16 February 202612 February 2026 Lummus and Sumitomo Chemical Announce Commercial Availability of PMMA Chemical Recycling Technology Advanced technology enables closed‑loop PMMA and lower emissions for producers
EU Adopts Harmonised Rules on Recycled Content in Beverage Bottles Chemical Recycling Europe (CRE) welcomes this decision as a key step towards credible and consistent recycled-content targets across Europe
Sustainable and efficient production of ammonia and formic acid Research team led by Dandan Gao at JGU has developed a three-component catalyst for pulsed electrolysis
13 February 202612 February 2026 Global Bio-based Polymer Market to Grow by 11% Annually Until 2030, Led by Europe and North America New market data shows: Capacity expansions in Europe and North America drive growth – Asia remains major region
BMW Group and PreZero drive circular economy for Europe’s automotive industry From end-of-life vehicles to recycled materials: strategic cooperation launched +++ Companies committed to co-development of closed-loop material cycles for end-of-life vehicles +++ Collaboration combines expertise from end-of-life vehicle recycling and circular economy
How Chinese scientists made petrol building blocks with CO2, water and sunlight A solar-powered process that mimics photosynthesis in plants could be used to produce valuable resources such as fuel, researchers say
12 February 20269 February 2026 Eco-Products to Launch Environmentally Responsible Packaging Products in the UK Reusable, recyclable, and compostable products will be available through UK-based Vegware, a sister company of Eco-Products
UNIST and UC Berkeley Develop Microbial System to Convert CO₂ into Eco-Friendly Butanol The research was published in the online version of Bioresource Technology on December 24, 2025
Public procurement: the hidden EU bioeconomy driver Procurement could be a game changer for Europe’s circular and biobased industries
11 February 20266 February 2026 Nouryon launches industry’s first 100% biobased, biodegradable carboxymethylcellulose for laundry detergents FinnFix® PB MAX replaces conventional synthetic ingredients with a fully biobased, biodegradable alternative that delivers comparable or superior performance
First group of global experts for carbon accounting panel The Technical Expert Panel on Carbon Accounting panellists are distinguished leaders and experts across industry, science, civil society and academia – representing diverse disciplines, geographies and professional backgrounds
Lab-grown algae removes microplastics from water Professor Susie Dai has used genetic engineering to create a new kind of algae that grows in wastewater and can turn microplastics into biomass that is easy to collect and remove
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
30 January 202628 January 2026 Sustainable Materials Discovery Interview with Josua Vieten (CEO ExoMatter)
AMSilk’s silk protein yarns debut in Balenciaga collection The designs include a sharp-collared white shirt and a black shirtdress that cinches at the waist with a ribbon tie, complete with an embroidered tone-on-tone Balenciaga logo on one gleaming-buttoned cuff
Safer receipt paper from wood EPFL researchers have developed formulations for the kind of paper used in cash receipts or shipping tags using wood-based chemicals that reduces reliance on toxic bisphenols while keeping print performance
Addressing the released Strategic Framework for a Competitive and Sustainable EU Bioeconomy, an opportunity to align circular economy and biodiversity goals. IUCN supports the ambition to reduce pressure on ecosystems and advance Europe’s climate and environmental goals
29 January 20263 February 2026 Take advantage of the extensive networking opportunities at the 2026 Renewable Materials Conference now Taking place from 22 to 24 September 2026 in Siegburg/Cologne, Germany, the Renewable Materials Conference (RMC) is a global meeting place for the renewable carbon economy, held under the motto “Defossilisation through Innovation”
ICOS Capital invests in Mevaldi B.V., a producer of cost-effective, bio-based chemical building blocks, to support its further industrial scale up and commercial roll-out Dutch biotech company Mevaldi B.V. announces an investment by ICOS Capital, alongside High-Tech Gründerfonds and ICIG Ventures
Biofilms at work: what limits efficient consortia for industrial production? Biofilms, complex and structured microbial communities encased within extracellular polymeric substances, represent an emerging area of interest in bioprocesses for the production of value-added chemicals