André Torre’s Post

20 March 2024, Brussels: the European Commission 🇪🇺 has adopted and presented today its strategy: "Building the future with nature: Boosting Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing in the EU", leveraging Europe's clear scientific edge in biotech, and turn this into commercial successes. ▶️Three priorities have been identified: awareness building , financing and regulation. 🌳A strong emphasis is placed on the crucial contribution of the forest-based and wood industries: 🪵 Recognising that the EU has a strong domestic supply of renewable raw materials, such as wood. 🪵 In the case of biomanufacturing, the forest sector offers sustainably produced, renewable and recyclable raw materials that can be used for high value innovative products, such as batteries or healthcare and pharmaceuticals applications (e.g. nanocellulose-based wound dressings). 🪵 Furthermore, wood can be used to replace fossil-based or non-renewable materials, for example, in the production of construction materials and textiles and to substitute chemicals. 🪵 Biorefineries can nowadays transform wood into innovative high value-added products in several sectors: biochemicals, insulation foams, bio composites, engineered foams, batteries, etc. 🪵 The European Commission in its “Annual Union Work Programme for European Standardisation“ for 2024 (https://lnkd.in/eKsFZbMe) has indicated its intention to request the European standardisation organisations (CEN, CENELEC) to develop and revise standardisation deliverables on biomaterials, bio-based and wood-derived products. 🪵 Bio-based value chains would benefit from a deeper integration of primary producers (e.g. farmers and foresters) as they are at the beginning of most bio-based value chains. 🌳 Biotech with its biomaterials have tremendous potential to transform health care, to feed the world, to address climate change, to boost jobs and prosperity with biomanufacturing. Link: https://lnkd.in/egSx_v_K

Check out this highly cited paper from the special issue on the Development, Evaluation, and Biomedical Applications of Novel Biomimetic Systems. This special issue is co-edited by Dr. Malka Shilo and I for the #JournalofFunctionalBiomaterials Title: 'A Sustainable, Green-Processed, Ag-Nanoparticle-Incorporated Eggshell-Derived Biomaterial for Wound-Healing Applications' link: https://lnkd.in/d-3X5YdZ

NEW SCIENTIFIC PAPER: "Worlds apart? Investigating acceptance and usage demands of carbon-based cosmetics and clothing across European countries" Thanks to Carbon Capture and Utilization (#CCU) technologies, #CO2 can be captured and processed into valuable products instead of being emitted into the atmosphere. While the chemical industry is developing these solutions to transition towards a circular carbon economy, it is essential to investigate the consumers' perception of CO2-based products. Wiktoria Wilkowska, Imke Haverkämper and Martina Ziefle, experts at RWTH Aachen University, explored the public perception of CCU-based products such as #clothing and #cosmetics in a study that was recently published in “Energy, Sustainability and Society” (Springer Nature Group). Conjoint measurements were realized as an online experiment, addressing #acceptance patterns and preferences in four European countries (Germany, Norway, Spain, and Poland), involving more than 800 participants. The outcome provides insights into differences in Pan-European comparison and helps to understand the public motives and country-specific terms of use for CCU-based products, effectively establishing recommendations for policy and governance. Find out the results in open access at https://bit.ly/3wDg1W8.

Many sectors need to contribute to faster decision-making on clean technologies. Engineering community needs to provide accurate information on life-cycle impact and likely cost. Ideally the engineering community would reach a consensus on which technologies are likely to be beneficial to society. Industry needs to invest/participate in the demonstration of new technologies at larger scale, to provide better cost estimates, and to reduce the technical risk. Industry can often identify additional non-technical barriers to deploying a technology. Governments needs to provide some financial support for both the research and the demonstrations, and then strong policy support for the most beneficial technologies. That policy support facilitates the huge investments needed.

Industry News Digest: Stay Updated with Key Developments in Chemical Manufacturing Are you ready to stay ahead in the ever-evolving world of chemical manufacturing? Our latest Industry News Digest is here to keep you informed and inspired. Dive into the crucial updates on regulatory changes and water conservation efforts, complete with Biodiffusion’s unique take on these developments. 1. Regulatory Changes on Bio-based Materials: 2024 CBE JU Funding Priorities Announced https://lnkd.in/dvURzZRE The Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU) is shaking things up with its 2024 funding priorities, allocating a whopping €213 million to boost circular bio-based industries in Europe. This investment will propel projects focused on sustainable bio-based materials, including cutting-edge adhesives and binders. Biodiffusion's Perspective: At Biodiffusion, we're not just following the trends—we're setting them. Our bio-based binders and sealants are not only in line with these new regulations but also push the envelope for eco-friendly practices in the industry. We're leading the charge in reducing the environmental footprint of industrial manufacturing. 2. Water Conservation in Industrial Manufacturing: Efficient Techniques for a Sustainable Future https://lnkd.in/gDeUiNQn Water scarcity is a global issue, and industrial manufacturing is stepping up with innovative conservation techniques. This article highlights methods like recycling and reusing water within industrial processes, significantly slashing water consumption and costs. Biodiffusion's Perspective: Biodiffusion’s products are designed with water efficiency in mind. By integrating our innovative binders and sealants, industries can achieve impressive water savings, supporting sustainability and boosting operational efficiency. Our solutions are pivotal for effective water management, ensuring we contribute to a more sustainable planet. Join us on the journey towards sustainability and regulatory excellence. Explore more about our groundbreaking solutions at Biodiffusion and be a part of the green revolution. #Sustainability #ChemicalManufacturing #Innovation #WaterConservation #BioBasedMaterials

Don't miss the chance to be a part of the analytical event of the year! Covering pertinent topics such as sustainability and environmental monitoring, #PFAS analysis, advancements in mass spectrometry, and much more, this event is not to be missed. Headline sponsor: PolyScience #AnalyticalScience #analyticalsciencesummit #sustainablescience #environmentalmonitoring #networking #sciencecommunication

Don't miss the chance to be a part of the analytical event of the year! Covering pertinent topics such as sustainability and environmental monitoring, #PFAS analysis, advancements in mass spectrometry, and much more, this event is not to be missed. Headline sponsor: PolyScience #AnalyticalScience #analyticalsciencesummit #sustainablescience #environmentalmonitoring #networking #sciencecommunication

📣Calling All Chemical Experts! Are you an expert from research, industry, policy, or civil society with deep knowledge and experience in the #chemical sector? Then, you should join the chemical workshop of the series “Pathway to DESIGN the circular bio-based transition” organized by SUSTRACK! ❓Why Attend?❓ This workshop series is designed to: 🔍 Dive deep into the policy, environmental, societal, and economic dimensions of transitioning from a linear fossil-based economy to a #circular #BioBased one in the chemical sector and selected value chains. 🤝 Co-create tailored #policy recommendations, paving the way for future policy developments at regional, national, and European levels.   Don't miss out on the opportunity to: 📌 Hear inspirational case studies from leading experts, who will share their success stories, challenges and insights: discover which case studies will be explored in the workshop by scrolling the images below! 📌 Make your voice heard in dynamic discussions on policy, environmental, societal, and economic dimensions of the circular bio-based economy transition in the chemical sector.   Let's DESIGN a #sustainable future together: Save the Date! 🗓️ 4th of July 2024 ⏰ 10:00 - 11:30 CEST 💻 Online   Agenda and registration 👉 https://lnkd.in/dkNytNrK Università degli Studi di Roma UnitelmaSapienza Wageningen University & Research KnowlEdge Srl PEDAL Consulting DBFZ Deutsches Biomasseforschungszentrum gemeinnützige GmbH Universiteit Gent Woodlab Gent TECNALIA Research & Innovation TECNALIA Circular Economy FVA New Media Research CERCIS CEntre For Research on Circular Economy Innovation and SMEs Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung CIRCE - Centro Tecnológico

A new research collaboration between a sailing start-up and the Sadler Lab in The University of Edinburgh School of Biological Sciences aims to turn waste plastic from yacht sails into chemicals such as vanillin – the compound used in cosmetics and food products for a vanilla flavour and smell. ”We’re delighted to be part of this collaboration which draws upon our expertise to test the viability of using a biological system to upcycle plastic fibres from sails into high-value chemicals. The results from this research have already had major implications for the field of plastic sustainability and demonstrates the power of engineering biology to address real-world challenges” - Dr Jo Sadler, Chancellors Fellow in Biotechnology at the School of Biological Sciences Edinburgh Innovations Read more here 👉 https://lnkd.in/eKQYpP2A     #ScotClimateWeek #ClimateWeekUoE #StoriesOfChange #Innovation #EngineeredBiology #Biotechnology #Research #SustainableScience  

Don't miss the chance to be a part of the analytical event of the year! Covering pertinent topics such as sustainability and environmental monitoring, #PFAS analysis, advancements in mass spectrometry, and much more, this event is not to be missed. Headline sponsor: PolyScience #AnalyticalScience #analyticalsciencesummit #sustainablescience #environmentalmonitoring #networking #sciencecommunication