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4 March 20253 March 2025

Monthly news from the Renewable Carbon Initiative (RCI), February 2025

Let's take a look at what happened in February 2025 at RCI

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Balrampur Chini Mills to set up PLA bio polymer unit in Uttar Pradesh

This is India’s first PLA biopolymer plant

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The biodegradable microbeads that scrub out plastic pollution

For companies seeking biodegradable replacements, circular and plant-based options abound, waiting to be scaled

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28 February 202524 February 2025

Win Win Water Introduces 100% Plant-Based, Biodegradable Bottles

Designed for rapid biodegradation, the bottles decompose within 90 days in commercial composting facilities as they are made from Poly Lactic Acid from sugarcane

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24 February 202518 February 2025

Cellugy’s EcoFLEXY at the core of Bioli’s new sustainable high-performing skincare cream

Combining efficacy with sustainability, the new product pairs bioactive skincare with 100% biodegradable, fossil-free, biobased ingredients in a high-performance solution with low environmental impact

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19 February 202514 February 2025

Harnessing wood for sustainable food packaging

An EU-backed project is creating fresh meat packaging using wood-based materials and smart sensors that does not harm the environment

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18 February 202513 February 2025

Innovation network gains 100 new members in less than a year

As well as support for startups, IBioIC bridges the gap between industry and Scotland’s academic expertise, with research support, skills development programmes, and access to bioprocess scale-up facility

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17 February 202512 February 2025

ModernSynthesis is making compostable materials that last a lifetime

The company's bacteria-based nanocellulose fibers can be manipulated in ways that simple plant fibers cannot - like being spread into a thin, wind-resistant film or textured to mimic high-quality leather

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12 February 20257 February 2025

For the cultivation of greenhouse fruit and vegetables: plant clips made of certified industrial compostable biopolymer

For the sustainable cultivation of greenhouse fruit and vegetables, BASF has developed a certified industrial compostable biopolymer that can be used to manufacture black and white plant clips

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11 February 20256 February 2025

APP Group Showcases Biodegradable Products at EcoPro 2024: Advancing Sustainable Packaging and Forest Restoration in Japan

The event serves as a platform to highlight APP Group's commitment to environmental management and innovative solutions

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10 February 20256 February 2025

New project designs biobased plastics value chain

The ANIPH project will replace single-use fossil-based plastics with biobased and biodegradable PHA materials in disaster and conflict zones

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6 February 20253 February 2025

UConn Researchers Partner with Bioplastics Company to Examine Biodegradable Plastics

A study led by marine sciences Ph.D. student Hannah Collins found that Novamont’s Mater-Bi, a starch-based polymer, degraded significantly faster than traditional plastics—showing promise for reducing marine pollution

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4 February 202530 January 2025

Biesterfeld expands partnership with DEUREX AG – Extended distribution rights for BIOMERE® and synthesis waxes throughout Europe

Since June last year, Biesterfeld has had the distribution rights for the biodegradable waxes BIOMERE® and the synthetic polyethylene waxes DEUREX® for the regions DACH, Italy and France

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3 February 20253 February 2025

Sustainable Textiles – The Way Forward

High dependence on fossil carbon, associated high carbon footprint, low recycling rates and microplastics: several solutions are emerging

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30 January 202527 January 2025

Natural Grocers® Introduces House-Brand Organic Coffee Pods

Made with plant-based mesh filters and paper lids, the unique single-use pods are certified compostable at local industrial composting facilities

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29 January 202524 January 2025

Faircraft Raises $15.8 Million to Accelerate the Development of Lab-Grown High-Quality Leather Goods

This funding will enable Faircraft to expand its team, notably by recruiting more engineers and biologists, and accelerate its efforts to scale operations and meet growing demand

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28 January 202524 January 2025

Biodegradable nylon precursor produced through artificial photosynthesis

Technology uses biomass-derived compounds and ammonia to produce an eco-friendly alternative plastic

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27 January 202522 January 2025

Securing banks close to nature with biodegradable geotextiles

In the joint research project "Bioshoreline" the researchers, led by Fraunhofer UMSICHT, developed a biodegradable geotextile made from renewable raw materials

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Polymer research shows potential replacement for common superglues with a reusable and biodegradable alternative

Naturally occurring polymer P3HB can be chemically re-engineered for use as a strong yet sustainable bonding agent

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24 January 202521 January 2025

Bioinspired weather-responsive adaptive shading

Pine cones as a model: Researchers at the universities of Freiburg and Stuttgart have developed a new, energy-autonomous facade system that adapts passively to the weather

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Amazon is trialling bio-based delivery bags in Spain whilst developing new technologies to recycle bio-based materials

New food-safe bio-based bags for Amazon Fresh are made from vegetable materials produced in Europe, including corn starch and vegetable oils, and protect products against rain and spillages

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Bio-based wood protection

Researchers have presented a bio-based interior UV-curable coating designed for wood substrates

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Glowing textiles, fungi lamps: the world of biobased luxury

We look at the makers experimenting with natural materials for style-conscious markets that insist on aesthetic value along with sustainability and performance

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22 January 202517 January 2025

Spider silk

Spider silk could very much be a solution for the environmental problems of the fashion industry - but nevertheless many companies have either dropped out or completely eliminated spiders from their marketing

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21 January 202516 January 2025

With its RENATURE® Wrap product, Storopack is launching new eco-friendly, plant-based protective packaging

RENATURE® Wrap is almost exclusively obtained from yellow peas, and therefore represents a sustainable alternative to traditional bubble wrapping and foam made from polyethylene

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A competitive Europe – with or without plastics?

Event in the European Parliament to explore the urgent need for innovation, regulatory clarity, and investment to boost plastic recycling

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20 January 202514 January 2025

Panasonic HD develops marine biodegradable cellulose fiber molding material

By adding plant-derived cellulose fiber at high concentrations to marine biodegradable resins, Panasonic HD has developed a molding material that achieves both excellent mechanical properties and marine biodegradability

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Corn Next Launches CornNext-17: A Groundbreaking Sustainable Solution to Plastic Pollution

A game-changing bio-based material designed to combat the global plastic pollution crisis is accompanyed by the CornNext-17 White Paper, a detailed report that highlights the revolutionary features of the innovative Material

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Scientists from Brno reveal risks of bioplastics in agriculture

Even plastics marketed as eco-friendly, can negatively affect the soil, causing an overgrowth of microorganisms, which then compete with plants for vital nutrients

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17 January 202514 January 2025

This is our time: Working on biodegradable plastics

TNO researchers create AI model to develop new bioplastics

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The Future of Plastics Lies in Bioplastics and Advanced Biotechnology

Using bacteria isolated from various environments has enabled AIMPLAS to successfully reduce biodegradation times

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13 January 202514 January 2025

Status and Outlook: Bio-based Polymers worldwide

Global capacity to grow strongly, with major investments in China, Europe and the Middle East; new regulations driving demand for biodegradable plastics

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9 January 20253 January 2025

B’ZEOS Secures Seed Round and Strategic Partnerships! 

Company raised over €5 million to upscale their compostable seaweed packaging

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From timber towers to utopian landscrapers: 2024’s most ambitious builds

As regular readers may expect, Saudi Arabia dominates in our look at ambitious architecture projects, however, there are also notable buildings hailing from elsewhere, including the United States

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8 January 20253 January 2025

2025 CBE JU funding opportunities announced

CBE JU announces Annual Work Programme for 2025 with €165 M for project proposals

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7 January 202511 July 2025

BioCir® Flex: Compostable, recyclable, biobased plastic alternative 

BioCir® Flex is made using simple, readily available feedstock sources like castor beans, oils and polysaccharides, creating a material as flexible as rubber and as durable as TPU

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3 January 202518 December 2024

Eleven Ventures: Our investment in LAM’ON

A company creating bio-based and compostable thermal laminating films that protect printed materials without harming the planet

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2 January 202518 December 2024

Gluing with starch: bio-based adhesives for industrial applications

Fraunhofer-Institute IAP researchers are developing and testing bio-based adhesives for the industrial production of folding boxes in the project Sustainable Gluing With Renewable Adhesives (SUGRA)

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20 December 202411 July 2025

Compostability of an elastic band

Several stress tests on elasticated belts from CHARLE researchers impressively demonstrates the degradability and compostability of those made of cotton and natural rubber

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19 December 20246 December 2024

Cirql™ Launches Industrially Compostable, Biodegradable Material Innovation for Footwear Brands

Debuting at ISPO, Cirql Zero™ will be available to footwear brands beginning in January 2025

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17 December 202412 December 2024

Starbucks launches new Green Planet® biodegradable, plant-based straws in Japan

They will be available in all Starbucks locations across Japan starting in March 2025

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16 December 202410 December 2024

Algenesis Corporation Awarded USDA Certified Biobased Product Label

Soleic® TPU and polyol products: 1295A, 1270A, 1260D, and LV-02 - each product features a dedicated label verifying its renewable biobased content

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13 December 20246 December 2024

Avantium and SCGC Advance the Development of PLGA Polyester

Avantium’s Volta Technology uses electrochemistry to convert CO2 to high-value products and chemical building blocks including glycolic acid. Glycolic acid, combined with lactic acid, can be used to produce PLGA polyester in existing manufacturing assets

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12 December 20246 December 2024

Industry network secures £474K to boost bio-based materials regulation

Industry-led network launches with £474,135 Innovate UK funding to accelerate adoption of sustainable chemicals and reduce UK’s reliance on fossil-based materials

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11 December 20246 December 2024

New research highlights marine biodegradability of Eastman Aventa™ compostable materials

Biodegradable, CDA-based foams are commercially useful and will not persist in our oceans as plastic pollution

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TômTex partners with designers for biodegradable vegan textiles production

The Spring/Summer 2025 collections are set to be available to consumers early next year

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5 December 20242 December 2024

How AI is helping discover new biomaterials

AI has already become a key part of generating new sustainable and renewable materials

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3 December 202429 November 2024

Milliken & Company Announces Investment in Tidal Vision

This strategic partnership will accelerate the introduction of biodegradable chemistries across the markets

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2 December 202427 November 2024

Pointing the way to less food waste

Smart containers and biodegradable films – these are just two of the SISTERS project’s solutions for reducing food waste in Europe

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29 November 202426 November 2024

Navigating the Future of Sustainable Chemistry and Textiles: Insights from the ISC3 Investor Forum 2024

All the participants want is that their innovations contribute to a more sustainable textile industry and are supported by the International Sustainable Chemistry Collaborative Centre (ISC3)