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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

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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

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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

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​​​​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​​​

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BioBTX: EU fördert chemische Recyclinganlage mit 20,8 Mio. Euro

In der geplanten Anlage sollen jährlich rund 20.000 Tonnen gemischte Kunststoffabfälle verarbeitet werden, die anschließend katalytisch zu aromatischen Verbindungen aufbereitet werden

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BioBTX receives EU Innovation fund for its first-of-a-kind plant

The plant is expected to converting plastic waste directly into renewable aromatics at Chemie Park Delfzijl, which are essential building blocks for the plastics and pharmaceutical industries

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CO2 availability shapes acetate and ethanol production in Clostridium aceticum: a transcriptomics-guided study

New study shows how carbon availability controls the flow of carbon and energy inside one of nature’s most efficient gas-fermenting microbe

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23 October 202619 October 2026

The LEGO Group starts making selected LEGO® elements using e-methanol

The challenge has not only been identifying a renewable alternative to plastic, but also working with suppliers to integrate the new material into existing manufacturing infrastructure

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Lego: E-Methanol aus abgeschiedenem CO₂ für die Herstellung von Kunststoffteilen

Das Unternehmen will damit den Einsatz fossiler Rohstoffe in der Kunststoffproduktion schrittweise reduzieren

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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traceless + Biesterfeld: Naturpolymer-Werkstoffe für den Spritzguss

Am FAKUMA-Messestand von Biesterfeld werden verschiedene Werkstoffe präsentiert, die aus pflanzlichen Reststoffen der Agrarindustrie gewonnen werden

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Microbes Turn CO2 and Waste Glycerol Into Acetate in Dual-Electrode Reactor

Two very different ways of feeding carbon dioxide to the microbial catalyst shape the output of such a dual-biocatalyzed reactor

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21 October 202615 October 2026

Borouge International expands European recycling capacity to strengthen circular materials supply

The additional capacity is expected to come on stream in the fourth quarter of 2027 and will support growing demand for recycled materials, particularly for flexible packaging applications

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Borouge International erweitert Recyclingkapazitäten in Europa und stärkt die Verfügbarkeit von Kreislaufmaterialien

Die zusätzlichen Kapazitäten sollen im vierten Quartal 2027 zur Verfügung stehen und die steigende Nachfrage nach Rezyklaten insbesondere für flexible Verpackungsanwendungen unterstützen

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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

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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

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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

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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?

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Plastiksteuer: Was ändert sich?

Die Koalition aus CDU/CSU und SPD plant eine neue bundesweite Abgabe auf Kunststoffverpackungen. Was bedeutet das für Verbraucher*innen?

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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

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Machine Learning Maps 10,000 Reactions to Reveal How Copper Turns CO2 into Fuel

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) found out how hydrogen behaves on a catalyst surface

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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

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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

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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

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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“

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Textilien aus Pilzen

Chinesische Forschende stellen Kleid aus Myzel her

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Estonia takes lead on cicular economy policy

The local government has brought out pioneering policies to spur the circular economy since Oct. 2019, when Tallinn brought in a local anti-plastic regulation banning single-use tableware completely at public events

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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

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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

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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

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Bluestar Silicones launches the first mechanically recycled silicone masterbatch with high recycled content and premium performance

This new product, now available for pre-commercial sales, expands Bluestar Silicones’ Sircle™ circular technologies portfolio

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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

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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

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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

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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

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15 October 202614 October 2026

Vom Abfallstrom zum Rohstoffverbund: Wie Chemieparks die Skalierung von Recyclingverfahren unterstützen

Chemieparks können Infrastrukturen und Dienstleistungen für mehrere Anlagenbetreiber bereitstellen, den Bedarf an eigenen Nebenanlagen reduzieren und die Integration neuer Recyclingkapazitäten erleichtern