Bioplastics can play a larger role in an economy that wants to become less dependent on oil and gas. This is stated by European Bioplastics in a new publication on sustainable biomass for bioplastics. The trade association views biobased plastics as an important building block for the European bio-economy. At the same time, the publication touches upon a sensitive point in the…
Hygiene and health group Essity is participating in the European research project PROTEUS, which is working on bio-based superabsorbent materials derived from sustainably harvested brown algae. The company is investigating whether raw materials from the brown algae Laminaria hyperborea can be used in products such as baby diapers, menstrual products, and incontinence materials, as an alternative to current fossil-based plastics. From fossil superabsorbents to seaweed…
On April 22, 2026, consultancy firm Guidehouse presented a new report on biogases in Europe to the European Parliament. The meeting was organized by the European Biogas Association (EBA), the European trade association for the biogas sector. The central question: how much renewable gas can Europe produce itself from residual streams and waste in the coming decades? Biogas is produced through the fermentation…
The European market for biobased adhesives is on the verge of substantial growth. This is the conclusion of market research firm Ceresana in a new market study, the first to specifically map the European market for so-called green adhesives. European sales of biobased adhesives are estimated at approximately 1,5 billion euros in 2034, with an expected annual…
An extensive scientific review study, published in the journal Biochar, concludes that biochar is one of the most versatile and promising materials in the fight against climate change. The material, made from biomass, can simultaneously sequester carbon, improve soil quality, increase agricultural productivity, and purify water. The study, compiled by an international team of researchers, synthesizes a…
The Rotterdam chemical industry could require up to half as many fossil raw materials by 2050, but only if large-scale, coordinated development is chosen. That is the central conclusion of a new study commissioned by the Province of South Holland into syngas chains in the Rotterdam Port-Industrial Complex (HIC). The study, conducted by Tekenkamer van de…
Researchers have developed a new catalyst made from biomass that offers a promising alternative to the scarce and expensive platinum currently used in fuel cells and metal-air batteries. The breakthrough, published in the scientific journal Biochar, shows how renewable raw materials can be converted into high-value materials for clean energy technologies. From wood biomass to…
On Tuesday, May 19, 2026, the Netherlands is organizing the NL Company Day during EUBCE 2026 in The Hague. Part of this day is a structured matchmaking program aimed at establishing new international contacts within the bioeconomy. The event takes place at the World Forum and is part of the broader congress program, to which…
The Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU) has published its work programme for 2026. In total, over €170 million is available for projects within the European bioeconomy, distributed across thirteen thematic calls. Focus on large-scale biorefineries An important part of the programme is the focus on so-called flagship projects. These involve large-scale demonstration plants that…
A group of sixty experts presented concrete measures at the second Grid Ready Forum in Brussels to accelerate the injection of biomethane into European gas grids. The infrastructure is already in place, but regulatory fragmentation and technical barriers are slowing down the rollout. Delays in the implementation of EU gas rules threaten to hinder the rollout, precisely at a moment…
The Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC), together with more than twenty European trade associations, has signed a joint letter to the European Parliament. The coalition calls on MEPs to explicitly retain agriculture and the bioeconomy in the next major European research and innovation programme, Horizon Europe 2028-2034. The reason for this is a draft report that on 13 March 2026…
The European Commission, through CORDIS, has released the results of BioUPGRADE, a now-completed research project into new applications of natural polymers from biomass. The project focused on the use of cellulose, hemicellulose, and chitin in, among other things, packaging materials, conductive inks, and hydrogels. BioUPGRADE ran from 2021 to the end of 2025 and was led by…
The European Investment Bank and the Italian energy group Eni have secured a loan of 500 million euros for a new biorefinery in Sannazzaro de' Burgondi, in Lombardy. With the funds, Eni intends to convert part of the existing refinery for the production of biofuels. The plant is scheduled to produce HVO diesel and sustainable aviation fuel starting in 2028. The…
Agricultural waste streams usually end up in compost, animal feed, or energy production. Researchers at the University of the Basque Country have now described a different application. They produced anode material for sodium-ion batteries from sunflower husks, a waste stream that normally has little economic value. In trials with small button cell batteries, these cells continued to function for up to 1.000 charge and discharge cycles. The study fits into…
New research from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology shows that, under a favorable scenario, Europe has enough biomass residue streams to completely replace fossil fuels in road transport. The potential is also significant in the shorter term. As early as 2030, more than half of fuel demand could be met by renewable liquid fuels. The…
Researchers from Wageningen University & Research and Utrecht University have developed a method to produce a versatile chemical building block from plant residues using electricity. The approach avoids toxic liquid bromine and uses a simpler reactor. The results have been published in ChemSusChem. The chemical industry relies heavily on fossil fuels and dangerous process steps…
