Company initiatives
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EU’s OPTISOCHEM bio-isobutene project forges ahead
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Although it is hard to keep track of the several EU government-funded bio-based chemicals projects these days, I do wonder how many of these projects were able to reach beyond the pilot and demo stages and achieved commercialization milestones? Anyway, France-based Global Bioenergies is among some of the public European start-up bio-based chemical companies that I…
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Amyris in cannabinoid deal with LAVVAN
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My special report this month on Tecnon OrbiChem’s Biomaterials newsletter is about the huge potential market for biotechnology-based cannabinoids (CBDs) not only for medical use but also in food and beverages, cosmetics and personal care, and even animal healthcare. The growing legislation of recreational cannabis in North America is spurring development collaboration announcements within the…
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Plant Based Products Council launched
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The Plant Based Products Council (PBPC) was launched by a group of organisations including companies such as Georgia, Pacific, Archer Daniels Midland and Cargill, working toward more sustainable and responsible consumer products and packaging through greater use of plant-based materials. The group will advocate for private sector programs and government policies to encourage use of…
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Clean technology, Environment, Government, Investments, Press Release, Regulation, studies and reportsCO2 emissions rose to historic highs in 2018
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Driven by higher energy demand in 2018, global energy-related CO2 emissions rose 1.7% to a historic high of 33.1 Gt CO2, according to a newly released report from the International Energy Agency (IEA) annual Global Energy & CO2 Status Report. It was the highest rate of growth since 2013, and 70% higher than the average…
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The changing landscape of bio-based succinic acid
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The bio-succinic acid market has significantly gone through a tumultuous change just in the past five years alone, from being the young, rising star of the bio-based chemical building blocks industry into a young adult looking for its rightful career path within the global chemicals space. Among the four initial companies that jump-start this market:…
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Nova Institute report: 2018 was a very good year for bio-based polymers
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Nova Institute released its latest Biopolymers Summary report for 2018 where Tecnon OrbiChem is a contributor. According to the report, the total 2018 biopolymers production volume reached 7.5 million tonnes – these are already 2% of the production volume of petrochemical polymers. The potential is much higher but is currently hampered by low oil prices and…
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NatureWorks plans 100% sustainable feedstock by 2020
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A new initiative at NatureWorks will ensure that by 2020, 100% of the agricultural feedstock for Ingeo™ biopolymers and Vercet™ performance chemicals will be certified by the International Sustainability & Carbon Certification System (ISCC) to the ISCC PLUS standard of best practices in agricultural production. NatureWorks currently has more than 40% of its agricultural feedstock certified. At full capacity,…
