biomaterials – IL BIOECONOMISTA

Stora Enso and Czech Pavillion partner at World Expo in Osaka

14 April 202513 April 2025Il BioeconomistaLeave a comment

The World Expo serves as a global platform that unites people and innovations from around the world to tackle challenges facing humanity on an international scale. This year the event that welcomes tens of millions of visitors takes place in Osaka, Japan, and hosts a partnership between Stora Enso and the Czech National Pavilion. Over 800 m³ of Sylva™ CLT elements are being used for the ground-breaking PEFC-certified wood structure of the pavilion with a glazed façade aimed to inspire the world with its innovative use of materials.

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Mogu raises €11 million in series A funding round supporting further industrialisation of its mycelium-based technologies

10 January 20249 January 2024Il BioeconomistaLeave a comment

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Mogu Srl, Italy-headquartered company which transforms low-value materials and residues from agro-industry into functional and high-value products, has successfully secured the backing of CDP Venture Capital, European Circular Bioeconomy Fund (ECBF VC), Kering Ventures, and Progress Tech Transfer, as part of a € 11 million series A funding round, who have taken equity stakes to allow for further industrial scaling of the company’s technologies behind their key verticals and brands, EPHEATM and MOGU.

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Stora Enso takes a step forward in renewable bio-based packaging

15 June 202314 June 2023Il BioeconomistaLeave a comment

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The future of packaging is circular and to be achieved with solutions that are net positive for both climate and biodiversity. This future is already taking shape in Oulu, a city in northern Finland, where the foundation stone for Stora Enso’s new board line was laid on 30 May.

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UPM Specialty Papers and Fiorini Packaging joined forces to create a bio-based sack suitable for pet food applications

11 May 2023Il BioeconomistaLeave a comment

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Working in partnership with Fiorini Packaging, the specialist manufacturer of industrial paper sacks, UPM Specialty Papers has co-created a sustainable, fibre-based sack suitable for pet food applications of up to 20 kg. Already available to order from Fiorini, a sample of the new sack was showcased on the UPM Specialty Papers stand at Interpack 2023.

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Stora Enso has received regulatory approval from the EU Commission to proceed with the acquisition of De Jong Packaging Group

8 December 20227 December 2022Il BioeconomistaLeave a comment

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Stora Enso has received regulatory approval from the EU Commission to proceed with the acquisition of De Jong Packaging Group, announced in September 2022. Closure of the transaction is still ongoing and expected to be finalised at the beginning of 2023. The Nordic company acquires De Jong Packaging Group, based in the Netherlands, for an enterprise value of approximately EUR 1,020 million. This acquisition will advance Stora Enso’s strategic direction, accelerate revenue growth and build market share in renewable packaging in Europe. De Jong Packaging Group is one of the largest corrugated packaging producers in the Benelux countries. Its product portfolio and geographic presence will complement and enhance Stora Enso’s offering, especially in fresh produce, e-commerce and industrial packaging.

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Mogu launched the new biomaterial EPHEA, as part of Balenciaga’s Winter 2022 runway show

11 March 202210 March 2022Il BioeconomistaLeave a comment

EBB179D2-BFE4-443A-A72A-DC47DB5FC392 — Courtesy of Balenciaga

Mogu Srl, the Italian material innovation company that commercializes bio-fabricated and circular products for interior architecture and green building, launched EPHEA™️. The market launch took place last Sunday as part of Balenciaga’s Winter 2022 runway show, at Paris Fashion Week, during which the brand presented an unprecedented floor-length coat realised with EPHEA™️.

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An interview with Stefano Babbini, CEO of the Italian SME Mogu

24 May 202124 May 2021Il BioeconomistaLeave a comment

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“I believe that EC and the Member States should really work with the aim of promoting such innovative and sustainable products, sustaining the market entry phase, especially in those market segments characterized by low margins and hard competition (such as building and textile sectors).” To say it – in this interview with Il Bioeconomista – is Stefano Babbini, co-founder and CEO of Mogu, an Italy-based SME which is exploring the potential of mycelium-based technologies in several application sectors. He talks with us about the company’s main business, the bioeconomy at European level and the BBI JU demo project Grace, where the Italian company is applying its technology to the hemp and miscanthus value chains.

Interview by Mario Bonaccorso

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Ford and McDonald’s joined forces to give vehicles a caffeine boost

1 March 202128 February 2021Il BioeconomistaLeave a comment

Ford Motor Company and McDonald’s USA joined forces to give vehicles a caffeine boost by using part of a familiar staple in the morning routine, coffee beans, in vehicle parts such as headlamp housing. Every year, millions of pounds of coffee chaff – the dried skin of the bean – naturally comes off during the roasting process. Together, Ford and McDonald’s can provide an innovative new home to a significant portion of that material. The companies found that chaff can be converted into a durable material to reinforce certain vehicle parts. By heating the chaff to high temperatures under low oxygen, mixing it with plastic and other additives and turning it into pellets, the material can be formed into various shapes.

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Stora Enso and Cordenka joined forces to develop precursor for bio-based carbon fiber

23 July 202023 July 2020Il BioeconomistaLeave a comment

Markus Mannström. Courtesy of Stora Enso

Stora Enso and Cordenka, the leading producer of premium quality industrial rayon based in Germany, are developing precursors for bio-based carbon fiber, both driven by the need for high performance carbon fiber in transportation, construction and power generation.
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Sekab and Vertoro to build large-scale demo plant to produce a new platform for sustainable fuels, chemicals, and materials

16 March 202012 March 2020Il BioeconomistaLeave a comment

A new demo plant in Örnsköldsvik will be the first in the world to produce a 2G platform for sustainable fuels, chemicals and materials, coined GOLDILOCKS®, from pulp and paper industry residues. The plant will be built by the Swedish chemical and clean tech company Sekab together with the Dutch oil company Vertoro.