Company initiatives
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Lignin Challenge 1.0 in Canada
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FYI for Canadian researchers, institutions, companies or other organizations who are seeking funding! Alberta Innovates invites proposals for funding under Lignin Challenge 1.0, a sub-program of Alberta Bio Future (ABF). The group is offering this funding in partnership with West Fraser, an integrated forest products company. Lignin Challenge 1.0, which was launched this month, aims to supports…
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Stora Enso launches lignin-based phenol
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I’ve received several announcements about developments of several lignin-based chemicals and I will report this trend (and the lignin market if I get more information) on next month’s Tecnon OrbiChem Biomaterials newsletter. Lignin makes of 20-30% of the composition of wood but has traditionally been discarded by the pulp and paper industries. Stora Enso, a pulp…
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VIDEO: Synthetic biology in the fashion industry
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My special report on Tecnon OrbiChem’s Biomaterials newsletter this month is all about biofabrication focusing on the fashion industry. Companies that I’ve mentioned in this report include Modern Meadow, Bolt Threads, Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Mango Materials, Orange Fiber, among others. The textiles industry, according to a report from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, relies mostly on…
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Veramaris’s construction of algal-based omega-3 fatty acids facility starts
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I find the animal nutrition, aquaculture and animal feed markets all very interesting areas of growth for renewable chemicals especially for organic acids. DSM and Evonik’s new joint venture, Veramaris V.O.F., aims to produce omega-3 fatty acids from natural marine algae for animal nutrition. DSM and Evonik announced their intention to start this joint venture in…
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Genomatica, Aquafil in bio-nylon collaboration
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Genomatica and Italy-based polyamide producer Aquafil announced yesterday their collaboration in the development of sugar-based caprolactam, a key raw material in the production of polyamide 6, using Genomatica’s bioprocess GENO CPL. According to the press release, caprolactam has a worldwide market of over 5m tons/year. Of course, I will report more about the current market…
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European plastics industry sets sustainable targets
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The trade organization, PlasticsEurope recently published its 2030 Voluntary Commitment, which contains a set of ambitious targets and initiatives by the European plastics industry towards a more sustainable economic solution. This commitment focuses on (1) increasing re-use and recycling, (2) preventing plastics leakage into the environment, and (3) accelerating resource efficiency. For the recycling targets,…
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AkzoNobel opens Imagine Chemistry 2018 challenge
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AkzoNobel’s Imagine Chemistry challenge is now open as an opportunity for startup and scale-up firms and researchers to solve real industry challenges and create sustainable business opportunities in chemistry. The overall winners will be awarded joint development agreements with AkzoNobel to help bring their ideas to market. The 2018 edition calls for solutions within the…