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24 September 202618 September 2026

Investment in Europe’s alternative protein companies grows – but sector can no longer rely on venture capital alone

The latest figures reveal that new forms of investment are beginning to strengthen Europe’s alternative protein landscape and build the capacity needed to scale

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Investitionen für alternative Proteine steigen – doch die Branche kann sich nicht allein auf Risikokapital verlassen

Eine Analyse von GFI zeigt, dass im ersten Halbjahr 2026 vor allem Unternehmen im Bereich der Fermentation mehr Kapital einwerben konnten. Die Zahl an Deals hat sich jedoch halbiert – private Investitionen konzentrieren sich auf weniger Unternehmen. Gemischte Finanzierungsmodelle, bei denen privates Kapital und öffentliche Investitionen zusammenwirken, werden daher immer wichtiger

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Chairman Cho Hyun-Joon Targets European Bio-Based Textile Market with regen™ Bio Spandex

Consecutive Participation in Global Exhibition in Denmark, Belgium, and the U.S., Leading the European Bio-Based Textile Market with an Integrated Bio-Spandex Platform

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Avantium and Klöckner Pentaplast advance next-generation food packaging with PEF capacity reservation agreement

The companies' to explore Avantium's PEF (polyethylene furanoate), branded as releaf®, in thermoformed food packaging applications, including food trays and other packaging

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Verbändeallianz Kreislaufwirtschaft durch Sekundärbaustoffe fordert praxistaugliche Regeln für mehr Kreislaufwirtschaft am Bau

Konkrete Hebel für Sekundärbaustoffe: Ersatzbaustoffverordnung weiterentwickeln, öffentliche Nachfrage stärken, Produktstatus klären und Umweltanforderungen sachgerecht ausgestalten

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Taiwan turns farm waste into bio-based products

Nineteen companies specializing in biomass conversion have joined the programme to turning farm leftovers into new materials, and the work has produced 49 different bio-based products

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PolyCert Europe Launches A New Certification Scheme for Recycled Plastics in Food Contact 

The scheme runs on a three-year cycle beginning with an initial on-site audit, followed by annual surveillance and a full recertification audit at the end of the cycle

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23 September 202622 September 2026

nova-Institute Launches Groundbreaking Advanced Recycling Database for Strategic Market Insight

The new Advanced Recycling Database reduces complexity by providing industry stakeholders with up-to-date expert-reviewed intelligence on companies, technologies, plants, capacities, locations, products and partnerships across the global advanced recycling landscape

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nova-Institut präsentiert innovative Advanced Recycling Datenbank für strategische Marktentscheidungen

Die neue Advanced Recycling Datenbank reduziert die Komplexität des weltweiten Advanced-Recycling-Marktes, indem sie Branchenakteuren aktuelle, von Fachleuten aufbereitete Informationen zu Unternehmen, Technologien, Anlagen, Kapazitäten, Standorten, Produkten und Partnerschaften gebündelt zugänglich macht

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Evonik breaks ground on biotechnology expansion in Slovakia

The site has become a key location for Evonik's biotechnology activities, including the successful launch of the world's first industrial-scale rhamnolipid biosurfactant production facility

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Evonik erweitert Biotechnologie-Kapazitäten in der Slowakei

Slovenská Ľupča wurde zu einem Schlüsselstandort für die Biotechnologieaktivitäten von Evonik, an dem die weltweit erste industrielle Produktionsanlage für Biotenside auf Basis von Rhamnolipiden entstand

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Greewave develops bio-based synthetic rubber from industrial side streams

The company's ambition is therefore to create a new raw material pathway that is both bio-based and can be produced closer to the market

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HexSeed Technology raises over £600,000 to help keep the hyperscale data centre boom from overheating

Data centres already draw a significant share of global electricity, and the IEA expects that to reach 945TWh by 2030 as AI-optimised facilities scale. A large share of that power is lost as heat

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Mehr Innovation, weniger Abhängigkeit durch Circular Economy: Landesregierung legt Kreislaufwirtschaftsstrategie vor

Nordrhein-Westfalen will Drehscheibe für Circular Economy in Europa werden / Schon jetzt arbeiten mehr als 240.000 Menschen in der Kreislaufwirtschaft

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Compostable healthcare packaging in practice

Most people outside clinical settings never see how much single-use plastic keeps healthcare running, but HaPPE Earth was built to change that

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IPL Schoeller & PureCycle Launch Off-the-Shelf Container Line, SnapPack Square EVO, Ahead of State Sustainability Mandates

SnapPack Square EVO is a new sustainable option within IPL Schoeller’s family of tamper-evident packaging that will incorporate 20% PureFive® recycled polypropylene

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22 September 202617 September 2026

Worley Awarded Engineering Contract for D-CRBN’s Renewable Syngas Demonstration Plant

The next demonstration unit will be installed at an industrial site in Antwerp, Belgium and use D-CRBN’s proprietary plasma technology to convert CO₂ and biomethane into feedstock for fuels and chemicals

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UV-Licht öffnet schnelleren Abbauweg für Biokunststoff

Forschende haben den Biokunststoff PLA mit einem lichtempfindlichen Baustein ausgestattet. In künstlichem Meerwasser verlor das Material unter UV-Licht binnen sechs Tagen bis zu 81% seiner Masse

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Avantium partners with Sojitz Pla-Net to drive adoption of releaf® in the Japanese market

As a first step in their collaboration, Avantium and Sojitz Pla-Net will jointly participate in one of Japan’s leading exhibitions for sustainable materials

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Kirkbi to Significantly Step Up Investment in Plastics Circularity

The company is targeting business models and technologies that reduce plastics consumption, replace fossil-based feedstocks, and improve sorting, reuse and recycling

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Kirkbi: Lego-Mutter mit deutlichem Ausbau der Kunststoff-Kreislaufwirtschaft

Es sollen Geschäftsmodelle und Technologien unterstützt werden, die den Kunststoffverbrauch reduzieren, fossile Rohstoffe ersetzen sowie Sortierung, Wiederverwendung und Recycling verbessern

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Plasma Activation Supercharges Copper Electrocatalysis to Turn CO2 Into Fuels

Researchers at Yale University and the University of Antwerp report a hybrid plasma–electrocatalysis platform that dramatically expands what copper electrodes can do with CO2 and carbon monoxide

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Biodegradable fishing lures

Kaneka (Tokyo, Japan) has announced that its KANEKA Biodegradable Polymer Green Planet™ has been adopted for fishing lures manufactured by Shimano (Osaka, Japan)

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21 September 202615 September 2026

Syklo’s factory complex unique on a world scale will produce high-quality recycled plastic pellets and biocomposite

The plant alone raises Finland’s plastic recycling capacity by 50%

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Syklos weltweit einzigartiges Kreislaufwirtschaftszentrum produziert hochwertige recycelte Kunststoffgranulate und Biokomposite

Die Gesamtkapazitäten des Landes für Kunststoffrecycling erhöhen sich dadurch um 50 Prozent

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A Plastic-Plasticizer System That Transforms into Fertilizer After Use

Korean researchers develop a plasticizer that improves the flexibility of the plastic, which gets converted into fertilizer after use

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BIOWEG to build Europe’s largest bacterial cellulose plant, backed by Series A of €30 million

Construction starting before the end of this year and industrial-scale production ready from 2028

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BIOWEG baut Europas größte Anlage zur Herstellung von bakterieller Zellulose – finanziert durch eine Serie-A-Finanzierungsrunde in Höhe von 30 Millionen Euro

Die Bauarbeiten sollen noch vor Ende dieses Jahres beginnen, und ab 2028 soll die Produktion im industriellen Maßstab anlaufen

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Twelve Secures $45 Million Financing for CO2-Based Clean Fuels Plant

The financing will be used to refinance the construction facility for the companys new AirPlant One facility, and supporting additional expansion at the site

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Solar-Powered Photoelectrochemical Cells Turn Carbon Dioxide Into Liquid Methanol Fuel

Anjan Kumar of GLA University in India together with an international team of co-authors, offer one of the most detailed assessments to date that stand between laboratory demonstrations and a genuine solar-fuels industry

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18 September 202614 September 2026

Bayer and Neste close commercial agreement to jointly scale newgold® winter canola for biofuels production

Commitment aims to support the growth of winter canola in the Southern Great Plains of the U.S., as a feedstock for renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel

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Bayer und Neste schließen kommerzielle Vereinbarung und treiben den Anbau von newgold® Winterraps für die Produktion von Biokraftstoffen voran

Ziel der Zusammenarbeit ist, den Anbau von Winterraps in den südlichen Great Plains der USA auszubauen und damit die Versorgung mit Rohstoffen für erneuerbaren Diesel und nachhaltigen Flugkraftstoff zu stärken

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Holcim’s Eco2fly carbon capture project takes key e-SAF step

Approximately half of the captured CO2 will be combined with renewable hydrogen to produce around 100,000tpa of e-SAF, while the remainder will be permanently stored in geological formations

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PureCycle: Start-up of Antwerp PP recycling plant postponed until 2029

In March 2026, PureCycle signed a EUR 40 million grant agreement with CINEA under the EU Innovation Fund for the project, known as “ASTRA PP”

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PureCycle: Start der PP-Recyclinganlage in Antwerpen auf 2029 verschoben

Für das „Astra PP“ genannte Projekt hatte PureCycle im März 2026 mit der CINEA eine Fördervereinbarung über 40 Mio. Euro aus dem EU-Innovationsfonds geschlossen

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KRICT makes non-recyclable flame-retardant EV composites recyclable

A single multifunctional additive delivers three benefits: improved processability, uniform flame-retardant dispersion, and efficient additive removal during recycling

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Wool and lyocell combine to create a biobased alternative for hygiene products

Woolchemy and Lenzing are collaborating on a new Acquisition & Distribution Layer (ADL) for hygiene products that combines New Zealand wool with wood-based VEOCEL™ Lyocell fibers

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17 September 202617 September 2026

WaterProof Workshop: From Waste(water) CO₂ to Formic Acid

22 October 2025 10:00–15:30 CET at Matrix ONE - Science Park 301 - 1098 XH Amsterdam - The Netherlands

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Defossilisation Made Visible: Why OK Renewable Is Becoming the Reference Label for Renewable Carbon Products

Instead of separate labels for bio-based, CCU-derived or recycled carbon, Renewable Carbon Share combines all renewable carbon streams into one clear communication framework

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EU will Bioökonomie skalieren – Mikroalgen werden zum industriellen Rohstoff

Die geplante Bio-based Europe Alliance soll am 20. und 21. Oktober beim Global Bioeconomy Summit in Dublin starten und Abnahmezusagen großer Unternehmen für biobasierte Materialien, Produkte und Technologien im Umfang von insgesamt zehn Milliarden Euro mobilisieren

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ÄIO and tilk! launch award-shortlisted face cream featuring two fermentation-derived ingredients!

The new Skin Booster Face Cream brings Fermira™ RedOil and ZymaLipid Complex together in a commercial skincare formulation, and has already been shortlisted for the European Natural Beauty Awards 2026

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A Sustainable Flame Retardant Derived From Corn Steep Liquor

Researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute WKI and the Fraunhofer Institute IAP, together with partners, are using corn steep liquor to develop a flame retardant for use in several biomaterials

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Nachhaltiges Flammschutzmittel aus Maisquellwasser

Wissenschaftler des Fraunhofer-WKI und -IAP entwickeln gemeinsam mit Partnern ein auf Basis von Maisquellwasser basierendes Flammschutzmittel für verschiedene Biowerkstoffe

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Saudi Arabia finds new life for date palm waste

Palm residues are being transformed into engineered wood and biodegradable plastics

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Demeter Bio develops bio-based, non-toxic PFAS replacement coating

Their core innovation is an exciting and scalable proposition that can be applied to multiple different industries to deliver a ‘safer and environmentally friendly alternative’ to PFAS

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16 September 202610 September 2026

Avantium Completes Commissioning of Purification Unit at FDCA Flagship Plant

The company will focus on full FDCA Flagship Plant start-up, production of the first batches of FDCA, completion of qualification activities and preparation for commercial sales

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25 Jahre Verbio in Bitterfeld: Vom Biodiesel-Pionier zum Wegbereiter biobasierter Chemie

Mit der neuen Anlage für biobasierte Spezialchemikalien erweitert Verbio die Bioraffinerie um eine weitere Wertschöpfungsstufe

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From Pollution to Performance: On Scales the First EVA Midsole Made Using Captured Carbon Emissions to Over a Million

A high-performance foam that turns industrial carbon emissions into a key ingredient for the brand’s shoes

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PBBM backs seaweed bioplastics as top PH tech priority

Philippines researchers counting on the potential of seaweed-derived bioplastics, which are biodegradable plastics made from algal polymers

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Biokunststoffe auf dem Prüfstand: Neue Studie untersucht tatsächliche Abbaubarkeit in der Natur

Neue Forschungsinitiative testet Zersetzbarkeit von Biokunststoffen in über 20 natürlichen Lebensräumen – Kooperation des WWF Österreich und der Technischen Universität Bratislava