The European Commission will publish the first call for accreditation of certification bodies within the Carbon Removals and Carbon Farming (CRCF) framework in April 2026. This step marks the start of the practical implementation of the European system for carbon removal certification, which was adopted last year. The schedule for the remainder of 2026 was shared on March 2,…
The lack of clear definitions and measurement methods is currently one of the main barriers to the large-scale adoption of natural building materials. With the impending publication of the Dutch Technical Agreement (NTA) 8230 "Biobased Building," scheduled for the end of March 2026, the sector is now entering the final phase of a comprehensive standardization process. The new standard must…
Starting February 17, 2026, researchers and companies can apply for a total budget of nearly €7,7 million for innovation projects in the chemical sector. ChemistryNL has opened the 2026 PPP-I call for public-private partnerships focused on the transition to renewable raw materials and circular production processes. With this funding, ChemistryNL is encouraging research into solutions for the…
The chemical industry is exploring ways to replace fossil oil and gas with renewable sources. Last week, TNO presented new results from the Photons-to-Chemicals (P2C) project. This project uses sunlight directly to convert biogenic CO2 and green hydrogen into raw materials for the chemical industry. Biomass plays a key role in the transition to a…
As the days grow shorter and the festive lights come on, we look back on a year full of activity in the world of bioresources. We saw new initiatives blossom and established projects grow. It was heartening to see that knowledge sharing is effective. Increasingly, questions came from the sector and from policymakers who want…
The Dutch government and Royal Cosun have signed a binding agreement on making various production sites more sustainable. The government is allocating up to €73 million to support the transition from natural gas to electricity and the production of certified green gas. The agreement is intended to accelerate the reduction of CO2 emissions in the food chain.
The Dutch energy transition is receiving strong legal support with the recent publication of the "Green Gas Blending Obligation Act." This bill, now submitted to the Council of State, marks a crucial moment: starting in 2027, energy suppliers will no longer be permitted to supply fossil natural gas without obligation, but will be legally obligated to replace a growing portion with sustainable...
BoerenNatuur and LTO Nederland are publishing a guideline that aims to bridge the gap between pilot projects and policy within the Common Agricultural Policy. The core principle is simple: ensure that pilot projects and policy work together systematically from the outset, organize process management, and ensure that promising outcomes are truly implemented in regulations and practice. Between 2021 and 2024, 22 pilot projects were conducted…
In the coming years, the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) will launch a new innovation program for technologies that extract carbon from air, water, or biogenic sources and store it long-term. This initiative aligns with the Dutch government's Carbon Removal Roadmap. RVO is developing the program along three lines. Financial support will be provided through existing innovation instruments. Work is underway to develop a...
When you think of Eurobottle, you might initially picture a simple water bottle or sports bottle. But behind that seemingly ordinary product lies a story filled with passion, innovation, and a healthy dose of idealism. A story told not only through company philosophies and figures, but especially through the people who work there: people like Peter Westveer and Femke Broekhuijsen of Eurobottle.
A PhD project in Sweden shows that animal manure and food waste can be transformed into raw materials for animal feed. Researcher Clarisse Uwineza at the University of Borås describes how organic waste streams are first converted into volatile fatty acids and then serve as food for an edible fungus that forms a protein-rich biomass. This creates a local substitute for…
When you think of water management, you often picture large machines, dams, and pipelines. But behind Dutch Water Tech, it's just as much about the people. People with a passion for water, for bio-based resources, and for innovative solutions that are not only functional but also sustainable. We spoke with Mark den Dubbelden of Dutch Water Tech about their work, their projects, and their vision for circular water technology.
Biobased materials are appearing in several submissions for this year's Wubbo Ockels Innovation Award. From a field of 63 ideas, the jury selected ten finalists who will present their plans in Amsterdam on November 7th. The themes range from circularity and food to water and energy transition, with a striking focus on natural resources and renewable fibers.
IEA Bioenergy is asking researchers and practitioners to share recent insights on the role of bioenergy in pathways to net zero and net negative. The call focuses on two areas: how bioenergy systems connect with other energy systems and with land-based climate options such as reforestation, planting, and biochar. And how the supply of biomass from agriculture…
ChemistryNL is making a total of €1,8 million available in the second round of three grant calls. These are for public-private projects in the areas of water quality and monitoring, bio-based feedstocks, and carbon capture and utilization. Applications can be submitted until 2:00 PM on Friday, January 16, 2026. The program focuses on research that directly contributes…
The Climate Summit for the Built Environment will convene at the Jaarbeurs Utrecht on November 5th and 6th. The organizers are expecting a large group of participants from government, construction, and energy. The goal is to accelerate progress, with agreements that extend to the construction site. The summit was established in 2024 out of impatience with the slow implementation. The first edition generated dozens of...
In early September, the annual Clean Energy Ministerial and Mission Innovation was held in Busan[1], South Korea. I was fortunate enough to attend as part of the Dutch delegation and a representative of the Integrated Biorefineries Mission. Given the societal uncertainty, I was curious to see how things are currently being handled globally…
Breda is experimenting with a new building method, using biobased materials like elephant grass for student housing. The project, a collaboration between Urban Living Lab Breda, ROOTZ, and the municipality, aims to demonstrate how plant-based building materials perform in practice. Pilot project with biobased student housing. The construction of the student housing is part of...
The State, the province of North Holland, Tata Steel Nederland, and Tata Steel Limited have signed a joint declaration of intent for the transition in IJmuiden. The document is an interim step towards a binding, customized agreement and sets targets for emissions, health, and finances. According to the documents, the total investment is between four and six and…
The urgency to increase housing construction while simultaneously reducing the environmental footprint demands concrete action. In this context, Rabobank and area developer BPD are announcing a strategic partnership. By covering the additional costs of biobased and water-saving technologies in thousands of new-build homes, with an investment of over one hundred million euros over the next four years,…
The road to a sustainable future is strewn with challenges, but solutions sometimes lie hidden in the most everyday objects around us. At MNEXT, the Center of Expertise at Avans University of Applied Sciences, students have taken on the challenge of rethinking precisely these products. In a unique project, in collaboration with the Living…
The sustainability of Dutch industry is a process of trial and error. One moment, projects are booming, the next, billions in subsidies remain unused. This pattern is evident in the latest figures for the Sustainable Energy Production and Climate Transition Incentive Scheme, or SDE++ for short. A significant portion of the budget, earmarked for…
The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO.nl) is looking for entrepreneurs who can produce high-quality building materials from Dutch bio-based raw materials. The new Innovation Impact Challenge "Biobased Building Materials from Dutch Soil" has been open since August 27th. Anyone wishing to participate must submit a short Expression of Interest by 23:13.00 PM on Tuesday, September 1,8rd. The total budget is €XNUMX million.
North Brabant topped the list of biogas consumption regions in 2023. The province used 1,8 petajoules, accounting for approximately 22 percent of the Dutch total. Nationally, approximately 2023 petajoules of biogas were used for energy purposes in 8,3. These figures are provisional and come from the most recent regional publication from Statistics Netherlands (CBS). The map follows…
The NMD Foundation is extending the Biobased program within the NMD until the end of 2026. The goal is to make more and better environmental data on biobased building materials available within the National Environmental Database. The extension is part of the National Approach to Biobased Construction, which runs until 2030. What will change in practice? The "White Spots" compensation scheme for biobased products...
Without targeted policy, biobased materials and recycling will lag behind fossil-based alternatives. Both recyclates and bioplastics are currently insufficiently rewarded by legislation and market systems. This is evident from recent signals from the recycling and biotechnology sectors. According to the trade association HollandBIO, biobased materials are barely gaining traction. Biodegradable plastics such as PLA or…
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,…
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…
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.
Entrepreneurs who invest in sustainable energy will also have the opportunity to apply for a subsidy in 2026 via the SDE++ scheme. The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) has announced that the round will be reopened, with a budget of approximately eight billion euros. The goal remains the same: reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the energy transition…
The call to the European Commission to actively stimulate demand for sustainable products now has a hundred signatories. On 13 June, the Norwegian company Yara joined the so-called Call for Demand Creation to Drive Industry Investments, which was launched at the end of 2023 by, among others, VNO-NCW, VNCI and NVDE. Broad…
On Saturday 21 June, the construction sector will once again open its doors to the general public. During Construction Day, construction sites throughout the Netherlands that are normally closed can be visited. This year, the emphasis is on sustainability and innovation, with special attention to biobased projects in which wood and other renewable materials are central.…
The Biogas Systems in Industry report by IEA Bioenergy Task 37 discusses how biogas can play a role in making industrial chains more sustainable. The research shows that fermentation of organic waste streams not only provides a renewable energy source, but also reduces dependence on fossil fuels. Especially sectors with a lot of organic waste, such as…
What was discarded as worthless grass cuttings for years is given a second life in South Holland. Every year, around ten thousand tons of grass are mowed along provincial roads in the province. Until recently, most of it ended up on the compost heap. That is now changing thanks to a broad partnership under the name Greenhub Zuid-Holland. Greenhub Zuid-Holland consists of more than thirty…
The European Union is taking a new step towards a circular bioeconomy. Under the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU), 30 projects have been selected to receive €197,5 million in grants. These projects, spread across 33 countries and involving 416 organisations, focus on developing innovative bio-based solutions to reduce the dependency on…
Biobased materials are rapidly gaining ground in the construction sector, but to what extent are they also biodegradable? This is the central question in a practical study currently taking place at the Living Greenlab in Den Bosch. According to a report from MNEXT.nl, two materials specialists are investigating how different forms of mycelium biocomposites behave in natural soil conditions. Researchers Paula Jerez…
Avantium, an innovator in renewable chemistry, is working with The Bottle Collective on a new type of sustainable fiber bottle. This collaboration should lead to a widely applicable, fully plant-based packaging solution that can eventually replace plastic bottles. The Bottle Collective is an initiative of PA Consulting and Swedish technology company PulPac, known for its patented Dry Molded Fiber technology.…
A new European call for proposals was launched in Brussels in early April, making no less than 172 million euros available for groundbreaking projects in the circular bioeconomy. It is the largest annual call of the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU), a public-private partnership that focuses on accelerating the transition to a more sustainable,…
Stricter sustainability criteria and new calculation methods force sector to review The European Union has taken an important step towards a more sustainable energy system with the introduction of RED III in 2023. The revised directive sets stricter requirements and introduces new methods for calculating renewable energy, according to a recent publication by the Central Bureau for…
On April 22, we celebrate Earth Day – a global event that brings together millions of people to reflect on our planet. Since 1970, this day has been a call for awareness and action. Whether it’s climate change, biodiversity, air pollution or water quality: Earth Day is the time to look at what we can do better…
The fashion industry is known for its significant ecological footprint. To reduce this impact, an interdisciplinary team from the University of Groningen is focusing on an innovative alternative: clothing made from mycelium, the root network of fungi. Thanks to a jubilee grant of €100.000 from the Gratama Foundation, they can continue this promising research. A collaboration between science and…
ChemistryNL is making €5 million available for public-private partnerships that contribute to a sustainable chemical sector. Project proposals can be submitted until 16 September 2025. The new funding round focuses on three themes: water quality and monitoring, carbon capture & utilisation (CCU), and bio-based feedstocks for circular materials. Each theme will be allocated one third of the total budget, with a…
On 11 April 2025, the government presented its vision to make the Netherlands a global leader in biotechnological innovation and application by 2040. With targeted investments, low-regulation testbeds and a focus on social applications, the government wants to use biotechnology as a key technology for health, sustainability and economic growth. Biotechnology offers solutions for urgent social…
Wood, flax, elephant grass and other plant-based raw materials are gaining ground in construction. And not without reason: biobased building materials can play an important role in the fight against climate change. But how sustainable are these materials really? And how do they compare to traditional building materials such as concrete and plastic? These questions were central to a recent study by…
During the National Conference on the Circular Economy, six levels of government, including the central government, provinces, municipalities and water boards, officially signed the agreement on the Joint Forces of the Central Government and the Region on the Circular Economy 2025-2026. The aim of this collaboration is to accelerate and strengthen the implementation of the National Program for the Circular Economy (NPCE). Although the collaboration is broader than just…
Minister Hermans (Climate and Green Growth) has sent the final draft Climate Plan 2025-2035 to the House of Representatives. This plan outlines the long-term strategy to make the Netherlands climate neutral in 2050 and contains concrete choices for the period 2030-2035. The Senate has also received a similar letter. A striking part of the Climate Plan is the role of bio-based raw materials…
BIC Trend Report 2024-2025 highlights the importance of biomanufacturing for Europe’s future Europe is facing a major transition towards a more sustainable industry. According to the Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC) Trend Report 2024-2025, biomanufacturing can play a key role in this transition. Biomanufacturing uses biological feedstock to produce materials and chemicals and…
From 1 April 2025, entrepreneurs and researchers can apply for new subsidy opportunities for sustainable innovations in the built environment through the Energy & Climate Research and Development (EKOO) scheme. This scheme places a strong emphasis on innovative solutions for making homes and utility buildings more sustainable, including the use of biobased materials and circular applications.…
The tenth edition of the Circular Economy Week will take place from 17 to 22 March 2025. During this national event, pioneers, companies and governments will open their doors to show how circular entrepreneurship works in practice and how we can deal with raw materials and waste more intelligently. Biobased innovations and…
The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) has announced that the opening of the Sustainable Energy Production and Climate Transition (SDE++) subsidy for 2025 has been postponed by one month. Entrepreneurs can submit their applications from 7 October to 6 November 2025. This postponement offers additional time to prepare high-quality applications. In order to…
The Dutch economy is 18,5 percent sustainable. This is evident from the sixth edition of the New Economy Index (NEx), an annual study by MVO Nederland. Although the index has increased by 1,0 percentage point compared to 2024, the increase has leveled off over the past six years. According to Ankie van Wersch, director-manager of MVO Nederland,…
During the annual WOCODA event, which focuses on innovative housing concepts and sustainable public housing, an important milestone was reached in the transition to biobased construction on 30 January. Eight leading construction companies – BAM Wonen, BARLI, Bouwgroep Dijkstra Draisma, GeWoonhout, Heddes, Heijmans, Hurks and Plegt-Vos – jointly signed a declaration of commitment with Building Balance. In doing so, they confirm their…
The construction sector is one of the largest sources of CO2 emissions, but fortunately there are more and more sustainable alternatives available. Did you know that the use of concrete and steel in the construction of a house emits as much CO2 as twenty return flights between Amsterdam and New York? An important step towards sustainable construction is biobased insulation. This…
The Flemish bioeconomy is growing at a rapid pace, according to the most recent figures from the Flemish Bioeconomy Monitor, presented by Flemish Minister-President Matthias Diependaele. “The Flemish biobased economy contributes to more than one third of the total added value of our industry. With this, we even surpass neighbouring countries such as the Netherlands and Germany,” says Diependaele…
The CBE JU Info Day 2025 is scheduled for 3 April in Brussels. The event will showcase the recently announced €165 million funding opportunities, aimed at advancing a sustainable circular bioeconomy in Europe. This hybrid event will offer participants the opportunity to engage in in-depth sessions on 13 different funding topics.…
The new year has begun, and with the end of the holidays the question arises: what happens to the Christmas trees? Municipalities throughout the Netherlands are calling on their residents to help collect them and rewarding them in creative ways. Cleaning up Christmas trees together After the holidays, many municipalities collect Christmas trees. This…
Building materials can play a crucial role in the fight against climate change. A study published on Science.org found that completely replacing traditional building materials with carbon-storing materials could sequester up to 16,6 billion tons of CO2 annually. This is equivalent to about half of global CO2 emissions in 2021. This approach offers an opportunity to…
Good news for homeowners and companies who want to make their homes or buildings more sustainable: as of today, subsidies can once again be applied for via the Investment Subsidy for Sustainable Energy and Energy Conservation (ISDE). With an increased budget of 600 million euros, an increase of 40 million euros compared to last year, the scheme has been further expanded and made more accessible.…
The challenges in the field of sustainability and the growing construction task require innovative solutions. Biobased construction is a promising development that not only contributes to a circular economy, but also offers opportunities for reducing CO2 emissions and improving the living environment. For TNO, biobased construction is an important spearhead, where plenty of attention is paid to…
In November 2024, the Tech Tour Bio Based Industries Program took place in Wuppertal, preceding the annual forum of Circular Valley, the event’s sponsor. The program brought together investors and innovative entrepreneurs to scale up sustainable projects and make them market-ready. According to William Stevens of Tech Tour, this is not…
The Stedendriehoek region will take an accelerated step in biobased (re)construction from 2025. The use of biobased materials – natural and ecologically responsible raw materials – not only reduces CO2 emissions, but also requires less energy during production. This sustainable construction method fits in seamlessly with the urgency to green the construction sector. Municipalities and partners in…
In the ambitious CIRCUROAD program, Rijkswaterstaat, companies, governments and knowledge institutions are working together to develop and apply fossil-free, biobased asphalt on all Dutch roads. On December 4, 2024, this unique chain collaboration reached an important milestone: the construction of three test sections with biobased asphalt on the InnovA58. Replacing fossil bitumen with biobased binder The Netherlands produces…
The European textile sector has taken a big hit in recent decades due to competition from cheaper Asian producers. But there is hope on the horizon. According to Sanabel Abdulbawab, researcher sustainable textile chains at Wageningen Food & Biobased Research, Europe can develop a new, sustainable textile sector by investing in natural biobased fibres. “Europe can take the lead…
The Optoppen.org platform has been officially launched. This English-language website offers a wealth of information and tools to stimulate the biobased topping up of buildings. The goal: to contribute to climate goals, to use urban space more efficiently and to extend the lifespan of existing buildings. The topping up of buildings, whereby additional living or working floors are added,…
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…
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.
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.
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.
Market research agency Buildsight has developed a monitor that measures the use of biobased products in the construction sector. The National Biobased Construction Monitor closely follows developments in residential construction, renovation projects and utility construction, and provides insight into the rise of sustainable materials. “Our field workers have an extensive list of products that can occur on a construction site,” explains…
The Demonstration Energy and Climate Innovation (DEI+) subsidy scheme is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year. In this decade, Dutch companies have collectively invested around €1,76 billion in innovative projects that contribute to reducing energy consumption and CO2 emissions, thanks to the DEI+ subsidy. A large proportion of the companies that used this scheme, around 60%, belong to the medium and large…
This day is to draw attention to a better world. This is a day to reflect on the importance of caring for our earth. Sustainability means that we must treat nature and the environment well, so that future generations can also enjoy it. Biomass are materials that come from plants or animals…
Within the ambitious CIRCUROAD program, companies, governments and knowledge institutions are working together on a sustainable future for the Dutch infrastructure. Led by Rijkswaterstaat, which has been hosting since the end of 2023, the program focuses on developing circular asphalt. This innovative asphalt is characterized by the replacement of the fossil binder bitumen…
In a recent interview with Biomassafeiten, Jaap Timmers, director of Circulus BV, shared the mission and vision of his company, which is committed to a circular economy. Circulus offers governments and companies the opportunity to contribute to a sustainable future by converting residual flows into valuable raw materials.
In the context of the 125th anniversary of Staatsbosbeheer, a special autumn debate will be organized on Thursday 17 October at Kasteel Groeneveld in Baarn. This debate, which will run from 16.00:19.00 to XNUMX:XNUMX, will revolve around an important question: is a second Veluwe needed to support the raw materials transition in the Netherlands? During this inspiring and enthusiastic…
More than 95% of the world’s mussels are farmed on ropes that hang in the sea. These ropes, which are crucial for mussel farming, are wrapped with so-called mussel socks to ensure that the mussel seeds stick well. Traditionally, these socks are made of cotton, but their use has several environmental disadvantages and…
Sustainable Tuesday is an annual initiative in the Netherlands that takes place on the first Tuesday of September, and this year it falls on September 3, 2024. On this day, sustainable ideas, projects and initiatives from society are presented to politicians. The aim is to put sustainability on the political agenda and to get citizens, companies…
The construction sector faces an enormous challenge: by 2030, CO2 emissions must be halved compared to 1990. An important step in this transition is switching from fossil raw materials to sustainable alternatives, or bio-based construction. The Better Biobased Building Blocks project will work over the next 3 years to develop green building materials based on...
A new scientific article, published in Energy, Sustainability and Society, emphasizes the importance of the circular bioeconomy for better cooperation between different systems, such as energy, agriculture and industry. The article is based on research from IEA Bioenergy Task 40 and Task 44 and focuses on how we can improve our economy and technologies…
The first prototype of the diesel engine, designed by Rudolf Diesel, was started on August 10, 1894 in Augsburg, Germany. He developed this diesel engine that could run on both vegetable and petroleum oils, making organic oils renewable and sustainable fuel sources in the near future. As Mr. Diesel predicted, this day aims to...
A high-profile development in the construction sector has been introduced: the latest version of the modular, wooden building system WikiHouse. “An innovation that offers plenty of opportunities for the entire construction industry in the Netherlands,” says Nick Gevers of Hendriks Bouw en Ontwikkeling. Hendriks is now extensively investigating the possibilities of this open source building system, together with Avans University of Applied Sciences (Den Bosch/Tilburg) and…
In a sustainability project, Omrin will build and operate a fermentation plant on the Milieuboulevard in Groningen, on behalf of the three ARCG municipalities (Groningen, Het Hogeland and Westerkwartier). This initiative will significantly improve the processing of vegetable, fruit and garden waste (VGF), with an estimated capacity of 130.000 tonnes of waste per year, resulting in the production of…
The Netherlands has the scoop: building with waste wood. On June 27, The Urban Woods turned the first screw in a solid building plate for their modular homes. This 'breakthrough for CO₂ issues' is the result of chain-wide collaboration. From waste mountain to residential tower The Urban Woods Delft is a high-tech apartment complex with 10 floors for the middle segment.…
Today, startup FC-i (First Circular Insulation) announced an important breakthrough in the field of 100% natural insulation materials. By using residual flows from forest and nature management of Staatsbosbeheer and Natuurmonumenten, large insulation panels are made using fungi (mycelium). These fungi are continuously cultivated in a reactor vessel at the innovative production line in Veenoord.…
Can bank protection be made of both natural material and circular? An innovative pilot is investigating this question in the context of the SBIR call for Biobased and Circular Bank Protection. Two promising materials, willow wicker and biocomposite, are being tested for their durability and effectiveness. The test location in Hellouw, Gelderland, was officially opened in May. At a ditch along the wharf…
In Drachten we find Fiberplast Group, a supplier of sustainable floor and facade solutions. Their mission is clear: delivering total solutions with a strong emphasis on biobased and circular construction. We spoke with CEO Walter Wieten and Commercial Director Gert Vos about their view on the future of the construction industry.
About 2030 homes must be built in our country by 900.000. The demand for building materials is increasing significantly. Together we work towards one goal: accelerating the transition to a circular and biobased (construction) economy. Biobased building: NEXT level. Circular construction The demand for building materials is increasing significantly due to the enormous demand for homes. Where…
Over the next 3 years, 11 partners in West North Brabant will work under the leadership of TNO to create green building blocks with local vegetable residual flows. From grass to glue, from sugar beet pulp to paint or from wood chips to insulating foam are examples of what the B4 project – Better Biobased Building Blocks – has in mind. These building blocks…
Microsoft and Swedish energy company Stockholm Exergi have announced a 10-year offtake agreement, which will provide Microsoft with more than 3,3 million tonnes of carbon removal certificates from the planned Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) facility in Värtan, Stockholm. The agreement marks the world's largest ever carbon removal deal, according to the companies. Anders Egelrud, CEO of Stockholm Exergi: “The agreement…
In the world of biobased construction, wood is often the first material that comes to mind. But an innovative perspective highlights straw as a promising alternative. Rob van Nistelrooij, owner of Bouwbedrijf Gebroeders van Herpen, enthusiastically supports this idea of straw as the 'building material of the future'. “Bio-based construction…
Last year we posted a series of interviews with people who work at companies that focus on bio-based raw materials. This year we are making a new series of interviews. In the Netherlands, many people work passionately with biomass as a raw material. They work on innovations, improve (production) processes or create policy for a fossil-free future. In this miniseries we highlight…
Four Testing Gardens were recently realized in the Hoftoren in The Hague within the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW). An important goal of this adjustment was to give the spaces a more attractive appearance, so that people enjoy coming to the office. Application of innovative and biobased materials increases the quality of experience. It…
Martin van Rijn, chairman of Aedes, received the new Handbook 'Housing in timber' from Karo van Dongen, on behalf of the Brabantse Houtbouw Lente corporations, on February 26, 2024. Timber construction offers opportunities for social housing because it is sustainable, biobased and healthy. The environmental benefit lies in reducing CO2 emissions compared to traditional construction methods.…
In a joint effort to promote sustainability and reduce the impact on the environment, five leading housing associations in West Brabant – Thuisvester, Alwel, Laurentius, Woonkwartier and Stadlander – took an important step on February 20. They have signed a commitment statement to use bio-based insulation materials more often in new construction and renovation projects. This initiative…
More and more farms are generating electricity with their own wind turbine. Not the large gray aluminum colossi, but a small variant that looks a lot friendlier with its green mast and wooden blades. And the larch wood from which they are made comes from Staatsbosbeheer. “A good use of our wood,” says Kasper Broek, wood product specialist at…
At a time when sustainability and environmental awareness are becoming increasingly important, the municipality of Bergen op Zoom took a special initiative in 2017: the establishment of the BioBest Trophy. This prize was awarded to the most sustainable and environmentally friendly car that took part in the big parade in the 'Krabbegat'. Over the years, the…
Fishing nets lost at sea are a major source of plastic pollution in the ocean. These so-called 'ghost nets' drift around the world, ensnaring and killing fish, dolphins, seals, birds and sea turtles. Now a South African/Swedish joint venture wants to put an end to the problem with compostable fishing nets. Fishing nets lost at sea are a…
Staatsbosbeheer and Heijmans are joining forces to process OSB sheet material made from wood from Dutch forests in Dutch timber-frame homes. Staatsbosbeheer annually supplies logs to the West Fraser factory in Genk (Belgium), with which West Fraser produces 40.000 m3 of OSB sheet material under the Dutch wood label. The raw material comes from the forests…
With the start of 2024, new opportunities will arise in the field of bio-based building materials, including wood, flax and hemp fiber. In an effort to promote sustainability, the Dutch government has significantly increased the subsidy amounts for insulation measures with biobased materials for both home owners and business parties. Home owners who decide to clean their roof, floor or…
The province of North Brabant will release €1,53 million in the coming years to boost the biobased (agricultural) construction economy in the region. This is done in collaboration with Building Balance. Building Balance is a national transition program with the aim of accelerating the use of bio-based raw materials in construction. The provincial contribution has been approved by GS…
