30 August 202125 August 2021New levoglucosenone derivative provides alternative to toxic chlorinated solventsA study using Circa’s renewable solvent Cyrene™ and new solvent Cygnet 0.0 showed that they have enhanced performance in the production of membranes, as well as when used as solvents in the bio-catalysed synthesis of polyesters
11 May 202118 June 2021“Dominating” fungus could provide solution to producing more biofuels and valuable chemicalsResearchers have discovered an enzyme in a fungus which can act as a catalyst to bring about a biochemical reaction that breaks down lignocellulose
26 October 202021 October 2020Flagship EU project aiming to replace toxic solvents with renewable alternatives launches todayThe new ReSolute project is addressing the need for plant-based, higher-performing and safer chemicals in Europe
28 July 202024 July 2020Developing new circular materials from safe bio-based building blocksNew library of biobased materials will bring the circular ambitions of the European Union a step closer
1 July 202030 June 2020Circular High-performance Aza-Michael Polymers as Innovative materials Originating from NatureRecovery, chemical recycling and organic recycling (with the option of controlled energy recovery) are the end-of-life options planned for the design of products using CHAMPION polymers
4 March 20202 March 2020Project that uses waste from pea processing to clean water receives funding boost“Often discarded and considered as waste, unavoidable food supply chain waste such as pea waste is a treasure trove of useful chemicals that can be utilised in many applications that impact global grand challenges.”
9 January 20206 January 2020New flagship EU project focused on replacing toxic solvents with renewable alternativesReSolute brings together 12 partners from 6 countries and will provide new manufacturing and employment opportunities
2 December 201927 November 2019Resolve-project develops bio-based alternatives for hazardous solventsNew solvent molecules proved to have better performance than their fossil counterparts
27 November 201927 November 2019Chiara Tommencioni Pisapia uses moths to transform unwanted clothing into “precious” bio-waste materialLondon-based Italian designer to explore the potential for farming moths' larvae and using them to digest keratin-based fibres
20 November 201915 November 2019Let’s play with rubbish: a new board game for the bioeconomyNew game was developed in collaboration with MeLoop Foundation, India, and the THYME Project, a North of England project to improve productivity of the bioeconomy
22 August 201926 December 2019Launch of bio-based Cyrene to replace toxic solventsGREEN-CHEM-researchers developed a new and safer bio-based solvent which is produced in two steps from renewable cellulose
19 August 201913 August 2019Growing bio-based solvent marketThese specialty chemicals continue to look for safer and less carbon emitter alternatives
12 August 20196 August 2019Bio-based solvent helping develop uk’s first industrial-scale car battery recycling projectAccording to the IEA, the global electric car fleet exceeded 5.1 million in 2018 and is estimated to reach at least 130 million by 2030
23 May 201920 May 2019Circa Group’s Renewable Solvent Wins Environmental Leader’s Top Product 2019 AwardCyreneTM is made from waste cellulose and has a unique property set, including viscosity, surface tension and polarities
22 May 201921 May 2019Biome Bioplastics applauds findings of Plastics in the Bioeconomy reportThere are approximately 10,000 tonnes of compostable packaging on the UK market at present, which is less than 1% of all consumer plastic packaging
21 May 201916 May 2019Lösungsmittel auf biologischer Basis bietet sichere, nachhaltige AlternativeCyrene erwies sich als leistungsfähiger als herkömmliche Lösungsmittel
17 May 201913 May 2019UK compostable packaging market poised for tenfold increase by 2025, new report findsStudy showed an abundance of renewable bioresources that could supply the biochemicals needed to produce low-carbon biopolymers for the compostable packaging market
19 March 201914 March 2019Biosolvents solving challenges– from dry cleaning and cleaning shorelines to biomass and biofuel productionBiosolvents are looked at as an environmental win-win - as well as a win for better performance and safety with lower toxicity issues
18 March 201913 March 2019Green biorefinery technologies based on waste biomassTurning waste streams from being environmental threats into valuable resources could make a real difference for our planet and those that live on it
6 February 20194 February 2019 A public report is available in the ReSolve projectPublic report on ‘labelling requirements for hazard communication and ecolabelling possibilities for bio-based solvents’
25 January 201922 January 2019Bio-based Solvent Produces Highest-quality Graphene Ink Ever ReportedReport about Cyrene® shows "near-ideal physical properties for graphite exfoliation and the production of graphene dispersions"
13 December 201815 December 2018Circa Receives Green Light to Sell Non-toxic, Bio-based and Biodegradable Solvent in EUWith CyreneTM the company are offering a bio-based solution with an exciting new prospect for advanced materials
10 December 20186 December 2018Don’t quibble with a gribble: why a curious crustacean could hold secret to making renewable energy from woodDiscovery brings researchers a step closer to identifying cheaper and more sustainable tools for converting wood into low carbon fuel
19 April 201817 April 2018Funding boost announced for the region’s bioeconomyTHYME project to build a new regional collaboration between the Universities of York, Hull and Teesside
11 April 20186 April 2018The University of York is to lead on a £5million project to develop the bioeconomy across Yorkshire, the Humber region and the Tees ValleyFunding boost announced for the region’s bioeconomy
28 September 201726 September 2017North of England generates £91 billion for UK bioeconomyThe north of England report showed innovation capability and industrial capacity to deliver a world-leading bioeconomy
5 September 20171 September 2017New bio-based monomers: tuneable polyester properties using branched diols from biomassDiol monomers, previously little known to polymer chemistry, have been combined with FDCA and TA derivatives to produce a range of novel polyesters
9 August 20177 August 2017Cyrene, a biosolvent, to end the use of toxic solventsAustralian company Circa partnered with the Green Chemistry Centre of Excellence (GCCE) at the University of York, UK and company Norske Skog to start industrial production in Europe
18 July 201714 July 2017Circa Sustainable Chemicals UK Wins Innovate UK Grant For New Biosolvent ApplicationsCompany focusing on two biosolvent application areas: polymer dispersions and coatings removal for paint or graffiti
21 June 201720 June 2017Bio-based solvent EU project launchedThree-year project looking for alternatives to substances categorized as very high concern
19 June 201713 June 2017Who are the winners of the European Bio-Based Innovation Awards 2017?Finnish company Paptic is opening a door for novel wood-based materials
12 May 201727 April 2017Unstash that Trash: Material(s) progress in making fuels, chemicals from Municipal solid wasteEnerkem’s product removes carbon emissions from the atmosphere, rather than adding to them
27 January 201725 January 2017Green Chemistry wins H2020 FundingProject STAR-ProBio to promote a more efficient and harmonized policy regulation framework
17 January 201713 January 2017UK bioeconomy supports over 5 million jobs. An interview with Margaret Smallwood, CEO BioValeHow is the bioeconomy in UK developing after Brexit and what means the election of Donald Trump as US President?
15 September 201614 September 2016New pilot-scale facility opens to create high-value products from municipal wasteWilson Bio-Chemical have opened their Micro Autoclave Fibre Production Plant for turning municipal solid waste into biomass fibre that can be converted into a range of useful products
8 September 20166 September 2016Value creation from biomass through bio-chemicalsDr Thomas Farmer, researcher at the University of York, explanes that bio-chemicals need to be derived more through reduction than oxidation
15 August 20169 September 2021York chemists lead breakthrough in carbon captureStarbons keeping great potential on large scale high CO2 adsorption from waste biomass
11 April 20167 April 20169th Intl Conference on Bio-based Materials – Day 1Policy and markets, bio-based building blocks and biorefineries
16 March 201617 March 2016Get in touch with the whole value chain of the PHA platformOne of the most important and well established meeting points for the European Bio-based Economy
10 March 20164 March 2016Researchers’ new advance in quest for second generation biofuelsYork researcher present first time molecular structure of key enzymes involved in break down tough cellulose-based materials
4 December 20154 December 2015Fibre Quality Workshop for young researchersEC Multihemp Project Consortium offers multidisciplinary workshop to PhD students and Young researchers on January 18th 2016
25 November 201524 November 2015Better biomass utilisation in the biobased economyBUE analysis will answer two important questions regarding the bioeconomy and bio-based chemicals
23 September 201522 September 2015Orange is the new black gold: how peel could replace crude oil in plasticsYork researchers to make biofuel from orange peels
28 May 201527 May 2015Elemental SustainabilityConcerns have reinforced interest in finding substitute materials for “critical” elements
4 May 20151 May 2015University of Muenster: Rubber from dandelionsScientists identify key components in the formation of rubber
Universität Münster: Gummi aus LöwenzahnWissenschaftler identifizieren Schlüsselkomponenten der Kautschuk-Entstehung
20 March 201519 March 2015Europe explores creation of Bio-based products standardsGreen Chemicals Blog on the current work on certifications and standards inside and outside of Europe
23 February 201522 February 2015Cable announces £20 million for UK industrial biotechnologyBusiness Secretary unveiles the winners of a multi-million-pound competition to bring innovative UK biotechnology projects to market.
12 February 201516 February 2015Open-Bio: Clear standards for bio-based productsWageningen UR to research quality requirements for functional properties
9 February 20156 February 2015Horizon 2020: funding new technology for the UK biobased economyNNFCC workshop attendees discussed EU funding opportunities and new technologies
