An exclusive interview with Nick Smith, Head of Development and Commercialisation at Circa Group

DE48A3EA-8652-450E-94A0-3C008E3D1FE9

“When we consider that nearly all of the materials and products in society today are essentially 100% based on petrochemicals and that the chemical sector is responsible for 10% of global carbon emissions, half of that from the fossil-based feedstock used to produce the chemicals, we see that the world is not only dependent on petroleum but also on petrochemicals. To transition to a lower carbon economy, we need renewable chemicals just as much as renewable energy.” Nick Smith, Head of Development Commercialisation at Circa Group, talks to Il Bioeconomista. In this exclusive interview, he talks about the ReSolute plant in Eastern France, the new partnerships and the next steps of the Australian company and the role of the bioeconomy to make industries more sustainable.

Interview by Mario Bonaccorso

Continue reading

Circa Group’s FC5 commercial demonstration plant is now online

Tony Duncan, CEO of Circa Group, at IFIB 2018 in Turin

Australian biotech company Circa Group’s FC5 commercial demonstration plant is now online, paving the way to a regular supply of Circa’s bio-based solvent Cyrene. A joint venture between Circa and Norwegian pulp and paper company Norske Skog, the FC5 plant is located in Tasmania, Australia. Now successfully commissioned and operated end-to-end, FC5 is starting to produce a steady stream of 99% pure Cyrene, a non-toxic solvent made from certified and renewable cellulose waste.

Continue reading