Tackling emissions from land use change (LUC) is one of the biggest challenges in bioenergy programs. This is also true for Brazil’s RenovaBio policy, which is designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from biofuels. New research, conducted as part of IEA Bioenergy Task 45, has tested the effectiveness of RenovaBio’s so-called ‘conversion-free’ criteria in…
“Will anything come of it?” is the first reaction that makes you sigh when you see how much is being discussed in various international bodies about sustainability, but not being acted upon. We have just finished COP29 where we did not get much further than statements such as: “In connection with the climate threat, immediate…
At the COP29 climate summit in Azerbaijan, Afke van Rijn, Director General Environment and International of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management (IenW), announced that 233 parties have now joined the Dutch ambition for clean heavy road transport. This is almost double compared to last year. Among the new endorsers are major players such as Maersk and two new countries: Mozambique and Ethiopia.
ChainCraft and Royal Avebe have signed a Heads of Agreement, laying the foundation for a strategic partnership. The partnership focuses on utilizing Avebe’s residual potato juice flows, which are converted into high-quality circular fatty acids and fertilizers using ChainCraft’s innovative fermentation technology. The Ter Apelkanaal location, located on and near the…
Staatsbosbeheer is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year. In this context, Staatsbosbeheer’s forests will be in the spotlight during a number of autumn debates this year. The debate of 17 October was entitled “A new Veluwe needed for the raw materials transition?” During the debate, the following people gave a short in-depth reflection: Gert-Jan Gruter (Avantium, special professor…
In a candid conversation with Timo van Roosmalen and Wim de Laat of BioscienZ, it became clear how deeply rooted their passion is for biotechnology and sustainable innovation. BioscienZ, founded by Wim de Laat, is a company that specializes in developing processes that convert biomass into valuable applications such as food ingredients and industrial materials. This makes the company an important example of how people with passion work towards a more sustainable future.
Since 1 January 2024, EU member states are required to collect bio-waste separately under the Waste Framework Directive (WFD). However, current collection within the EU27 (plus Norway and the UK) is still stuck at only 5.112.788 tonnes per year, which is less than 26% of the theoretical potential. The vast majority of bio-waste (garden and food waste), which…
An international team of scientists, including researchers from Wageningen University & Research (WUR), is working on a project to extract nickel from the ground using plants. This research, which is funded by a grant of 1,35 million euros from the American Department of Energy, promises to offer an environmentally friendly alternative to the…
In a world where sustainability is becoming increasingly important, there are companies that are leading the way in developing innovative solutions to replace fossil resources with biobased alternatives. One of those companies is Eco-Point, where Jacco Quist, Product Manager, has been working with passion and dedication to make cleaning agents more sustainable for over 25 years. In this article, we share Jacco's insights and Eco-Point's philosophy.
The recent re-election of Donald Trump as President of the United States has caused a lot of controversy, especially in the areas of climate policy and renewable energy. Trump is known for his pro-fossil fuel industry and his skeptical attitude towards climate change. This attitude could have far-reaching consequences, not only for the domestic policy of…
Chemist Laura Jansen of Radboud University has succeeded in making a well-functioning soap from sugar beet pulp – a residual product of sugar beet. This breakthrough offers a sustainable alternative to the usual soaps. Jansen received her PhD on 8 November for this innovative research. Sugar beet pulp is a residual product that is created after sucrose has been removed from the sugar beet…
A surprising discovery off the volcanic coast of Italy could fundamentally change our approach to carbon capture. Meet Chonkus, a cyanobacterium that grows rapidly and naturally sinks to the ocean floor. What started as a simple expedition by international scientists near the Italian island of Vulcano turned into a major discovery. With wetsuits on,…
Following the European Parliament elections in June, the new European Commission is now in the final stages of being formed. From 4 to 12 November, the commissioners-designate, formally presented by President Ursula von der Leyen, will be subject to hearings at the European Parliament in Brussels. Each candidate will have three hours of…
Let the children come to me, all, all the children… Almost everyone who has ever been to church in their youth will have sung this classic. It has certainly stuck with me, probably because the text is so welcoming (or in a modern term: inclusive). And without the…
Net greenhouse gas emissions in the European Union (EU) fell by 8% last year, marking a significant step towards climate neutrality. The sharp decline was mainly driven by reduced coal use, increased renewable energy sources and lower energy consumption across Europe, according to the latest estimates in the…
Staatsbosbeheer has a new product in its Hollands Hout line: facade cladding made of finger-jointed, finely sawn larch facade parts, originating from FSC®-certified forests. These sustainable wooden facade parts are delivered ready-made, including fire class D, assembly instructions and a paint finish with a guarantee system. Staatsbosbeheer works with Boogaerdt Hout from Krimpen aan de Lek for distribution, which distributes the product via its dealer network.
