Alder Bioinsights News Review: Biobased Products Issue 153, December 2024
Caroline Randall
Marketing Manager
Foreword
The Joint Research Centre of EU Commission has recently published ‘Trends in the Bioeconomy’ which provides insights into the progress towards a sustainable bioeconomy and the state of national and regional strategies in EU Member States. This was made possible by the EU Bioeconomy Monitoring System (EU-BMS) which tracks progress towards multiple objectives, including food security, sustainable management of resources as well as mitigating use of non-renewable resources. EU-BMS is managed and further developed by the Knowledge Centre for Bioeconomy (KCB).
The report indicates the importance of biobased plastics and underlines that these are addressed in all the national bioeconomy strategies examined. Furthermore, it points out that biobased plastics are included in the sectors with the highest increase in Gross Value Added (GVA), experiencing a positive change of 6% within the last decade. Lastly, the policy section of the report argues that the ‘EU policy framework on biobased, biodegradable and compostable plastics’ calls on fresh policy initiatives that take a more systemic perspective.
Stories relating to the commercial development of biobased plastics include a multi-year collaboration fostered between the Dutch Avantium N.V. and Thai SCG Chemicals to pilot the production of Polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA), a biodegradable, recyclable polyester. The partnership aims to accelerate the adoption of Avantium’s innovative technologies in Southeast Asia, fostering the growth of sustainable materials and contributing to a circular economy…
Other News this Month Includes:
Policy
- Hemp licence burdens to be cut back to help grow UK economy
- Why bio-based chemicals and materials face a higher entry to market bar than fossil incumbents – and why they deserve the effort
- More…
Markets
- Avantium and SCGC advance the development of PLGA polyester
- Neste and PCS to bring renewable solutions to Southeast Asia’s chemicals industry
- More…
Research & Development
- Are biobased microfibers less harmful than conventional plastic microfibers: evidence from earthworms
- Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant successfully commissions a 75,000L fermenter, demonstrating Vivici’s Vivitein™ BLG technology in industrial-scale precision fermentation
- More…
Polymers
- DOE grant supports Bridgestone innovation for non-fossil-based synthetic rubber
- Launch of higher biomass content grades of biomass-based polycarbonatediol “BENEBiOL”
- More…
Chemicals
- First tanker shipment of green chemicals from Scotland’s first biorefinery
- Toyota Tsusho partners with Integrity Biochem to distribute new sustainable bio-based surfactants in key Asian markets
- Mitsui Chemical develops new bio-based building materials
Consumer Products
- 2M Sustainable Packaging Technologies wins Innovate UK Smart Grant
- Union partners with Envalior to deliver sustainable snowboard binding made of Durethan® blue
- Archroma claims bio-based printing first
Patents
- Bio-Based innovation and the global patent system: exploring the WIPO treaty on intellectual property, genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge
