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27 January 202626 January 2026

And the Winners are: CeraSleeve, ElementarHy und Primogene

Eine Expertenjury hat drei Start-ups zu Gewinnern des CHEManager Innovation Pitch 2025 gewählt.

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European biochemicals expand in Asia

Large European producers are opening capacity in Asia to dodge headwinds at home

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26 January 202623 January 2026

Renewable Carbon-based Materials Show Significant Lower CO2 Footprint Than Fossil Counterparts

The Renewable Carbon Initiative (RCI) published their latest report “Case Studies Based on Peer-reviewed Life Cycle Assessments – Carbon Footprints of Different Renewable Carbon-based Chemicals and Materials (Second, Extended Version)”. The report was conducted by the sustainability experts from nova-Institute

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Sappi introduces the market’s widest portfolio of heat-sealable papers for recyclable packaging

Sappi has expanded its range of functional packaging papers with a full set of heat-sealable solutions designed for converters, printers, and brand owners who want fibre-based alternatives to plastic

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23 January 202624 January 2026

Making CO2 valuable 

Novis GmbH creates added value from exhaust gases with a radically new approach. Unavoidable CO2 emissions can create added value for companies

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CO2 werthaltig machen

Mit einem radikal neuen Ansatz schafft die Novis GmbH Mehrwert aus Abgasen. Unvermeidbare CO2 Emissionen schaffen Mehrwerte für Unternehmen

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Europe could cut bio-waste by making food producers help to fund collection

The report, produced by the Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC) and Zero Waste Europe(ZWE), shows that the EU will struggle to meet its 2030 food waste and climate targets without a new way to pay for food waste prevention and collection, and proposes introducing Extended Producer Responsibility for Food Products (EPRFP

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Bio-naphtha, SAF economics drive interest in waste-carbon palm oil substitute as feedstock race intensifies: Lanzatech CEO

Efforts to decarbonize aviation cannot rely solely on sustainable aviation fuel, and balancing fuel and chemical production will be crucial to improving project economics and scaling low-carbon pathways

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Die trügerische Klimabilanz der Landwirte

Hat die deutsche Landwirtschaft ein Klimaproblem? Die Prognosen sagen: bis 2030 nicht

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22 January 202621 January 2026

A new sustainable raw material for chemistry

Plant residues instead of fossil fuels: A new way to produce important chemicals is being demonstrated in a current research project at the Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung

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Biomasse als nachhaltiger Rohstoff für Chemie

Pflanzenreste statt fossiler Brennstoffe: Ein neuer Weg zur Produktion wichtiger Chemikalien wird in einem aktuellen Forschungsprojekt des Max-Planck-Instituts für Kohlenforschung aufgezeigt

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Avantium Receives Triple ISO Certification

Achieving all three ISO certifications demonstrates Avantium’s strong commitment to operating responsibly

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Von Hanffasern bis Chitosan

Biomaterialien auf dem Vormarsch

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PLA-Fahrradhelm des Fraunhofer ICT ausgezeichnet

Die Veranstalter würdigen mit dem Preis laut eigener Darstellung herausragende Ergebnisse in Design, Fertigung und Marktwachstum

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21 January 202620 January 2026

Mars Materials Accepted into Shell GameChanger Program to Accelerate Alternative Acrylonitrile Pathway

The Shell GameChanger test program aims to validate bio-based sugar feedstock as an alternate raw material to CO2 for the MM's acrylonitrile pathway

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Kraig Biocraft Laboratories takes possession of third rearing center, completing core infrastructure upgrades for 2026 production scale-up

This newest facility represents the final major component of the Company’s multi-year production expansion strategy

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20 January 202619 January 2026

Avantium and Packamama Sign Capacity Reservation Agreement for Releaf® to Drive Sustainable Wine Packaging

By combining Avantium’s breakthrough material with Packamama’s expertise in innovative, lower emissions wine bottles, the partnership aims to accelerate the development of next-generation, low-carbon footprint packaging solutions for the wine industry

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World’s first dynamic green ammonia plant starts operations in Denmark

Topsoe, a global leader in carbon emission reduction technologies, and its partners Skovgaard Energy, a Danish developer of green energy assets, and Vestas, the global leader in wind energy solutions, have reached a major milestone in their partnership

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NATO promotes defence biotech

NATO invests in dual-use biotech as Europe rearms

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5 remarkable engineering innovations of 2025

From an autonomous drone system to wood that's stronger than steel and 6 times lighter

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Hanbat National University Researchers Reveal Smart Transparent Woods That Block UV and Save Energy

The transparent wood is not only promising for indoor illumination and a healthy lifestyle, but also protects privacy at night

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The 2025 bioeconomy review

The year’s biggest trends in biobased innovation, regulation, & investment

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19 January 20262 February 2026

Making Research Visible: The Poster Session at the AI Circular Economy Conference 2026

Call for posters is open until 22 February 2026

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Turning garden and crop waste into plastics

A new Junior Research Group aims to make bioplastics out of organic waste such as green waste, hay and algae. The Project is receiving 2.7 million euros from the BMFTR funding

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Gartenabfall und Ernterückstände in Kunststoff verwandeln

Eine neue Nachwuchsgruppe um die Chemikerin Melanie Walther entwickelt Bioplastik aus nachwachsenden Rohstoffen wie Grünschnitt, Heu und Algen. Das Ziel: Kunststoffe aus 100 Prozent organischen Abfällen herstellen. Das Projekt „EcoPBS“ erhält dafür eine Förderung des Bundesforschungsministeriums über 2,7 Millionen Euro

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16 January 202615 January 2026

Innovative Start-Ups Honored at the ISC3 Innovation Challenge 2025 – Power2Polymers from Germany wins top prize

After a close jury decision, Power2Polymers from Germany secured the ISC3 Innovation Challenge Award 2025, endowed with €15,000, for more sustainable and high-performance polymer products for specialty applications, enabling product carbon footprint reduction by 40%

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Innovative Jungunternehmen bei der ISC3 Innovation Challenge 2025 ausgezeichnet – Power2Polymers aus Deutschland gewinnt Hauptpreis

Nach einer engen Juryentscheidung sicherte sich Power2Polymers aus Deutschland den ISC3 Innovation Challenge Award 2025, dotiert mit 15.000 Euro, für nachhaltigere und leistungsstarke Polymerprodukte für Spezialanwendungen, die den Produkt-CO₂-Fußabdruck um bis zu 40 Prozent reduzieren können

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15 January 202612 January 2026

Microorganisms and viruses to accelerate the biodegradation of bioplastics

The project not only has a positive environmental impact but also great practical value for businesses and waste management plants

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Henkel Joins GIC to Drive Chemical Value Chain Transformation

New partnership connects chemical producers with downstream leader to deliver circular, low-emission solutions

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14 January 20268 January 2026

Toxin-to-treasure: Chonnam National University scientists use engineered enzyme to turn formaldehyde pollutant into high-value chemical

The study demonstrates engineered aldolase-catalyzed regioselective conversion of formaldehyde into L-glyceraldehyde

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Muoto punnet for fresh fruits, berries and vegetables

The new product is part of Metsä Spring's Muoto Uncoated Fibre Series, which includes uncoated fibre packaging

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Overshoot: Rückkehr zu 1,5°C erfordert netto-negative Emissionsziele 

Für klimapolitische Vorreiter wie die Europäische Union (EU) bedeutet dies, dass »Netto-Null« nicht mehr als Endpunkt, sondern nur als Übergangspunkt auf dem Weg zu netto-negati­ven THG-Emissionen betrachtet werden muss, begleitet von der Entwicklung neuer politischer Instrumente

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Overshoot: Returning to 1.5°C Requires Net-negative Emissions Targets 

For frontrunners such as the European Union (EU), this will require reframing “net-zero” as a transitional stage towards net-negative GHG emissions, and developing policy instruments that are able to deliver this

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13 January 202612 January 2026

Driving Sustainable Transformation Through Data: How Digital Twins and Data Spaces Reshape the Process Industry

Interview with Rosario Othen & Florian Pohlmeyer, RWTH Aachen University (ITA)

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PerPlacsBio Launched: Biodegradable Plastics Transform Agriculture and Forestry

University of Münster, Rottenburg University of Applied Forest Sciences and the nova-Institute launch PerPlacsBio project – Exploring bio-based and biodegradable plastics for agriculture and forestry

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PerPlacsBio gestartet: Biologisch abbaubare Kunststoffe revolutionieren Land- und Forstwirtschaft

Universität Münster, Hochschule Rottenburg und das nova-Institut starten PerPlacsBio: Bio-basierte und biologisch abbaubare Kunststoffe für Landwirtschaft und Forstwirtschaft im Fokus

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The world of natural biopolymers

AIMPLAS has been working for many years on the processing and functionalisation of natural polymers, using a wide range of technologies and different coatings

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UPM unlocks new bio-based markets as Leuna biorefinery produces its first commercial product

Consumer brands are interested in renewable materials that offer significant CO2saving potential

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UPM Biochemicals: Kommerzielle Produktion von Industrie-Zuckern in der Bioraffinerie Leuna gestartet – Einsatzmöglichkeiten in der Kunststoffindustrie 

Nach Angaben des Unternehmens besteht insbesondere bei Konsumgüterherstellern Interesse an Materialien mit deutlichem CO₂-Einsparpotenzial

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Why Thailand became Asia’s rising biobased star

We look at why biomanufacturing has flourished in Thailand and the investments that have put the Southeast Asian nation on the map

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£6.23 Million in Funding for Celtic Renewables from Scottish Government

Celtic Renewables will put the funding towards the planning and construction of a new £120 million industrial-scale biorefinery at Grangemouth

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12 January 20269 January 2026

The perfect plastic? Plant-based, fully saltwater degradable, zero microplastics

RIKEN-researchers in Japan report a new type of plastic made from plant cellulose, the world’s most abundant organic compound

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Der perfekte Kunststoff?

Auf Pflanzenbasis, vollständig in Salzwasser abbaubar, kein Mikroplastik

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Monthly News from the Renewable Carbon Initiative (RCI), December 2025

December Highlights: RCI is New Member of the Critical Chemicals Alliance, OK renewable Label, Upcoming Exciting Projects, New Partner Molecule Group (US), Upcoming 10th ECP

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Aviation Fuel Production from Tomato Residues: TU Graz Coordinates Visionary EU project

Residual biomass from tomato production is turned into climate-friendly aviation fuel. The aim of the EU ToFuel project is to develop a waste-free and CO₂-neutral biorefinery concept that produces sustainable and economically competitive aviation fuel

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Flugzeugtreibstoff aus Tomatenresten: TU Graz koordiniert visionäres EU-Projekt

Restbiomasse aus der Tomatenproduktion wird zu klimafreundlichem Flugkraftstoff: Ziel des EU-Projekts ToFuel ist ein abfallfreies und CO₂-neutrales Bioraffineriekonzept, bei dem nachhaltiger und wirtschaftlich konkurrenzfähiger Flugkraftstoff entsteht

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Mycelium-Based Biomaterials

Mycelium-based composites (MBCs) have emerged as a novel and disruptive class of biomaterials and mycelium transforms low-value organic byproducts into biodegradable, structurally robust materials with foam-like properties

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Circulose and Birla Cellulose Announce Partnership Agreement to Advance Circular Textiles

Circulose will supply pulp made with 100% recycled textile waste to Birla Cellulose, and Birla will produce viscose staple fiber made with CIRCULOSE® pulp

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9 January 20266 January 2026

Spotlight on Formic Acid 

A synthetic key enzyme enables the conversion of CO₂ into raw materials via formic acid

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Ameisensäure im Fokus

Ein künstliches Schlüssel-Enzym eröffnet die Umwandlung von CO2 über Ameisensäure zu Rohstoffen