A study from the University of Zagreb was recently published in the scientific journal Drvna Industrija, in which researchers investigated new methods for making wood pellets suitable as a coal substitute. The reason is clear: many power plants and industrial facilities still use coal, while climate goals demand rapid alternatives. Conventional wood pellets can help, but…
When Ingrid Goumans starts talking about her work at Avantium, where she's Director of Public Affairs, something shifts in her demeanor. Her eyes light up, her voice quickens, and it's immediately clear: this is someone who believes in what she does. Not because she has to, but because it feels like a meaningful choice. "The idea that your work contributes to a cleaner world—that's what makes the difference for me," she says.
Biogas and biomethane are playing an increasingly important role in making the energy system more sustainable. They are extracted from organic waste and used as a renewable energy source. Methane, the main component, has a high energy content and can be efficiently converted into heat or electricity. At the same time, it requires careful handling, because if it is accidentally released, it has a…
For the first time, the Netherlands has a tool that systematically maps the use of biobased materials in construction. The National Biobased Construction Monitor provides policymakers, construction companies, and manufacturers with insight into the practical application of biobased raw materials. The monitor was commissioned by the Ministry of Housing and Spatial Planning (VRO) and…
The biobased bottle from chemical company Avantium has recently been officially recognized as recyclable within the existing PET recycling system. The certification was issued by RecyClass, a European organization that assesses the recyclability of plastic packaging based on industry standards. A full-fledged replacement, Avantium's bottle is made from a combination of PEF and PET. PEF stands for polyethylene furanoate,…
The energy transition isn't just about technology or policy, but also about making choices that will endure if the future turns out differently than expected. Researchers from ETH Zurich and RWTH Aachen, among others, recently published a study that maps out exactly this. How do you use biomass in a way that not only...
Europe wants to move away from fossil fuels. The bioeconomy plays a key role in this transition: an economic model that runs on renewable biological resources such as crop residues, algae, wood and organic waste. But according to a new analysis by the European Environment Agency (EEA), the countries of the European Union together use almost twice as much biomass as…
Biotech Booster, the valorisation programme supported by the National Growth Fund, is receiving a boost of €196,4 million to accelerate groundbreaking biotechnologies from lab to market. Within this fund, the transition to sustainable bio-based raw materials and biomass plays a recognisable role, in addition to applications in the areas of health, nutrition and the environment. Biotech Booster stimulates starting biotech entrepreneurs…
Bio-based raw materials and sustainability are hot topics in the industry, but behind every innovative product lies a story of people with passion and dedication. Henri van Hemert and Rob van der Bruggen, working at Oerlemans Plastics, share their perspective on working with bio-based raw materials, the history of their company and their personal motivation. In this article, we bring their stories to life, so that not only the company activities and philosophy, but especially the people behind them become visible.
What starts as a technical change in German climate policy threatens to become a problem for farmers across Europe. According to the agricultural association UFOP, the planned reduction of the biofuel ceiling will lead to less biodiesel and therefore less rapeseed meal, an indispensable source of protein in animal feed. UFOP emphasizes that the production of biodiesel and the supply of…
