As we wrap up the last day of the month of May, the pace of bioeconomy invention and change continues at a frenetic pace. Here are the top innovations for the week of May 31st<\/p>\n
In today\u2019s Digest, biomass-based 3D printing, renewable solvents, fermentation-based CBD, coffee waste upcycling, algae-based ink, limestone paper \u2014 these and more, ready for you now at The Digest online.<\/p>\n
#1 Renewable solvent wins environmental leader\u2019s top product award
\nIn Australia, Cyrene, a bio-based, renewable solvent produced by biotechnology company Circa Group, won Top Product 2019 at the Environmental Leader (EL) and Energy Manager Today (EMT) Awards. The judges said that Cyrene \u201c[r]eplaces an otherwise toxic substance with a natural, gentler alternative without compromising quality or function. This product has the potential to change the solvent landscape for the better.\u201d
\nCyrene was developed in conjunction with the Green Chemistry Centre of Excellence (GCCE) at the University of York. It is made from waste cellulose and has a unique property set, including viscosity, surface tension and polarities. Safer solvents are urgently required and CyreneTM provides an alternative to traditional dipolar aprotic solvents, which are used in large volumes \u2013 over one million tonnes per year.<\/p>\n
Tony Duncan, CEO and co-founder of Circa Group, said, \u201cWith traditional solvents such as NMP, DMF and DMAc under intense regulatory pressure due to their toxicity, we are providing a renewable, bio-based solution which is ideal for a range of advanced materials. We\u2019re delighted CyreneTM has been recognised as an innovative and successful commercial product by the industry \u2013 especially as the 2019 EL & EMT Awards judges confirmed this year\u2019s winners have raised the bar higher than ever.\u201d<\/p>\n
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More on the story, here.<\/a><\/p>\n #2 Hemp maker acquires Blue Marble Biomaterials, plans quick scale-up in Missoula Socati Corp. (Woodburn, Oregon) plans on hiring 40 workers, in addition to keeping Blue Marble Biomaterials\u2019 employees, to process hemp into retail products after the psychoactive THC is removed.<\/p>\n Blue Marble Biomaterials had used the 22,000-square-foot plant to produce renewable specialty chemicals for the food, fragrance, and cosmetics markets. Because the facility is already certified for food-grade products, Socati can rapidly scale production.<\/p>\n \u201cSocati\u2019s acquisition of Blue Marble reflects our commitment to an industry with the potential to grow to $22 billion by 2022,\u201d Socati CEO Josh Epstein tells Missoulian. \u201cThis acquisition positions Socati to capitalize on this meteoric growth through quality manufacturing, product development and innovation, setting the bar for product purity and consistency.\u201d<\/p>\n To date, Socati has raised about $32 million in venture funds.<\/p>\n More on the story, here.<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n #3 ORNL and UMaine to work on $20M biobased 3D printing project The ORNL and UMaine research team will work with the forest products industry to produce new bio-based materials that will be conducive to 3D printing a variety of products, such as boat hull molds, shelters, building components, tooling for composites and wind blades. They will also position the industry to print large, structurally demanding systems, such as boats.<\/p>\n \u201cThis exciting initiative is a win-win that will bolster the cutting-edge research performed at the University of Maine as well as support job creation in our state,\u201d said Sen. Collins. \u201cThe development of sustainable, inexpensive wood-based materials for large-scale 3D printing has the potential to invigorate Maine\u2019s forest products industry. This project is an outstanding example of our national labs working cooperatively with universities to drive American innovation and strengthen our economy.\u201d<\/p>\n The $20 million effort, funded by DOE\u2019s Advanced Manufacturing Office, aims to strengthen regional manufacturing by connecting university\u2013industry clusters with DOE\u2019s Manufacturing Demonstration Facility (MDF) at ORNL.<\/p>\n More on the story, here.<\/a> In California, renewable chemical company Amyris has received a $10 million milestone payment from LAVVAN for delivery of fermentation-based cannabinoid.<\/p>\n The partnership aims to disrupt the CBD market with a cost-efficient and sustainable production route. The company expects to bring the first fermentation-derived cannabinoid products to market next year with better purity and at significantly reduced cost compared to similar products and ingredients.<\/p>\n \u201cThis first milestone further cements our partnership with Amyris,\u201d says Etan Bendheim, CEO of LAVVAN. \u201cTheir R&D capabilities are second to none and we are excited to be further implementing their best-in-class technology as we continue to progress towards scaling production and full commercialization.\u201d<\/p>\n LAVVAN is a newly-formed company backed by leaders across the pharmaceutical, cannabis, and financial sectors. It is focused on spearheading biobased disruption of the CBD sector and providing the market with superior CBDs at significantly reduced cost for a multitude of consumer product and therapeutic applications.<\/p>\n More on the story, here.<\/a> The sustainable snacking competition was held as part of SnackFutures\u2019 mission to create snacks that are good for people, kind to the planet and deliciously fun. Start-ups were asked to share solutions that could foster a more sustainable food system in areas such as food waste reduction, sustainable sourcing and packaging, alternative ingredients, circular and regenerative snack solutions and emerging technologies.<\/p>\n The contest was conducted in collaboration with Food Tank, a non-profit think tank and leading global voice on creating a better, more sustainable food system. The two winners will receive an opportunity to participate in an \u201cinnovation acceleration\u201d workshop with Mondel\u0113z International\u2019s experts.<\/p>\n More on the story, here.<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n #6 Colorado algae startup makes black ink green Dubbed Living Ink, the company was founded by PhD researchers Scott Fulbright and Stevan Albers. Most inks are made from petroleum-based chemicals. Production of common ink material carbon black creates byproducts such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and particulate matter. Ink residues also release heavy metals into the environment. Living Ink\u2019s Algae Black ink, however, is both biobased and compostable.<\/p>\n \u201cI recall thinking, why are we making disposable packaging ink with materials that are made to last an eternity?\u201d Fulbright writes in an issue of Cosmetics Business. \u201cWhy not use pigments that nature has already developed and which grow on a massive scale?\u201d<\/p>\n Algae Black has also been found cut carbon dioxide equivalent emissions by 200% per ton produced compared with traditional carbon black, Fulbright adds.<\/p>\n More on the story, here.<\/a><\/p>\n #7 Carbon Footprint Challenge 2019 open for students and young professionals Until July, the online innovation portal http:\/\/carbonfootprintchallenge.org<\/a> is open for individuals and teams contributing ideas that can decrease carbon footprint of manufacturing, industrial processes as well as for products throughout their entire value chain. There is no need to deliver fully elaborated business plans or ready prototypes. Fields of interest are among others process efficiency, sustainable energy sources and raw materials as well as carbon sequestration technologies.<\/p>\n More on the story, here.<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n #8 Limestone paper maker seeks funding for overseas growth TBM\u2019s technology converts limestone into paper using less water than traditional paper production. The company\u2019s product, dubbed Limex, is also recyclable and biodegradable.<\/p>\n Current investors include Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Itochu Corp. and Toppan Printing Co., Japan\u2019s largest printer. TBM has raised 1.6 billion yen ($14 million) and 3.1 billion yen in its most recent funding rounds and aims to raise several more billion yen before a 2021 IPO.<\/p>\n \u201cOur next round is for overseas expansion, both for production and sales,\u201d Nobuyoshi Yamasaki tells Bloomberg. \u201cWe want to expand aggressively overseas, and to do that we need the funding to hire more people.\u201d TBM will inaugurate a 30,000 tons\/year plant north of Tokyo next year.<\/p>\n More on the story, here.<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n #9 Compass Minerals Plant Nutrition, Marrone Bio ink plant health pact \u201cFrom MBI\u2019s collection of 18,000 microorganisms, Compass Minerals Plant Nutrition will leverage its specialty in plant nutrition with a subset of Marrone\u2019s novel microbes to create innovative products to enhance plant health and growth,\u201d the companies say. \u201cThe result expected is new value-added products aimed at providing growers with improved plant vigor, higher yields and a better return on investment.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nIn Montana, a hemp processor has purchased Blue Marble Biomaterials, including the company\u2019s plant in Missoula.<\/p>\n
\nIn Tennessee, a new research collaboration between the University of Maine and the U.S. Department of Energy\u2019s Oak Ridge National Laboratory will advance efforts to 3D print with wood products, creating a new market for Maine\u2019s forest products industry.<\/p>\n
\n#4 Amyris\u2019 fermentation-based CBD work reaches milestone, triggers $10-million payment<\/p>\n
\n#5 Coffee waste upcycler and edible traceability markers are \u201cSnackFutures\u201d winners
\nIn Italy, Mondel\u0113z International\u2019s global innovation and venture hub, SnackFutures, recognized two start-ups for their innovative snacking solutions to help support a healthier planet in the \u201cFuture of Snacking\u201d competition. Kaffe Bueno, a Denmark-based start-up, upcycles spent coffee grounds from industrial coffee waste by transforming them into nutritious ingredients used in foods and wellness products. The other winner was In-Code Technologies, an emerging technology used to create edible, in-product traceability markers designed to improve food safety and increase consumer trust in the food supply.<\/p>\n
\nIn Colorado, a startup is producing sustainable ink for packaging using algae as feedstock.<\/p>\n
\nIn Germany, for the second year in a row, Covestro is a partner of the global Carbon Footprint Challenge, an international business idea competition supported by leading global companies from different industries such as B\u00fchler, Evonik and Oracle as well as by nine top European universities connected to the Unitech network. The challenge invites students and young professionals from all over the world to share ideas to fight climate change on an open innovation online platform.<\/p>\n
\nIn Japan, a company producing paper from rock is seeing pre-IPO funding to expand production and sales.<\/p>\n
\nIn Kansas, Compass Minerals Plant Nutrition has partnered with Marrone Bio Innovations to develop specialty plant nutrient products enhanced with microorganisms. The goal is to help crops more efficiently take up nutrients to improve health and reduce crop stress.<\/p>\n