26 October 202620 October 2026 From wood to chemicals: UPM inaugurates pioneering biorefinery in Germany The biorefinery converts lignocellulosic biomass, primarily wood from sustainably managed forests and sawmill residues, into biochemicals
Vom Holz zur Chemikalie: UPM weiht wegweisende Bioraffinerie in Deutschland ein Die Bioraffinerie wandelt lignozellulosehaltige Biomasse - vor allem Holz aus nachhaltig bewirtschafteten Wäldern und Sägewerksreststoffe - in Biochemikalien um
Dongsung Chemical and CJ Biomaterials Introduce First PHA-Based ECOVIVA® Hotmelt Adhesive Available in the US Market The new Adhesive is formulated with biomass content, including CJ Biomaterials’ proprietary amorphous PHA biopolymer, PHACT™ A1000P
Moeve and ENSO join forces to accelerate industrial decarbonization using biomass and renewable gases The initiative reflects a shared vision that decarbonization is a key driver of competitiveness, capable of generating savings and sustainable investment
23 October 202619 October 2026 Stargate Hydrogen Launches STARDUST®: Ceramic Electrode Technology That Lowers the Cost of Green Hydrogen Without the Use of Precious Metals Proprietary ceramic coating increases the stack efficiency to 48 kWh/kg on alkaline electrolysers with zero platinum-group metals, reducing the levelized cost of green hydrogen
Facing challenges in the incorporation of flax fibres into recycled post-consumer polypropylene matrices This study focuses on the mechanical properties of injection-moulded fibre-reinforced composites and on the analysis of the fibre-matrix interface
Kunststoffrezyklat trifft Flachsfaser: Neue HSB-Studie untersucht nachhaltige Verbundwerkstoffe Wie lassen sich rezyklierte Kunststoffe und Naturfasern zu leistungsfähigen Verbundwerkstoffen kombinieren? Dieser Frage ist ein Forschungsteam der Hochschule Bremen (HSB) und des Fraunhofer-Instituts UMSICHT nachgegangen
Cotierra Secures New $3M To Advance Biochar Towards Commercial Scale Headquartered in Switzerland, Cotierra specializes in decentralized biochar systems for agricultural value chains, helping agricultural businesses transition towards sustainable farming
Moisture is no match for water-responsive biomaterials Researchers have been developing new biomaterials that withstand humidity and moisture, this means they alter their properties when moist and, in some cases, get stronger
22 October 202616 October 2026 traceless + Biesterfeld: Natural-Polymer Compounds for Injection Molding Biesterfeld will showcase several material grades at Fakuma 2026, based on natural polymers derived from plant-based residues from the agricultural industry
traceless + Biesterfeld: Naturpolymer-Werkstoffe für den Spritzguss Am FAKUMA-Messestand von Biesterfeld werden verschiedene Werkstoffe präsentiert, die aus pflanzlichen Reststoffen der Agrarindustrie gewonnen werden
Can Sustainability Criteria Unlock Biomass Demand? CEFIC, the European Chemical Industry Council, is urging the European Commission to establish an EU-wide sustainability framework for biomass used in products
Engineering defects in metal-organic frameworks boosts conversion of biomass sugars into lactic acid A salicylic acid modified nickel MOF creates oxygen vacancies and exposed metal sites, enabling efficient aqueous production of lactic acid from glucose and raw biomass
Rohstoffwende in der Chemie: Ex-Covestro Vorstand Dr. Klaus Schäfer steigt operativ bei Cyclize ein Schäfer übernimmt damit die direkte Verantwortung für die Integration der Technologie in europäische Chemieparks, seine Funktion als Beiratsvorsitzender behält er bei
Raw Material Transition in the Chemical Industry: Former Covestro Executive Dr. Klaus Schäfer joins Cyclize in an Operational Role Schäfer will now assume direct responsibility for integrating the technology into European chemical parks, and he will retain his role as Chairman of the Advisory Board
21 October 202615 October 2026 The Ministry of the Environment Selects Two Demonstration Projects for Plastic Resource Circulation: Bioethanol-Derived Feedstock and Closed-Loop Recycling of Electrical Materials This program is designed to resolve technical challenges and carry out the demonstrations needed for commercialization, such as developing alternative materials to fossil-derived resources and advancing recycling technologies and systems for used fossil-derived resources
Danquinsa: Wood-plastic compounds made from recycled PP with 35 to 45 percent wood content All kind of plastic components can be alternatively made from wood-plastic compounds, based on post-industrial recycled polypropylene (PIR-PP) and residual materials from the wood-processing industry
Danquinsa: Holz-Kunststoff-Compounds aus Recycling-PP mit 35 bis 45 Prozent Holzanteil Jegliche Kunststoffbauteile lassen sich jetzt alternativ als Holz-Polymer-Compounds auf Basis von postindustriell recyceltem Polypropylen und Reststoffen aus der holzverarbeitenden Industrie herstellen
Lignin-Derived Quantum Dots Supercharge a Common Photocatalyst to Turn CO2 Into Fuel What if the carbon dioxide, responsible for warming the planet, could be captured and chemically transformed into usable fuel using nothing more than sunlight and a carefully engineered material?
University of Florida Selects Myno Carbon for Innovative Sargassum-to-Biochar Water Quality Research Collaboration with University of Florida researchers explores a holistic solution that transforms problematic coastal biomass into beneficial, enhanced biochar for water treatment
20 October 202614 October 2026 Green hydrogen from seawater – Electrolysis with Untreated Seawater: Fraunhofer Tests Materials and Membranes In the joint research project SeaEly, Fraunhofer Institute IWES and the Fraunhofer Institute IFAM investigated the direct electrolysis of seawater and brackish water to produce hydrogen and oxygen as part of the Hydrogen Republic of Germany ideas competition
Grüner Wasserstoff aus Meerwasser – Ungereinigtes Meerwasser im Elektrolyseur: Fraunhofer testet Materialien und Membranen Das vom Fraunhofer IWES koordinierte Verbundprojekt SeaEly untersuchte als Teil des Ideenwettbewerbs »Wasserstoffrepublik Deutschland« die direkte Elektrolyse von Meer- und Brackwasser zur Erzeugung von Wasserstoff und Sauerstoff
Northern Netherlands builds momentum towards industrial-scale green chemistry Newly opened facilities, construction projects and emerging technologies demonstrate the region’s ambition to develop green and circular chemical value chains
ECOncrete and Submar Partner to bring Bio-Enhancing Protection to Gulf Coast and Offshore Infastructure New strategic partnership combines ECOncrete's patented technology with Submar's proven articulated concrete mats to protect coastlines, pipelines, and offshore assets while supporting marine habitat
Plastiksteuer: Was ändert sich? Die Koalition aus CDU/CSU und SPD plant eine neue bundesweite Abgabe auf Kunststoffverpackungen. Was bedeutet das für Verbraucher*innen?
A New ‘Super Ice’ Is 10 Times Stronger, Bringing It Close to The Strength of Concrete Researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel have extended that idea from the 1940s British Royal Navy to create what they're calling BioPykrete
19 October 202613 October 2026 Bioplastics in the Life and Working Environment of Tomorrow The TouchTomorrow-Truck of the Dr. Hans Riegel Foundation travels to schools throughout Germany and presents topics from mathematics, computer science, natural sciences and technology
Biokunststoffe in der Lebens- und Arbeitswelt von morgen Der TouchTomorrow-Truck der Dr. Hans Riegel-Stiftung ist in ganz Deutschland an Schulen im Einsatz und vermittelt Themen aus Mathematik, Informatik, Naturwissenschaft und Technik
Researchers Use Eggshells (Yes, Eggshells) to Make Stronger, Lighter Metal Alloys A $3.5 million USDA Research Facilities Act award will help NC State establish a first-of-its-kind, fully integrated poultry layer and egg processing research, training and innovation facility
Forscher nutzen Eierschalen (ja, Eierschalen), um festere und leichtere Metalllegierungen herzustellen „Diese Arbeit zeigt, dass man hochwertige Magnesiumlegierungen unter Verwendung eines kostengünstigen, nachhaltigen, biogenen Abfallmaterials herstellen kann“
Fulgar, Oroblù and Lycra launch bio-based tights The tights combine Fulgar's Q-GEO bio-based polyamide with Renewable Lycra EcoMade Fiber, delivering softness, moisture management, durability and fit while lowering dependence on fossil-based raw materials
16 October 202613 October 2026 Avantium Completes Spin-out of Parana Technology into Parana Materials Avantium's strategy is to focus resources and investments on its core FDCA and PEF business while enabling other promising technologies in its portfolio to pursue independent growth and commercialization pathways
Avantium: Ausgliederung der Parana-Polyestertechnologie in eine eigenständige Gesellschaft Avantium bleibt als Minderheitsgesellschafter beteiligt und richtet seine Investitionen stärker auf die Herstellung von 2,5-Furandicarbonsäure (FDCA) und Polyethylenfuranoat (PEF) aus
Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2026: They made chemistry choose a mirror image Henri B. Kagan and Kenso Soai are awarded in equal parts the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2026 for discovering how chemical asymmetry such as this could emerge
Chemie-Nobelpreis 2026: Wie Moleküle eine Seite wählen Die Forschung der beiden Preisträger zeigt, wie aus einem kleinen Ungleichgewicht zwischen zwei spiegelbildlichen Molekülformen ein nahezu reines Produkt entstehen kann
Analytics for Material Development: XPS reveals the surface chemistry of bio-based hybrid materials Using XPS, Fraunhofer IAP supports companies and research partners in gaining a targeted understanding of the complex surface chemistry of bio-based materials and identifying the causes of differences in performance
Analytik für die Materialentwicklung: XPS macht die Oberflächenchemie biobasierter Hybridmaterialien sichtbar Mithilfe von XPS unterstützt das Fraunhofer IAP Unternehmen und Forschungspartner dabei, die komplexe Oberflächenchemie biobasierter Materialien gezielt zu verstehen und die Ursachen für Leistungsunterschiede zu identifizieren
15 October 20269 October 2026 Grand Opening of the Anaerobic Wastewater Treatment Plant New anaerobic wastewater treatment plant strengthens sustainable infrastructure at the Leuna Chemical Site
Feierliche Eröffnung anaerobe Abwasserbehandlungsanlage Neue anaerobe Abwasserbehandlungsanlage stärkt nachhaltige Infrastruktur am Chemiestandort Leuna
Sustainable Innovations joins BIOSPARK, a new EU project to build the skills for a circular bioeconomy The project consortium will develop a network of 27 Bio-Based Education Centres (BBECs), one in every EU member state, and will narrow the gap between Europe’s education systems, paying particular attention to countries with less research and innovation capacity
How the EU could finally give bio-based plastics a fair chance As the EU weighs binding targets for bio-based content in plastics, MEP Jeannette Baljeu and Braskem’s Katarina Molin discuss how policymakers can create real market incentives for investment without compromising credible sustainability standards
Lignin als Kernmaterial in Stoßfängern Interview mit Dr. Steffen Sydow (Fraunhofer-Institut für Holzforschung, Wilhelm-Klauditz-Institut (WKI)) zum Projekt Ligninschaum
India Needs A New Biomanufacturing Model To Lead The Bioeconomy India’s bioeconomy ambitions will depend not just on manufacturing at scale, but on building domestic control over the biological platforms and technologies that power production
14 October 20268 October 2026 Novonesis to build next generation enzyme production facility in India The company will invest €600 million to expand its site in Patalganga and build a state-of-the-art facility. This marks another step in Novonesis’ long-term growth strategy and continued investment in its global production footprint to meet increasing demand
CO₂-Fußabdruck von Papiertragetaschen erstmals erhoben Einzelhändler und Markenunternehmen erhalten mit der Ermittlung eines fossilen CO₂-Fußabdrucks eine verlässliche Grundlage für fundierte Verpackungsentscheidungen
Fact sheet: Carbon footprint of paper carrier bags quantified for the first time Reliable carbon footprint data help businesses, policymakers and consumers understand where greenhouse gas emissions occur and provides a credible basis for informed decisions about products and packaging
13 October 20269 October 2026 Verbio starts industrial production of renewable chemicals Nearly EUR 100 million invested / 50 new jobs created at the Bitterfeld-Wolfen site / Annual production capacity of up to 60,000 tonnes of bio-based chemicals
Verbio startet industrielle Produktion erneuerbarer Chemikalien Knapp 100 Millionen Euro investiert / 50 neue Arbeitsplätze im Chemiepark Bitterfeld-Wolfen / Produktionskapazität von bis zu 60.000 Tonnen biobasierter Chemikalien pro Jahr
Using Enzymes instead of the Landfill: How Biological Processes Can Help with Recycling Researchers from the University of Greifswald are investigating how biochemical procedures may help to break plastics down into their individual chemical building blocks and make them available for a new product cycle