waste of resources.
The US bioeconomy takes a step forward. Genomatica, Cargill, HELM and Qore completed a groundbreaking ceremony in Eddyville, Iowa, to celebrate the construction of the first, bio-1,4-butanediol (BDO) facility to be built in the U.S. and the second bio BDO commercial scale plantfor Geno. It’s a major milestone for biotech to supply more sustainable materials to meet surging consumer demand, while advancing manufacturing right in America’s heartland.
Tony Duncan, CEO of Circa Group, at IFIB 2018 in Turin
Circa and Valmet have signed a Heads of Agreement to realise and optimise the Furacell™ production process at scale through the ReSolute project and future large-scale plants. Valmet will be the main process technology and equipment supplier, and actively contribute to accelerating the development of Circa’s large-scale production plants. The cooperation considerably strengthens Circa’s ability to build and deliver its plan to become a large-scale producer of sustainable biochemicals.
IL BIOECONOMISTA 