Company initiatives

The November 3 USA midterm elections will give Democrats control of both chambers of Congress beginning in January 2027. As of November 4, Democrats had secured at least 54 Senate seats, including two independents who caucus with them, and a majority in the House, with several races still uncalled. Democrats also gained governorships in major…

BASF has completed the expansion of its alkyl polyglucosides (APG) production capacity at its Cincinnati, Ohio, facility, strengthening its position in the North American renewable surfactants market. The expansion was originally unveiled in 2023 and is expected to improve regional supply of bio-based, readily biodegradable surfactants used in household and industrial cleaning, personal care, and…

Every few years, the bio-based chemicals sector seems to produce a fresh “valley of death” peaks. The pattern maintains with companies with promising technologies, patient capital that eventually becomes impatient, difficult first plants, slow customer adoption, and then the inevitable round of exits, sales, shutdowns, bankruptcies and restructurings. This slide is part of a presentation…

Qore, a joint venture between Cargill and HELM, has officially commenced commercial-scale production of bio-derived 1,4‑butanediol (BDO), branded as QIRA®, at its new Eddyville, Iowa facility. The plant cost $300 million and has an annual capacity of 66,000 metric tons, sourcing dent corn grown within a 100-mile radius. This marks a significant entry into the…