11 February 20266 February 2026 Novo Nordisk Foundation grants DKK 5.5 billion to elevate innovation in Denmark and Europe The funding will enable BII to expand its activities into new strategic areas and geographies, and support even more entrepreneurs and start-up-companies
Danish Startup Bags $5.8M to Roll Out Fossil-Free Pigments for Food & Textiles Denmark’s Octarine Bio has raised €5M ($5.8M) in new funding to launch precision-fermented pigments for food, textiles, and personal care this year
Prestigious Composites Award Bcomp and BMW Group are awarded at JEC 2026 for bringing natural fibre composites into BMW series production
10 February 20264 February 2026 Covestro introduces innovative CQ-Configurator for real-time sustainable polyurethane foam design Covestro, a leading supplier of high-tech polymer materials, has launched the CQ-Configurator, a pioneering digital tool that enables polyurethane value chain partners to design more sustainable foam solutions based on Covestro environmental data
Covestro stellt innovativen CQ-Configurator für nachhaltigeres Polyurethanschaum-Design in Echtzeit vor Covestro, ein führender Anbieter von Hightech-Polymerwerkstoffen, hat mit dem CQ-Configurator ein innovatives digitales Tool eingeführt, das Partner entlang der Polyurethan-Wertschöpfungskette dabei unterstützt, nachhaltigere Schaumstofflösungen auf Basis von Covestro-Produktumweltdaten zu entwickeln
Developing Novel Eco-Friendly High-Performance Gas Sensors Researchers used biodegradable polymers to create eco-friendly, high-performance, and stable gas sensors
New processes to manufacture sustainable bioplastics from agricultural waste and pruning residues AIMPLAS is leading the BIOVALSA project, an initiative that seeks to develop alternative routes for recovering value from rice straw biomass, thereby avoiding the use of costly chemical compounds
Lignin Industries launches bio-based elastomer to cut CO2 emissions Renol® TPV achieves a groundbreaking 50% reduction in CO2 emissions compared to traditional fossil-based TPV, helping industries meet decarbonization goals
Vegan leather you can touch – SUSMATA presents itself at LINEAPELLE The company will present its vegan leather alternative WASTEA as well as other developments made from plant-based industrial waste
ZymoChem, Agile BioFoundry Announce Partnership to Advance the Bioeconomy The biotech leader continues history of strong collaboration with the U.S. national labs
9 February 20264 February 2026 Lenzing AG to become majority owner of TreeToTextile AB and accelerates industrialization of new fibers The Lenzing Group is taking another strategic milestone by acquiring a controlling majority in the Swedish innovation company TreeToTextile AB
Lenzing AG wird Mehrheitseigentümerin von TreeToTextile AB und beschleunigt Industrialisierung neuer Fasern Die Lenzing Gruppe setzt einen weiteren strategischen Meilenstein und übernimmt die kontrollierende Mehrheit am schwedischen Innovationsunternehmen TreeToTextile AB
Biodegradable mulch films with smart water management structures for sustainable agriculture Agriculture in Europe consumes more than 80,000 tons of mulch films annually – almost exclusively made of plastic
Biologisch abbaubare Mulchfolien mit intelligenten Wassermanagementstrukturen für eine nachhaltige Landwirtschaft Die Landwirtschaft in Europa verbraucht jährlich mehr als 80.000 Tonnen Mulchfolien – fast ausschließlich aus Kunststoff
JRC technical proposal on EU harmonised waste sorting labels under the packaging and packaging waste regulation The report proposes a level of granularity specifying the distinct labels required based on theoretical and practical considerations
Låkril Technologies Achieves Major Milestone: Startup of First Continuous Pilot Plant for Bio-Based Acrylic Acid Production Låkril’s proprietary catalyst and process technology converts low-cost lactic acid (from renewable sugars like corn, cane, beet, etc.) into a molecule-for-molecule drop-in acrylic acid with >90% selectivity
Geplante Plastikabgabe schafft Anreize für Recycling Künftig sollen Unternehmen, die in Österreich nicht-recycelbare Kunststoffverpackungen in Verkehr bringen, eine „Plastiksteuer“ bezahlen
6 February 20264 February 2026 Elkem’s MIRASIL™ N‑DML 15 named Environmental Initiative of the Year by SEAL Awards MIRASIL™ N‑DML 15 is a blend of high molecular weight dimethiconol gum in a renewable C15‑19 alkane derived from sunflower seed
Concrete Chemicals Receives €350 Million Funding for Germany’s Largest Industrial-Scale e-SAF Plant This strategic project represents a major industrial milestone on the path to decarbonising European aviation, marking a turning point in the race to meet climate targets in the transport sector
Concrete Chemicals erhält 350 Millionen Euro Förderung für Deutschlands größte e-SAF-Anlage im industriellen Maßstab Die Concrete Chemicals GmbH, bestehend aus ENERTRAG und Zaffra, hat eine Förderung von 350 Millionen Euro erhalten. Das Unternehmen errichtet damit Deutschlands größte Produktionsanlage für nachhaltige Flugkraftstoffe (e-SAF) im industriellen Maßstab
ECN’s reaction to the adoption of the Bioeconomy Strategy The ECN has developed 12 policy recommendations accordingly
Prometheus’ New e-Kerosene Tech Drives SAF Cost Below $2.50-per-Gallon, Makes Fischer-Tropsch Obsolet Prometheus announce their new e-kerosene pathway – the first technology since Fischer-Tropsch a century ago to convert electricity and CO2 into carbon neutral jet fuel in a single proces
Union Budget 2026: India’s Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage initiative gets Rs 20,000 crore push for climate action The first of its kind R&D roadmap to enable India’s ‘net zero’ target through CCUS was released by the government on Dec 2 last year
Endspiel für Europas Chemie Die europäische Chemieindustrie steckt in einer tiefen strukturellen Krise. Es handelt sich nicht um eine vorübergehende Schwächephase, sondern um einen fundamentalen Umbruch
5 February 20264 February 2026 Asahi Kasei, Mitsui Chemicals, and Mitsubishi Chemical enter basic agreement to promote decarbonization of ethylene production in western Japan The three companies have signed a basic agreement to establish a new joint operating entity for the two ethylene production facilities in western Japan, and to subsequently discontinue operations of the Asahi Kasei Mitsubishi Chemical Ethylene Corp
Asahi Kasei, Mitsui Chemicals und Mitsubishi Chemical schließen Grundsatzvereinbarung zur Förderung der Dekarbonisierung der Ethylenproduktion in Westjapan Kasei, Mitsui Chemicals und Mitsubishi Chemical haben Maßnahmen zur Förderung der Dekarbonisierung und zur Optimierung der Produktionskapazität ihrer beiden Ethylenproduktionsanlagen im Westen Japans geprüft
Forget burying unwanted carbon — this Washington startup is turning it into protein, fuel and a frost deicer The Richland, Wash., company’s technology takes water and captured industrial carbon dioxide and runs it through proprietary electrolyzer cells to produce formic acid and formate compounds
Turning industrial exhaust into useful materials with a new electrode The team constructed an electrode that allows gas to diffuse in, then catches and converts the airborne CO2
EU to phase out damaging soy biofuels Soy biofuels will no longer count towards EU renewable targets, with new EU Commission research confirming they contribute significantly to deforestation
Dr. Dirk Textor: Steigende Recyclingquote darf nicht über strukturelle Krise hinwegtäuschen Während die Quoten steigen, verschärft sich die wirtschaftliche Lage vieler Kunststoffrecycler
4 February 20263 February 2026 LanzaTech Awarded Contract by Spray Engineering Devices Ltd. (SED) to build second generation ethanol facility in India as part of “SED Smart Village” Initiative The facility, projected to process up to 300 tons per day of bagasse, will be in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India, and is a key component of the "SED Smart Village" concept
New Recycling Method for Textiles A novel, non-toxic solvent makes it possible to recycle mixed-fibre textiles almost perfectly
Neue Recyclingmethode für Textilien Ein neuartiges, ungiftiges Lösungsmittel ermöglicht es, Textilien aus Mischfasern fast perfekt zu recyceln
Perpetual Next USA to develop three biomethanol facilities in Southeastern U.S With the introduction of new governmental policies, such as Europe’s FuelEU program, and voluntary industry initiatives aimed at reducing carbon emissions, global demand for biomethanol is anticipated to grow substantially by 2050
Neuer Rekordwert bei PET to PET | Bilanz 2025: 1,34 Milliarden verarbeitete Flaschen Nach einem leicht rückläufigen Produktionsvolumen 2024 zieht die PET to PET Recycling Österreich GmbH mit Sitz im burgenländischen Müllendorf eine erfolgreiche Bilanz für das Geschäftsjahr 2025: 33.675 t PET-Material – das entspricht 1,34 Mrd. PET-Getränkeflaschen
3 February 20264 February 2026 Several roadblocks identified on the way to a net-zero chemical industry New RCI report outlines barriers and points to solutions
Kemvera, formerly New Iridium, Advances Commercialization of Bio-Acetic Acid and Bio-Ethyl Acetate Manufacturing Process Aligning with the company’s next phase of growth, Kemvera announces that it has been renamed from New Iridium to reflect its vision to scale bio-based chemical solutions using domestic agricultural feedstock
Monthly News from the Renewable Carbon Initiative (RCI), January 2026 January Highlights: RCI Publications on extended LCA Case Studies Brochure & Policy Barriers, Participation in WGs of CCA, Roundtables of BASF and Molecule Group
Bio-based fibers with good flame retardancy Fibers made from bio-based plastics reduce dependence on fossil raw materials and promote the circular economy. The covalent bonding of flame-retardant additives can open the way for these fibers to enter the mass market
Biobasierte Fasern mit gutem Flammschutz Fasern aus biobasierten Kunststoffen verringern die Abhängigkeit von fossilen Rohstoffen und fördern die Kreislaufwirtschaft. Die chemische Anbindung flammhemmender Additive kann diesen Fasern den Weg in den Massenmarkt öffnen
Pine bark removes pharmaceutical residues from wastewater – an affordable way to keep antibiotics out of nature The EU’s updated Urban Wastewater Directive (2024) calls for more effective removal of micropollutants, which requires new solutions and investments
Gärtnern ohne Torf: Auftakt des Runden Tisches Torfminderung auf der Internationalen Pflanzenmesse in Essen Torf speichert in intakten Mooren Kohlenstoff, setzt ihn jedoch frei, sobald er abgebaut wird und mit Sauerstoff in Kontakt kommt
2 February 202629 January 2026 Spotlight on Cellulose Fibres nova talks – the ideal dialogue format for generating valuable stakeholder engagement and multiple leads in your target group
New AI Method Revolutionises the Design of Enzymes Researchers at TU Graz and the University of Graz can use the technology to construct artificial biocatalysts. These new enzymes are significantly faster, more stable and more versatile than previous artificial biocatalysts
Neue KI-Methode revolutioniert das Design von Enzymen Mit der Technologie können Forschende der TU Graz und Uni Graz artifizielle Biokatalysatoren konstruieren. Diese neuen Enzyme sind deutlich schneller, stabiler und vielseitiger einsetzbar als bisherige artifizielle Biokatalysatoren
Ohne Kohlenstoff keine Chemieindustrie, ohne Öl und Gas sehr wohl – IN4climate.NRW zeigt Lösungswege auf Ob Waschmittel, Klebstoffe, Lacke, Farben oder Kunststoffe – die Produkte der Chemieindustrie sind allgegenwärtig
Precision insect control using programmable modular phage therapy platforms Invasive pest Spodoptera frugiperda, known as the fall armyworm (FAW), evolves rapid resistance to chlorantraniliprole (CAP) via symbionts, reducing traditional control efficacy and causing economic losses
VerpackDG & PPWR: IK sieht Licht und Schatten Die IK bezieht Position zu VerpackDG und PPWR: Während Quoten Zustimmung finden, warnt Dr. Schmidt vor teurer Bürokratie und fordert Rezyklat-Anreize