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12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM
RECYCLED REUSED OR COMPOSTED - DANONE ANNOUNCE TRIO OF ACTIONS TO BE FULLY CIRCULAR BY 2025
THE GREEN REVOLUTION WILL BE BLUE HARVESTING ALGAE FOR THE BIO-ECONOMY
BRANDS A PRAGMATIC APPROACH TO BIO-BASED CHEMICALS
ITrsquoS OFFICIAL BRASKEMrsquoS CARBON-NEGATIVE CLAIMS FOR ITS BIO-BASED PLASTIC ARE APPROVED
AND MUCH MUCH MOREhellip
MEET THE TEAM SOURCING VALUABLE NEW HARVESTS FROM OUR FORESTS
ldquoWE BELIEVE THIS PROJECT WILL CHANGE THE WAY THE WOOD INDUSTRY IS PERCEIVEDrdquo
we can change the world
Discover the possibilities with Corbionrsquos co-creatorscorbioncomco-creators biobasedcorbioncom CorbionBiochems
we can change Tog983530983530983530983530983530983530983530983530983530983530
We know itrsquos a big vision
But at Corbion we passionately believe that by collaborating with like-minded organizations and a little time we can improve peoplersquos lives Not just today but for future generations We know the best way to achieve this is taking our partnerships to a whole new level
How We call it co-creation Bringing expertise in biobased and sustainable technologies for controlled release adhesion solvency emulsifi cation and antimicrobial solutions we work with you to discover breakthrough opportunities
Co-creation makes us greater to983531983531983530983530983531983531983531983530983530983531983531983531
we can change the world
Discover the possibilities with Corbionrsquos co-creatorscorbioncomco-creators biobasedcorbioncom CorbionBiochems
we can change Tog983530983530983530983530983530983530983530983530983530983530
We know itrsquos a big vision
But at Corbion we passionately believe that by collaborating with like-minded organizations and a little time we can improve peoplersquos lives Not just today but for future generations We know the best way to achieve this is taking our partnerships to a whole new level
How We call it co-creation Bringing expertise in biobased and sustainable technologies for controlled release adhesion solvency emulsifi cation and antimicrobial solutions we work with you to discover breakthrough opportunities
Co-creation makes us greater to983531983531983530983530983531983531983531983530983530983531983531983531
10
EDITOR amp CO-FOUNDERLuke UptonLukeBioBasedWorldNewscomBio_BasedWorld
MANAGING DIRECTOR amp CO-FOUNDERAlex WilliamsonAlexBioBasedWorldNewscomalexjwmedia
OPERATIONS DIRECTORRosie NixonRosieBioBasedWorldNewscom
GLOBAL SALES DIRECTORMatt AndersonMattBioBasedWorldNewscom
COMMERICAL MANAGERRyan SwanichRyanBioBasedWorldNewscom
SENIOR CONTENT MANAGERLiz GyekyeLizBioBasedWorldNewscomLizGyekye
Web wwwbiobasedworldnewscom
wwwworldbiomarketscom
LinkedIn wwwlinkedincomgroups8429881
Facebook wwwfacebookcombiobasedworldnews
Instagram wwwinstagramcombiobasedworld
Bio-Based World Limited WeWork 131 Finsbury PavementLondon United KingdomEC2A 1NT
Bio-Based Quarterly is Designed by Coterie Creative Ltd wwwcoteriecreativecouk
Bio-Based World Quarterly is Published by Bio-Based World News Ltd
copy All rights reserved No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without the prior written permission of the copyright owners
CONTACT US
CONTENTS03Editorrsquos Welcome
04News In Brief
06Recycled reused or composted - Danone announce trio of actions to be fully circular by 2025
08Project focus Creating high purity lignin and affordable platform chemicals from wood-based sugars
10The green revolution will be blue Harvesting algae for the bio-economy
12World Bio Markets
13Nobel nod for the green pioneer behind lsquodirected evolution enzymesrsquo
14Brands A pragmatic approach to bio-based chemicals
17Itrsquos official Braskemrsquos carbon-negative claims for its bio-based plastic are approved
18Bio-based a possible solution to Mastercardrsquos search for more sustainable bank cards
20The Last Word withhellip Sandy Marshall Executive Director Bioindustrial Innovation Canada
CLICK ON TITLE TO GO TO ARTICLE
13
17
18 20
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 1
Will the market adopt yournext bio-based innovation
Find the right innovation partnersfrom our 500000+ technical community
Accelerate your innovation by 5Xwith our agile and digital methodology
Increase your success rate by 200when launching new bio-based products
SEE HOW WE CANACCELERATE YOUR INNOVATION
WELCOMEWelcome to the twelfth issue of the Bio-Based World Quarterly your dedicated guide to the latest news and essential business developments for bio-based and sustainable chemicals materials and products and the brands that purchase use and sell them
Every year the Collins English dictionary names a lsquoword of the yearrsquo ndash it typically reflects the cultural or political mood of the year in recent years it has been lsquobinge-watchrsquo lsquoBrexitrsquo and lsquofake newsrsquo And this year Itrsquos lsquosingle-usersquo ndash reflecting the increasing global awareness of environmental issues
Collinsrsquos lexicographers said the word is now being used more than ever before in light of growing efforts to try and nullify or reverse the damage that plastics pose to the environment with a spokesperson stating ldquoThe word single-use has seen a four-fold increase since 2013rdquo It is perhaps also worth noting that on a similar note of growing awareness lsquoveganrsquo also made the shortlist
I donrsquot need to tell you that there is a huge opportunity of bio-based to step in and offer solutions
Consumer-facing brands barring some noted exceptions have been slow to move away from their established effective and usually very cheap petroleum-based products But this awareness of the damage of that we are doing whilst hardly prevalent across all consumers is pouring focus on traditional practices Take the seasons launch of the Starbucks red cups and the subject of a recent feature on Bio-Based World News For all their endeavours with recycling (in specific places) an annual huge marketing push of single use cups feels increasingly out of step with customer demands
Sustainable living expert Jen Gale featured on the quote of left and here sees the days of the red cups numbered ldquohellip a disposable cup is still a disposable cup no matter how jolly and festive it looks Itrsquos still nigh on impossible to recycle and will sit in landfill (looking all jolly and festive) for years to comerdquo
So as we come to the end of one tumultuous year and head into one that looks set to be similar we can at least be proud that the concerns that we have had for many years regarding our disposable culture have moved into the mainstream
All the team here are very excited for World Bio Markets 2019 returning to Amsterdam on the 1st-3rd April If you enjoy this Quarterly then this event is perfect for you And representatives of several companies featured in this issue Genomatica MetGen Light My Fire SpecialChem Croda Tetra Pak and Braskem are already confirmed as being part of our expert speaker line-up
As always we are very grateful of the time that our contributors have shared with us on this issue in particular the SWEETWOODS Project and their partners at the Bio-Based Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI JU) Corbion Genomatica Light My Fire Port of Amsterdam and SpecialChem
Thanks for reading and please let me know if yoursquod like to contribute to our future issues ndash we are always looking for fresh voices and new stories
Luke UptonEditor amp Co-Founder Bio-Based World News LukeBioBasedWorldNewscom
ldquoI REALLY DONrsquoT UNDERSTAND ALL THE EXCITEMENT AROUND STARBUCKrsquoS SPECIAL CHRISTMAS RED CUPS - A DISPOSABLE CUP IS STILL A DISPOSABLE CUPhelliprdquo
Brightmark Energy invests $57m to construct the USrsquo lsquofirstrsquo commercial-scale plastics- to-fuel plantldquoThis sustainable technology directly
addresses an acute problem facing
the US more than 91 of the 345
million tons of plastic domestically
produced each year is not recycledrdquo US
renewable energy development company
Brightmark Energy is pushing forward
with its plans to develop what it claims is
the USrsquo first commercial-scale plastics-
to-fuel facility The company recently
it announced that it had acquired a
majority interest and invested $10m in
Ohio-based technology company RES
Polyflow while committing an additional
$47m investment to the first commercial-
scale plant to utilise this technology
Bio-plastic JV Synvina under threat over dispute about investment deadlineldquoWe are determined to pursue the commercialisation of FDCA and PEF ndash with or without BASFrdquo
The bio-plastics industry has suffered a potential blow after chemicals giant BASF
announced that it had threatened to pull out of its Synvina joint venture (JV) with Dutch
renewable chemicals company Avantium over a disagreement on an investment deadline
for the project
At the core of the JV is a focus on producing and marketing FDCA (furandicarboxylic
acid) as well as the marketing of new polymer PEF (polyethylenefuranoate) based on this
chemical building block
Clipper Teas claims world first with new non-GM plastic-free tea bag made from bananasldquoNow wersquove created and implemented a plastic-free bag we wonrsquot be
going backrdquo One of the UKrsquos biggest tea brands is set to launch what it claims is the
worldrsquos first plastic-free non-GM and unbleached heat-sealed teabag made from
bananas The problem of plastic pollution in the worldrsquos seas and oceans has forced
companies and governments to do things differently This concern has also led to an
increasing demand for alternatives to plastics A number of leading tea brands use
polypropylene a sealing plastic to fasten teabags and ensure that they hold their
shape However to tackle the issue of plastic waste Clipper Teas has developed a new
product designed specifically to help cut down on plastic pollution ndash a plastic-free
unbleached and non-genetically modified tea bag which it claims to be a world first
BIO-BASED WORLD NEWS IN BRIEF
4 BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM
Veolia and Tetra Pak team up to launch beverage carton recycling partnershipldquoWith this partnership we are combining our respective areas of expertise to find
sustainable solutions for PolyAl recyclingrdquo
Packaging giant Tetra Pak and resource management company Veolia have
announced what they call a ldquogame-changingrdquo partnership that will enable all
components of used beverage cartons collected within the EU to be recycled by 2025
The cartons collected will be turned into high-value secondary materials The average
beverage carton comprises around 75 paperboard 20 plastic and 5 aluminium
foil However while the fibres recovered during recycling have a healthy market when
converted into high-quality paper pulp for use in both industrial and consumer
products the same is not true for the recovered polymer and aluminium (PolyAl) mix
Croda officially launches new 100 bio-based surfactants ldquoWe are pleased to be able to offer such a
wide range of 100 bio-based and 100
renewable ingredients to meet the needs
of formulators and companies seeking to
deliver more sustainable optionsrdquo
Speciality chemicals company Croda
International has announced the official
launch and certification of its ECO range of
bio-based surfactants - ingredients designed
to meet increasing market demand for
sustainable high-performance ingredient
options With a vast product range that
includes everything from agrochemicals
building and construction materials and
adhesives to pharmaceuticals dietary
supplements and food and feedstocks
Croda is a company with a portfolio of
sustainable ingredients that are used by
small niche consumer markets as well as
much larger specialist industrial ones
Thyssenkrupp-commissioned bio-plastic plant starts production in ChinaldquoThe bio-plastics market will continue to grow in the coming years
not least due to the increasing environmental awareness of industry
governments and consumersrdquo
German industrial systems supplier Thyssenkrupp has recently
announced that the worldrsquos first commercial plant based on the
companyrsquos patented manufacturing process for bio-plastic polylactide
(PLA) called PLAneo has started production in Changchun China
The new plant is operated by the Jilin COFCO Biomaterial Corporation
a subsidiary of COFCO Chinarsquos largest food and agriculture group and
producer of edible oils and oilseeds
BIO-BASED WORLD NEWS IN BRIEF
5BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM
Multinational food-products giant Danone have
announced a series of initiatives to make its
packaging 100 circular and to accelerate
towards this being a standard for the industry
This includes initiatives to improve product design
and develop alternative delivery and reuse models investments to
develop effective efficient and inclusive systems for increased
collection and recycling to boost recycling and actions to
preserve natural resources by reintegrating recycled materials
into our packaging and developing use of renewable materials
Emmanuel Faber Chairman and CEO of Danone said ldquoWe
believe the time is now to step up and accelerate embrace our
responsibility and work with others to engage a radical shift that
will help free the world from packaging waste We will be acting
both at global and local level to ensure circularity of packaging
becomes the new norm Today we are announcing a series
of investments and commitments that - I believe - will have a
concrete impact These will be amplified as we collaborate with
industry-peers governments NGOs start-ups and the finance
sector harness new technologies and invest in new solutionsrdquo
Danone will accelerate transition towards circular economy of
packaging in three ways
1 PACKAGING DESIGNED FOR CIRCULARITY
Danone ( Danone ) commits to ensure that all its packaging
is designed to be 100 recyclable reusable or compostable by
2025 Moreover the company will develop alternative delivery
models or new reuse models where relevant and take action to
eliminate problematic or unnecessary plastic packaging
Already 86 of our packaging is recyclable reusable or
compostable and 50 of our water volumes are sold in reusable
jugs Their evian bottles are already 100 recyclable and Danone
have also piloted an innovation to eliminate non-recyclable
shrink film for multi-packs using specially designed adhesive
and tape handles Along with many other brands they are also
assessing alternatives to plastic straws through a pilot program to
be launched in 2019 with their AQUA brand in Indonesia
2 REUSED RECYCLED AND COMPOSTED IN PRACTICE
Danone recognizes that design wonrsquot be enough to make
its packaging fully circular Effective collection and recycling
systems are essential to ensuring packaging is recycled reused or
composted in practice
To help meet or go beyond
the collection targets set by
regulators such as the minimum
90 collection target for beverage
bottles expected to be set in
the EU for 2025 Danone will
support the most effective publicly
organized collection and recycling
systems including Extended
Producer Responsibility and
Deposit Return Scheme systems
when relevant
They will also invest in private initiatives that strengthen circular
infrastructure especially in countries where formal systems are
absent or in development or where there is a high risk of leakage
into the environment By 2025 Danone are aiming to have
initiated or supported collection and recycling initiatives in every
one of our top 20 markets (representing around 90 of sales)
3 PRESERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES
Danone use 14 of recycled PET on average in their water and
other beverage bottles by 2025 we will increase this amount to
50 The evian brand already contains 30 recycled plastic (rPET)
on average and intends to reach 100 by 2025 Their first 100
recycled PET bottle with the Lanjaron Red natural mineral water
brand in Spain and additional 100 recycled PET bottles reaching
all major water markets by 2021
In addition to these three tenets Danone are pushing the
message that collaboration is the cornerstone of success when
it comes to circular economy as we detailed in September They
have joined a global commitment led by the Ellen MacArthur
Foundation in collaboration with UN Environment Program
other businesses NGOs and governments to address plastic
waste and pollution
Dame Ellen MacArthur founder of the Ellen MacArthur
Foundation (circulareconomy) declared ldquoBy looking at the
whole system from product design to developing new reuse
models and collaborating with others these commitments
set Danone up to take important steps towards circularity
Commitments like those announced today can help drive the
global momentum needed to create a circular economy for
plastics that stops them from becoming waste and pollution
Now is the time to make it happenrdquo n
RECYCLED REUSED OR COMPOSTED - DANONE ANNOUNCE TRIO OF ACTIONS TO BE FULLY CIRCULAR BY 2025
FEATURE
6 BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM
l ightmyf i re com
Shakethe habit
BRING YOUR OWN
F O O D F R I E N D LYA N D B PA F R E E
M A D E I NS W E D E N
Disposable plastic bags disposable flatware disposable cups disposable wellalmost anything Things that can only be used once donacutet belong in a sustainableworld Shake the habit ndash bring your own
ReKitTM ndash Bring-along-friendly reusablekit for sips bites and drinks on the go
Now one project SWEETWOODS made up of
nine European companies all of whom have
wondered more about trees and their potential
is to begin producing wood-based biomaterials
for the first time on an industrial scale
This unique euro43 million bio-economy project funded by
the Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI JU) is now
underway with its key aim of developing a first-of-its-kind
bio-fractionation flagship plant in Estonia to turn sustainable
hardwood residues into high purity intermediate building blocks
of cellulosic sugars and high-quality lignin
To learn more about this project that has such huge potential
Bio-Based World Newsrsquo Luke Upton spoke exclusively to two
members of the consortium Matti Heikkilauml CTO of Finlandrsquos
pioneering enzyme technology company MetGen and Peep Pitk
RampD Manager of Europersquos largest pellet producer Graanul Invest
that is building up the wood fractionation flagship plant in Estonia
Matti tells more about the origins of the project ldquoThe concept
began around five years ago We knew about the potential of
wood that much more could be done with it and that a concept
of biorefining could transform hardwood into higher added value
products Most of the solutions and technologies to make this
happen were ready to be commercialised but we just needed to
match up the skills and partners to make the concept a realityrdquo
For Peep the opportunities of the partnership are clear ldquoThis
project really is a gamechangerrdquo He explains that it is outdated
understanding that the only way to valorise technological wood
is via highly resource demanding chemical pulping processes
The wood fractionation concept that we are working on can offer
PROJECT FOCUS CREATING HIGH PURITY LIGNIN AND AFFORDABLE PLATFORM CHEMICALS FROM WOOD-BASED SUGARSTHE AUTHOR AND POET RALPH WALDO EMERSON NO STRANGER TO THE BEAUTY OF THE NATURAL WORLD FAMOUSLY SAID THAT ldquoTHE WONDER IS THAT WE CAN SEE THESE TREES AND NOT WONDER MORErdquo SO MUCH OF OUR WORLD HAS ITS ROOTS IN OUR TREES FROM CLOTHES AND FURNITURE TO FOOD AND PAPER
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM8
FEATURE
so much more by converting over 90 of wood into useful high
value products with small ecological footprint
What is clear through the conversation with Matti and Peep is the
clarity of the SWEETWOODS vision Unlike some other projects
that pass through the bio-economy the goal and commercial
potential of the offering has been clear from the outset The
consortium powering the project connects all the links in the
value chain and covers the entire material process
By fractionating the wood into pure sugars and lignin it becomes
possible to further refine the material into high added value
products that can be used to replace oil-based chemicals and
plastics New bio-based consumer products including sports
mats insulation panels and replacements for plastics are just
some of the items mentioned in our discussion
Alongside MetGen and AS Graanul Invest the seven other
members of the European wide consortium are Tecnaro
Gesellschaft zur industriellen Anwendung Nachwachsender
Rohstoffe MBH (Germany) Ultima GMBH (Germany) Recticel
NV (Belgium) Global Bioenergies (France) 2B Srl (Italy) Vertech
Group (France) and Spinverse OY (Finland)
There has been a ldquospirit of collaborationrdquo among the partners
from the very start states Peep but the project has also
been greatly supported by the Bio-based Industries Joint
Undertaking (BBI JU) a public-private partnership between
the EU and the Bio-Based Industries Consortium (BIC) focused
on developing the European bio-based economy ldquoItrsquos been
very important to have had BBI-JU in supporting us They
have gathered industry expertees and offer a long-term
experienced view of what is required to build a successful bio-
economy consortium that can deliver a commercial successrdquo
says Matti ldquoWithout them it would have been far harder to
forge this alliancerdquo added Peep
The next steps for the project are to build the flagship plant
in Estonia to demonstrate its viability at industrial scale But
obviously there are still opportunities to take advantage of this
innovative projectrsquos outcomes ldquoWe are very much open for
discussions and open for business And by partnering now you
could still become an early adopter of the novel biomaterials in
diversity of end-use cases We believe this project will change the
way the wood industry is perceivedrdquo Matti concludes
To read more about the SWEETWOODS Project click here For
industrially representative lignin and sugars samples contact Peep Pitk
PeepPitkgraanulinvestcom For technology licensing opportunities
and modified lignin samples contact Mattimetgencom n
ldquoWE ARE VERY MUCH OPEN FOR DISCUSSIONS AND OPEN FOR BUSINESS AND BY PARTNERING NOW YOU COULD STILL BECOME AN EARLY ADOPTER OF THE NOVEL BIOMATERIALS IN DIVERSITY OF END-USE CASESrdquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 9
THE GREEN REVOLUTION WILL BE BLUE HARVESTING ALGAE FOR THE BIO-ECONOMY
When you think of algae what do you think of For
most people the thought of algae conjures up
images of a murky-looking pond However algae
are one of the largest unexploited resources on our
planet In fact the worldrsquos ocean could harbour up
to 1 million species depending on who you believe But we have just
barely begun to harvest and cultivate algae for mankindrsquos benefit
Algae are not just green stuff in the sea they are complex aquatic
organisms that have the ability to conduct photosynthesis
Algae have been used by human beings for a long time However
the number of companies developing algae-based biofuels
swelled in the 2000s as oil prices rose and supportive policies
were established for next-generation biofuels Yet when the
oil price dropped to record low levels in 2014 to under $35 per
barrel a lot of companies went bust backed away or shifted their
interests towards higher value markets such as health foods
beauty and personal care products and animal feed The use
of algae for applications in the nutraceutical chemicals and
cosmetic markets is growing in a world where companies are
increasingly seeking alternatives to fossil fuel-based products As
a result of this algae have come under the spotlight once again
However the industry has only industrialised a dozen or so of the
many variety of algae species so the opportunities are endless
HIGHLY-VALUED RESOURCE
So what opportunities exist By far the largest market for algae
commercialisation is the nutraceutical and animal feed sector
Today algae nutraceuticals generate around $05bn in revenue
annually according to Bloomberg In fact the most valuable
products made from algae today are human nutraceuticals such
as Omega 3 oils They can be sold in capsules in health stores or
added to food and drink products to enhance their offering
Algae-based food is big business In Asia macroalgae - also
known as seaweed is a highly valued resource with more
than 30 million tonnes farmed annually making it one of the
largest biomasses harvested from the oceans according to Jon
Funderud CEO at Norway-based Seaweed Energy Solutions
He says that more than half of this volume goes directly to human
consumption as healthy ldquosea vegetablesrdquo while the remainder
has various industrial uses such as for bioplastics animal feed or
fertilisers In Europe seaweeds are virtually unexploited but have
in recent years received a surge in interest both as a new super
food and for their potential as a bioenergy crop
However there has been no serious industrial efforts at large-
scale macroalgae farming because there has been no ldquooff the
shelfrdquo farming technology available Funderud says He says
the vast majority of seaweed farms in Asia are based on very
labour-intensive and low tech means with no real potential
for technology transfer to ldquohigh-cost countriesrdquo In Europe
the seaweed farming industry is still at pilot scale where the
production cost is still really expensive
Seaweed farming is not the only way to address feeding the
worldrsquos growing population Microalgae small microscopic aquatic
photosynthetic plants that require the aid of a microscope to be
seen can also do the job Ingmar Hoslashgoslashy chairman of Norway-
based microalgae technology company AlgaePro says that
microalgae can also provide food security and provide an alternative
to dairy and meat-based foods Matt Carr executive director of US
Algae Biomass Organisation concurs with Hoslashgoslashy and says that
algae used for nutraceutical sector and animal feed will drive growth
for the sector which in turn will help to produce more large-scale
production facilities and a variety of different production methods
BY LIZ GYEKYE
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM10
FEATURE
Unique production methods are already being utilised Scotland-
based biotechnology company ScotBio is just one firm doing just
this and has been successful in commercialising its natural blue
food colourant that is suitable for sweets ice cream and drinks
It was founded in 2007 and is based on the findings of PhD
student Chelsea Brain who found that a specific type of red light
increased the production of phycocyanin (natural blue pigment)
in microalgae spirulina
CEO DC Van Alstyne says the research that is happening in the UK
is ground-breaking on many fronts but many companies in the UK
have difficulty commercialising their innovations compared to the
US because the US academics tend to get more financial support
NOT JUST FOOD
In the US one company that is making waves in the algae-based
material space is California-based biotechnology company
Checkerspot The company is engineering microalgae to bring
high-performance materials to the market Checkerspot ferments
a class of sugar-eating microalgae called trebouxiophyceae
which swell with fat The company uses genetic engineering and
classical strain improvement to coax the algae to produce useful
triglycerides It is using this feedstock to create the foam used
in surfboards and is also working on creating water-repellent
coating for outdoor apparel
Another US company that is focusing on algae is oil giant Exxon
Mobil It is working with Synthetic Genomic to conduct a large
trial to engineer algae streams in outdoor settings to produce
biofuels In fact today most algae are grown outdoors in open
pods In contrast microalgae can be grown in lab with the help
of photobioreactors (a bioreactor that utilises a light source to
cultivate phototrophic microorganisms) and steel tanks
Yet environmental critics would question whether it was right
to genetically engineer these microorganisms for the good of
mankind Carr says ldquoUsing everything that we have already
learned in terms of containment researchers have designed
outdoor settings to ensure that they canrsquot produce the kinds of
negative environmental effects that some may fear You can do
that by engineering the organisms so that they canrsquot survive in
natural settingsrdquo
He says that algae producers in the US have been working with
the US Environmental Protection Agency to ensure that they are
designing systems that will not result in any kind of attack on the
broader eco system
In relation to the eco system waste wastewater treatment is
emerging as really important trend for algae Algae can be added
to wastewater or sewage to clean the water Carole Llewellyn
associate professor in applied aquatic bioscience at Swansea
University says algae can effectively capture and degrade
nitrogen and phosphorus in domestic wastewater and clear up
metals in mine wastewater streams
All of this looks promising However as Llewellyn says
ldquoHarvesting microalgae on a large scale and economically is a
challenge It is less of a challenge where the end product is of
high value but for low-value commodities low-cost harvesting
remains a challenge Some species are naturally self-flocculating
We probably need to understand this process a bit betterrdquo
Yet with only around 12 algae species industrialised the next step will
be to map the algae genome according to Carr It really does seem
like the world needs to prepare itself for a blue-green revolution n
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 11
ldquoWBM was very valuable to me since it brought all actors along the value chain of the bio-based economy around several tables in panel discussions I hardly know any other conference with so many different industry players presentrdquoRaul Pires VP New Technologies Covestro
MEET THE PRODUCERS AND BRANDS INVESTING IN BIO-BASED SOLUTIONS
Visit wwwWorldBioMarketscom Follow us Bio_BasedWorld WBM19
1-3 April 2019 Passenger Terminal Amsterdam Amsterdam
14th Annual
Produced by
US-based chemical engineer Frances Arnold
(pictured) is one of three scientists who have this
month been awarded the 2018 Nobel Prize in
Chemistry She has won the prize for her work on
the ldquodirected evolution of enzymesrdquo which is a bioengineering
method for creating new and better enzymes in the laboratory
using the principles of evolution Enzymes produced through
directed evolution are used to manufacture everything from
biofuels to pharmaceuticals
Directed evolution works in the same way that breeders mate
cats or dogs to bring out desired traits To perform the method
scientists begin by inducing mutations to the DNA or gene that
encodes a particular enzyme
An assortment of thousands of mutated enzymes is produced
and then tested for a desired trait The top-performing enzymes
are selected and the process is repeated to further enhance the
enzymesrsquo performances For instance in 2009 Arnold and her
team based at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
engineered enzymes that break down cellulose the main
component of plant cell walls creating better catalysts for turning
agricultural wastes into fuels and chemicals
A number of additional enzymes produced through directed
evolution are now used for a host of products including biofuels
agricultural chemicals paper products and pharmaceuticals
Arnold and her colleagues have also used directed evolution
to persuade bacteria to make chemicals not found in nature
including molecules containing silicon-carbon or boron-
carbon bonds or bicyclobutanes which contain energy-
packed carbon rings
By using bacteria researchers can potentially make these
chemical compounds in ldquogreenerrdquo ways that are more
economical and produce less toxic waste
Arnold ( francesarnold ) was born on 25 July 1956 in Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania and arrived at Caltech as a visiting associate in 1986
and was named assistant professor in 1987 associate professor in
1992 and professor in 1996
Speaking about her Nobel prize Arnold said she was ldquoabsolutely
flooredrdquo to receive the award adding ldquoI have to wrap my head
around this Itrsquos not something I was expectingrdquo
ldquoMy entire career I have been concerned about the damage we
are doing to the planet and each otherrdquo Arnold said ldquoScience
and technology can play a major role in mitigating our negative
influences on the environment
Changing behaviour is even more important However I feel
that change is easier when there are good economically-viable
alternatives to harmful habitsrdquo n
NOBEL NOD FOR THE GREEN PIONEER BEHIND lsquoDIRECTED
EVOLUTION ENZYMESrsquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 13
FEATURE
BRANDS A PRAGMATIC APPROACH TO BIO-BASED CHEMICALSCHRISTOPHE SCHILLING CEO GENOMATICA
The brands I speak with have well-crafted
plans for advancing the sustainability of their
products These address choosing materials
for recyclability considering end-of-life
reuse energy consumption during
production packaging and community-related issues
consistent with the United Nationsrsquo Sustainable
Development Goals
I was particularly energized by my conversations at the
VERGE18 conference where I was asked to be a discussion
leader at the Circular Plastics Summit co-led by the Ellen
MacArthur Foundation (I encourage you to read their New
Plastics Economy and Make Fashion Circular reports)
Increasingly brands are seeing the opportunity to improve
sustainability through increased use of renewably-sourced
materials This approach is part of a broader set of initiatives
to increase circularity in a range of global material flows
Although these approaches offer compelling benefits
making them happen can be challenging In this article Irsquod
like to share some ideas for tangible near-term actions that
emerged from my recent discussions as they apply to bio-
based chemicals
ONE KEY LEARNING CLOSER IS BETTER
Wersquove found that brands are more energized to act when
key chemicals are ldquocloserrdquo to their end products in the
sense of making up a substantial portion of the end
product A great example is nylon where the key chemical
caprolactam is only one step away from conversion to
nylon Genomatica is developing technology for bio-based
caprolactam which is then made into 100 bio-based
nylon-6 for apparel and carpet we announced Aquafil as
a partner in early 2018 Brands appreciate that moving to
100 bio-based nylon could allow them to have a major
impact on the sustainability of their products and on their
market differentiation
To make that happen only one chemical needs to be made
renewably This announcement was followed by Project
EFFECTIVE which aims to commercialize better fibers and
plastics and includes four major brands ndash HampM Vaude Carvico
and Balsan EFFECTIVE supported by the EUrsquos Horizon2020
program will use Genomaticarsquos caprolactam technology as
well as technology for the first bio-based chemical delivered
by Genomatica for 14-butanediol (BDO) to enable higher
renewable content in polyesters and polyurethanes
Two more examples are instructive First Genomatica has
also commercialized its Brontidetrade bio-based butylene glycol
Itrsquos certainly close to the customer as itrsquos used directly in
personal care and cosmetics products As a result
Brontide has resonated with major brands that
emphasize naturalness and purity Second is
Genomaticarsquos aforementioned BDO At
first glance BDO is a few conversion
ldquoWHEN BRANDS ARE LOOKING FOR NEAR-TERM IMPACT THEY NEED A BIO-BASED TECHNOLOGY THAT REALLY WORKSrdquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM14
FEATURE
steps away from most products But brands that look deeper have
realized they can quickly improve the sustainability of polymers
used in common urethane foams (for example) by replacing just
the BDO part with a bio-based version That wonrsquot take the product
to 100 but it allows for a fast improvement through better
understanding of where a productrsquos ingredients come from
ANOTHER IT HAS TO WORK
When brands are looking for near-term impact they need a bio-
based technology that really works That means it can be produced
at commercial scale today with competitive economics Tangible
examples like bio-based BDO and Brontide deliver immediate
opportunities and build confidence that the technology side of
our industry can deliver further innovations A recent example is
Novamontrsquos production of compostable biodegradable plastics
in Italy using bio-based BDO Their plant with a 30000 ton per
year capacity has helped revitalize the local economy providing
a market for farmersrsquo products plus the refurbishing of an older
industrial facility creating many jobs Novamont has secured
multiple well-known brands as customers including UK retailer
Co-op which will replace 180 million bags As brands see
biotechnology deliver at scale many want to learn whatrsquos next
WHAT BRANDS CAN DO NOW
To see how bio-based chemicals can fit your sustainability
strategy we recommend the following
bull Increase internal awareness and understanding This starts
with a deeper understanding of where your key production
inputs come from and how they are made When coupled
with greater exposure to what biotechnology can do it helps
prioritize what parts of your supply chain can be improved
Leverage outside expertise ndash invite biotech firms to share
what they know and do
bull Involve your upstream chemical and material suppliers
Give them updated requirements tied to your sustainability
objectives Encourage them to have direct discussions with
the biotechnology firms and biochemical producers that
expand their options and fit your needs
bull Be clear about your shopping list and priorities This allows
biotechnology firms and chemicalmaterial producers to
provide feedback and look for areas of overlap
bull Send tangible market signals If suppliers know yoursquore serious
about moving to more sustainable ingredients and process
technologies theyrsquoll pay attention This can tie directly to your
Corporate Sustainability Reporting and objectives
bull Publicise and celebrate your choices Let your customers
know about your process for improving and milestones along
the way Press releases speaking at conferences blogs and
tweets can all be effective
bull Get ldquoinside the tentrdquo with preferred partners Some of your
technology or supply chain partners can share more insights
or have a greater impact on your results Invest in ideation and
exploration if needed Close partnerships can help you influence
their priorities or gain early access to advantaged ingredients n
Irsquoll be a speaker at World Bio Markets in April Contact
me directly at cschillinggenomaticacom if yoursquod like
to discuss your companyrsquos vision and needs sooner
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 15
Yes thatrsquos us down there Yes you know us as a prime tourist destination and a business service hub But did you know that in the port of Amsterdam we have one of Europersquos largest biorefinery clustersThe port also has reliable infrastructure logistics providers and terminals utilities feedstock and markets literally at spitting distance Schiphol Airport is as you know just around the corner We reserved space for your business to grow Biopark Amsterdam So consider Amsterdam you are more than welcome to join us Discover our success stories on portofamsterdamcom
The greatest port you never thought of
Considered Amsterdam
In our industry where explaining the benefits of a
product can sometimes be a challenge a good
boost was received this week A familiar name to
most of our readers the Brazilian chemicals
company Braskem producers of Irsquom green ndash a
bio-based polyethylene made from sugarcane ndash has had its
negative carbon footprint credentials strengthened thanks to an
independent review The assessment was carried out by the
Carbon Trust an international organisation that helps businesses
governments and the public sector to accelerate the move to a
more sustainable low carbon economy And the result is that
Braskemrsquos bio-based plastic as used by LEGO (pictured above)
among others is effectively carbon-negative
In a new report comparing Irsquom green with fossil-based equivalents
the Carbon Trust has endorsed the methodology used by Braskem
to support claims that for every tonne of Irsquom green produced the
equivalent of around 3 tonnes of CO2 are locked away by the
sugarcane which provides the main raw material for its manufacture
Capturing CO2 during its lifecycle Irsquom green avoids emissions
related to the production of fossil fuel feedstock thereby
providing a net saving of the equivalent of around 5 tonnes of
CO2sup1 by the end of the plastic manufacturing process
Irsquom green is 100 recyclable plastic currently being used in a
range of applications from food packaging to personal care
products as well as more durable goods such as chairs and vases
Brand owners are increasingly responding to climate change
by reducing their carbon footprint which requires investment
in more efficient processes and using innovative renewable
materials Braskemrsquos Irsquom green is made from a renewable
feedstock and can make a significant contribution to reduce
carbon emissions
John Newton Associated Director at the Carbon Trust said ldquoTo
address climate change we will need innovative materials that
are radically lower in emissions compared to what is commonly
used today Products like Irsquom green which help lock away carbon
emissions in their production can be a real part of the solutionrdquo
Marco Jansen Commercial Director Renewable Chemicals at
Braskem said ldquoWersquore delighted that credible association Carbon
Trust further validates our calculations of Irsquom greenrsquos carbon
footprint Our customers know Irsquom green polyethylene is a smart
and sustainable way to reduce a productrsquos carbon footprint and we
hope more brands will use it as a renewable solution in the futurerdquo
This news will no doubt have been welcomed by LEGO too as
Braskem will supply the LEGO Group with Irsquom green as it makes
it switch to bio-based bricks Already in 2018 Green Plastic has
been used in the lsquobotanicalrsquo elements range such as trees bushes
and leaves that sold quickly once released
The LCA Summary is available here A one-page statement is
available here n
ITrsquoS OFFICIAL BRASKEMrsquoS CARBON-NEGATIVE
CLAIMS FOR ITS BIO-BASED PLASTIC ARE APPROVED
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 17
ldquo IT IS THE WAY TO STEP FORWARD TO AN EARTH-FRIENDLY SOLUTION REDUCING PETROLEUM BASED MATERIALSrdquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM18
FEATURE
BIO-BASED A POSSIBLE SOLUTION
TO MASTERCARDrsquoS SEARCH FOR MORE
SUSTAINABLE BANK CARDS
For many years the idea of going green with your
credit or debit card payments was limited to
buying sustainable products donating to
charities or paying for carbon offsets But now a
new alliance is aiming to green the card itself as
part of a wider array of actions a broader part of the payments
industry Global payment giants Mastercard and card
manufacturers Gemalto Giesecke+Devrient and IDEMIA have
this month launched the Greener Payments Partnership to
establish environmental best practices and reduce first-use PVC
plastic in card manufacturing Roughly six billion plastic payment
cards are made each year according to The Nilson Report
While Mastercard analysis shows that this is less than 0015
percent of the volume of plastic manufactured each year there
is room to improve that through the use of alternative materials
ldquoConsumers are increasingly moving from cash to card as they
look for greater security and sustainabilityrdquo commented Ajay
Bhalla president cyber and intelligence solutions Mastercard
( MastercardNews ) ldquoThis partnership will help us and our
industry reduce first-use plastic in cards Together we can
build on recent research and tests and drive adoption of
environmentally-friendly materials on a larger scalerdquo
Research and analysis into recyclable bio-sourced and bio-
degradable materials is already underway and now included in
this remit The partnership commits to accelerating that research
with the goal of delivering globally available solutions to reduce
first-use PVC plastic in card manufacturing in a matter of years
ldquoResponsible use of natural resources and protection of our
climate and environment are core elements of G+Drsquos Corporate
Responsibility policy We are committed to ensuring that our
entire value chain is sustainable and to continuously reducing
our ecological footprint As a participant of the Greener Payment
Partnership we work on the standardization of bio-sourced
materials in payment cards It is the way to step forward to an
earth-friendly solution reducing petroleum based materialsrdquo
says Gabrielle Bugat Head of the Financial Services Division at
Giesecke+Devrient Mobile Security
The group will also ensure best practices around how materials
are evaluated including environmental impact benefits and the
ability to meet increasing consumer concerns around the impact
of plastic globally
ldquoItrsquos no secret that we all need to change the way we live and
consume to reduce the impact wersquore having on our planet For
IDEMIA itrsquos essential as an industrial leader to effect change
for the better and play our part to reduce for instance our
reliance on plasticrdquo said Pierre Barrial executive vice president
for financial institutions activities at IDEMIA ( IdemiaGroup )
ldquoWersquore delighted to partner with Mastercard to deliver viable
environmentally friendly alternatives that bring positive change
to the industry as a wholerdquo
ldquoEnvironmental-friendly products are now a priority for all
stakeholders in the payment eco-systemrdquo says Sylvie Gibert
senior vice president of payment cards Gemalto ldquoWe are
committed to supporting this partnership formed by Mastercard
and we have already adopted sustainable practices in our
banking card business This initiative comes at a time where we
see a growing interest from the banks for greener cardsrdquo
This is no the first foray into bio-materials for Mastercard in
2016 they partnered with the Finnish Bank of Aringland WWF
Finland KPMG and Gemalto to create a credit card made of
renewable and biodegradable materials n
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 19
We regularly feature stories emerging from Canada
whether itrsquos about a new way to harness the
nations huge amounts of harvestable biomass
the commercialization of an innovation emerging
from one of their many illustrious university
laboratories or the growth in popularity of a bio-based product
for an increasingly environmentally aware population
So in order to learn more about one of the worldrsquos most vibrant
bio-economies our editor Luke Upton recently sat down with
Sandy Marshall the Executive Director of Bioindustrial Innovation
Canada a not-for-profit organisation focussed on catalysing the
further commercialisation of the bio-economy In a wide ranging
discussion they looked at how agriculture can better connect
with the bio-economy advice on starting a business and what
makes Canada so strong in this area
Luke Upton (LU) Thanks for the time today so as an
introduction ndash whatrsquos been your personal path to becoming
executive director of Bioindustrial Innovation Canada
Sandy Marshall (SM) I was raised on a farm near Blyth
Ontario Canada before graduating with Bachelor of Applied
Science Degree (BASc) and Masters of Applied Science Degree
(MASc) in Chemical Engineering from the University of Waterloo
I started my professional career in 1984 with Polysar Inc a
Canadian rubber manufacturer Over my 30 year career in
the chemical and polymers industry I worked in research and
process product development and market development before
moving into Operations and General Management I had two
international assignment one with Bayer AG in Germany and a
second with Lanxess in Cincinnati USA I finished my corporate
career as President and Managing Director responsible for
Canadian Operations of Lanxess Canada I have been recognized
as a leader committed to Corporate Social Responsibility and
environmental sustainability in Canada
I am very interested in sustainable chemistry and have been an
active Board member for Bioindustrial Innovation Canada (BIC)
from its inception in 2008 After I left Lanxess in 2013 I began
consulting in this space At that time I also took over the role of
Chairman of the BIC Board and worked very closely with Murray
McLaughlin Executive Director BIC In 2016 Murray McLaughlin
chose to step back as Executive Director and I was hired as his
replacement It is exciting to be back in a leadership role for an
organization with an inspiring vision and mission
LU For our readers who are unfamiliar with BIC could you
explain a little about the organisation and its aims
SM BIC is a nationally focused not-for-profit organization
based in Sarnia Ontario BICrsquos vision is to create jobs and
economic value sustainably for Canada BICrsquos mission is to
provide critical strategic investment advice and services to
THE LAST WORD WITHhellip SANDY MARSHALL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BIOINDUSTRIAL INNOVATION CANADA
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM20
FEATURE
business developers of clean green and sustainable technologies
Our expertise in commercialization builds a stronger Canada BIC
is focused on enabling Ontario and Canada to become globally
recognized leaders in converting renewable resources such as
agricultural and forestry by-products and residues into value-
added bioenergy biofuel biochemical and biomaterials for use
in a wide range of commercial applications along the chemistry
value chain to advanced manufacturing
LU BIC has worked with a number of companies is there a
particular project of which you are most proud
SM In 2012 BIC together with community leaders in Agriculture
embarked on a project to identify whether the Sarnia-Lambton
region could develop a source of cellulosic sugars using a biomass
supply chain based on agricultural residues BIC lead this project
with the support of numerous companies and government agencies
which lead to the formation of the Cellulosic Sugar Producers
Cooperative and identified Comet Bio as a viable technology
provider Currently these companies are partnering to establish the
worldrsquos first commercial cellulosic glucose sugar supply chain
LU What makes Canada a good home for a bio-based innovation
SM Canada is a vast country which is blessed with enormous
quantities of sustainably harvestable biomass both from forestry
and agriculture The access to raw materials is critical for the
success of any business venture Furthermore Canada is known
for its strong innovation capacity and its collaborative work
culture Together these attributes make Canada an ideal home of
the bio-based economy
LU What can agriculture do to better connect with bio-based
chemical and bio-based product manufactures
SM Agriculture needs to take a leadership role in the bio-
economy There has been a good start here in Canada It is
critical that the question about the availability of sustainably
harvestable biomass is answered through good science to allow
the industry to grow and leverage Canadarsquos great potential
Producers can also promote the bio-economy as an
opportunity to diversify their business models Generating
revenue through feedstock sales to bio-based chemical and
product producers or through participation as business partners
and investors in these ventures can be very beneficial in
reducing risk for all participants in the bio-economy
Government can support these entrepreneurial activities
through support of applied research and development of the
science to assure society that the bio-economy based on
agricultural feedstocks is both sustainable and critical to the
fight against climate change
LU What advice would you give someone looking to start a
bio-based business
SM Start with a solid business plan that clearly identified the
value proposition and can show profitability without relying on
long term government incentives I think that government has
an important role to de-risk early stage commercialization but
businesses must be able to show a path to successful commercial
independence
LU And finallyhellip whatrsquos your favourite sustainable bio-based
product
SM I do not have a favourite The petrochemical industry
succeeded based on leveraging all of the products in the barrel of
oil I see the bio-economy in the same way We need to valorize
all of the products in the truckload of biomass It is only through
leveraging sugars lignin renewable natural gas and the bio-
products produced from them that we can successfully build a
vibrant bio-economy n
ldquoTHE PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRY SUCCEEDED BASED ON LEVERAGING ALL OF THE PRODUCTS IN THE BARREL OF OIL I SEE THE BIO-ECONOMY IN THE SAME WAYrdquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 21
we can change the world
Discover the possibilities with Corbionrsquos co-creatorscorbioncomco-creators biobasedcorbioncom CorbionBiochems
we can change Tog983530983530983530983530983530983530983530983530983530983530
We know itrsquos a big vision
But at Corbion we passionately believe that by collaborating with like-minded organizations and a little time we can improve peoplersquos lives Not just today but for future generations We know the best way to achieve this is taking our partnerships to a whole new level
How We call it co-creation Bringing expertise in biobased and sustainable technologies for controlled release adhesion solvency emulsifi cation and antimicrobial solutions we work with you to discover breakthrough opportunities
Co-creation makes us greater to983531983531983530983530983531983531983531983530983530983531983531983531
we can change the world
Discover the possibilities with Corbionrsquos co-creatorscorbioncomco-creators biobasedcorbioncom CorbionBiochems
we can change Tog983530983530983530983530983530983530983530983530983530983530
We know itrsquos a big vision
But at Corbion we passionately believe that by collaborating with like-minded organizations and a little time we can improve peoplersquos lives Not just today but for future generations We know the best way to achieve this is taking our partnerships to a whole new level
How We call it co-creation Bringing expertise in biobased and sustainable technologies for controlled release adhesion solvency emulsifi cation and antimicrobial solutions we work with you to discover breakthrough opportunities
Co-creation makes us greater to983531983531983530983530983531983531983531983530983530983531983531983531
10
EDITOR amp CO-FOUNDERLuke UptonLukeBioBasedWorldNewscomBio_BasedWorld
MANAGING DIRECTOR amp CO-FOUNDERAlex WilliamsonAlexBioBasedWorldNewscomalexjwmedia
OPERATIONS DIRECTORRosie NixonRosieBioBasedWorldNewscom
GLOBAL SALES DIRECTORMatt AndersonMattBioBasedWorldNewscom
COMMERICAL MANAGERRyan SwanichRyanBioBasedWorldNewscom
SENIOR CONTENT MANAGERLiz GyekyeLizBioBasedWorldNewscomLizGyekye
Web wwwbiobasedworldnewscom
wwwworldbiomarketscom
LinkedIn wwwlinkedincomgroups8429881
Facebook wwwfacebookcombiobasedworldnews
Instagram wwwinstagramcombiobasedworld
Bio-Based World Limited WeWork 131 Finsbury PavementLondon United KingdomEC2A 1NT
Bio-Based Quarterly is Designed by Coterie Creative Ltd wwwcoteriecreativecouk
Bio-Based World Quarterly is Published by Bio-Based World News Ltd
copy All rights reserved No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without the prior written permission of the copyright owners
CONTACT US
CONTENTS03Editorrsquos Welcome
04News In Brief
06Recycled reused or composted - Danone announce trio of actions to be fully circular by 2025
08Project focus Creating high purity lignin and affordable platform chemicals from wood-based sugars
10The green revolution will be blue Harvesting algae for the bio-economy
12World Bio Markets
13Nobel nod for the green pioneer behind lsquodirected evolution enzymesrsquo
14Brands A pragmatic approach to bio-based chemicals
17Itrsquos official Braskemrsquos carbon-negative claims for its bio-based plastic are approved
18Bio-based a possible solution to Mastercardrsquos search for more sustainable bank cards
20The Last Word withhellip Sandy Marshall Executive Director Bioindustrial Innovation Canada
CLICK ON TITLE TO GO TO ARTICLE
13
17
18 20
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 1
Will the market adopt yournext bio-based innovation
Find the right innovation partnersfrom our 500000+ technical community
Accelerate your innovation by 5Xwith our agile and digital methodology
Increase your success rate by 200when launching new bio-based products
SEE HOW WE CANACCELERATE YOUR INNOVATION
WELCOMEWelcome to the twelfth issue of the Bio-Based World Quarterly your dedicated guide to the latest news and essential business developments for bio-based and sustainable chemicals materials and products and the brands that purchase use and sell them
Every year the Collins English dictionary names a lsquoword of the yearrsquo ndash it typically reflects the cultural or political mood of the year in recent years it has been lsquobinge-watchrsquo lsquoBrexitrsquo and lsquofake newsrsquo And this year Itrsquos lsquosingle-usersquo ndash reflecting the increasing global awareness of environmental issues
Collinsrsquos lexicographers said the word is now being used more than ever before in light of growing efforts to try and nullify or reverse the damage that plastics pose to the environment with a spokesperson stating ldquoThe word single-use has seen a four-fold increase since 2013rdquo It is perhaps also worth noting that on a similar note of growing awareness lsquoveganrsquo also made the shortlist
I donrsquot need to tell you that there is a huge opportunity of bio-based to step in and offer solutions
Consumer-facing brands barring some noted exceptions have been slow to move away from their established effective and usually very cheap petroleum-based products But this awareness of the damage of that we are doing whilst hardly prevalent across all consumers is pouring focus on traditional practices Take the seasons launch of the Starbucks red cups and the subject of a recent feature on Bio-Based World News For all their endeavours with recycling (in specific places) an annual huge marketing push of single use cups feels increasingly out of step with customer demands
Sustainable living expert Jen Gale featured on the quote of left and here sees the days of the red cups numbered ldquohellip a disposable cup is still a disposable cup no matter how jolly and festive it looks Itrsquos still nigh on impossible to recycle and will sit in landfill (looking all jolly and festive) for years to comerdquo
So as we come to the end of one tumultuous year and head into one that looks set to be similar we can at least be proud that the concerns that we have had for many years regarding our disposable culture have moved into the mainstream
All the team here are very excited for World Bio Markets 2019 returning to Amsterdam on the 1st-3rd April If you enjoy this Quarterly then this event is perfect for you And representatives of several companies featured in this issue Genomatica MetGen Light My Fire SpecialChem Croda Tetra Pak and Braskem are already confirmed as being part of our expert speaker line-up
As always we are very grateful of the time that our contributors have shared with us on this issue in particular the SWEETWOODS Project and their partners at the Bio-Based Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI JU) Corbion Genomatica Light My Fire Port of Amsterdam and SpecialChem
Thanks for reading and please let me know if yoursquod like to contribute to our future issues ndash we are always looking for fresh voices and new stories
Luke UptonEditor amp Co-Founder Bio-Based World News LukeBioBasedWorldNewscom
ldquoI REALLY DONrsquoT UNDERSTAND ALL THE EXCITEMENT AROUND STARBUCKrsquoS SPECIAL CHRISTMAS RED CUPS - A DISPOSABLE CUP IS STILL A DISPOSABLE CUPhelliprdquo
Brightmark Energy invests $57m to construct the USrsquo lsquofirstrsquo commercial-scale plastics- to-fuel plantldquoThis sustainable technology directly
addresses an acute problem facing
the US more than 91 of the 345
million tons of plastic domestically
produced each year is not recycledrdquo US
renewable energy development company
Brightmark Energy is pushing forward
with its plans to develop what it claims is
the USrsquo first commercial-scale plastics-
to-fuel facility The company recently
it announced that it had acquired a
majority interest and invested $10m in
Ohio-based technology company RES
Polyflow while committing an additional
$47m investment to the first commercial-
scale plant to utilise this technology
Bio-plastic JV Synvina under threat over dispute about investment deadlineldquoWe are determined to pursue the commercialisation of FDCA and PEF ndash with or without BASFrdquo
The bio-plastics industry has suffered a potential blow after chemicals giant BASF
announced that it had threatened to pull out of its Synvina joint venture (JV) with Dutch
renewable chemicals company Avantium over a disagreement on an investment deadline
for the project
At the core of the JV is a focus on producing and marketing FDCA (furandicarboxylic
acid) as well as the marketing of new polymer PEF (polyethylenefuranoate) based on this
chemical building block
Clipper Teas claims world first with new non-GM plastic-free tea bag made from bananasldquoNow wersquove created and implemented a plastic-free bag we wonrsquot be
going backrdquo One of the UKrsquos biggest tea brands is set to launch what it claims is the
worldrsquos first plastic-free non-GM and unbleached heat-sealed teabag made from
bananas The problem of plastic pollution in the worldrsquos seas and oceans has forced
companies and governments to do things differently This concern has also led to an
increasing demand for alternatives to plastics A number of leading tea brands use
polypropylene a sealing plastic to fasten teabags and ensure that they hold their
shape However to tackle the issue of plastic waste Clipper Teas has developed a new
product designed specifically to help cut down on plastic pollution ndash a plastic-free
unbleached and non-genetically modified tea bag which it claims to be a world first
BIO-BASED WORLD NEWS IN BRIEF
4 BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM
Veolia and Tetra Pak team up to launch beverage carton recycling partnershipldquoWith this partnership we are combining our respective areas of expertise to find
sustainable solutions for PolyAl recyclingrdquo
Packaging giant Tetra Pak and resource management company Veolia have
announced what they call a ldquogame-changingrdquo partnership that will enable all
components of used beverage cartons collected within the EU to be recycled by 2025
The cartons collected will be turned into high-value secondary materials The average
beverage carton comprises around 75 paperboard 20 plastic and 5 aluminium
foil However while the fibres recovered during recycling have a healthy market when
converted into high-quality paper pulp for use in both industrial and consumer
products the same is not true for the recovered polymer and aluminium (PolyAl) mix
Croda officially launches new 100 bio-based surfactants ldquoWe are pleased to be able to offer such a
wide range of 100 bio-based and 100
renewable ingredients to meet the needs
of formulators and companies seeking to
deliver more sustainable optionsrdquo
Speciality chemicals company Croda
International has announced the official
launch and certification of its ECO range of
bio-based surfactants - ingredients designed
to meet increasing market demand for
sustainable high-performance ingredient
options With a vast product range that
includes everything from agrochemicals
building and construction materials and
adhesives to pharmaceuticals dietary
supplements and food and feedstocks
Croda is a company with a portfolio of
sustainable ingredients that are used by
small niche consumer markets as well as
much larger specialist industrial ones
Thyssenkrupp-commissioned bio-plastic plant starts production in ChinaldquoThe bio-plastics market will continue to grow in the coming years
not least due to the increasing environmental awareness of industry
governments and consumersrdquo
German industrial systems supplier Thyssenkrupp has recently
announced that the worldrsquos first commercial plant based on the
companyrsquos patented manufacturing process for bio-plastic polylactide
(PLA) called PLAneo has started production in Changchun China
The new plant is operated by the Jilin COFCO Biomaterial Corporation
a subsidiary of COFCO Chinarsquos largest food and agriculture group and
producer of edible oils and oilseeds
BIO-BASED WORLD NEWS IN BRIEF
5BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM
Multinational food-products giant Danone have
announced a series of initiatives to make its
packaging 100 circular and to accelerate
towards this being a standard for the industry
This includes initiatives to improve product design
and develop alternative delivery and reuse models investments to
develop effective efficient and inclusive systems for increased
collection and recycling to boost recycling and actions to
preserve natural resources by reintegrating recycled materials
into our packaging and developing use of renewable materials
Emmanuel Faber Chairman and CEO of Danone said ldquoWe
believe the time is now to step up and accelerate embrace our
responsibility and work with others to engage a radical shift that
will help free the world from packaging waste We will be acting
both at global and local level to ensure circularity of packaging
becomes the new norm Today we are announcing a series
of investments and commitments that - I believe - will have a
concrete impact These will be amplified as we collaborate with
industry-peers governments NGOs start-ups and the finance
sector harness new technologies and invest in new solutionsrdquo
Danone will accelerate transition towards circular economy of
packaging in three ways
1 PACKAGING DESIGNED FOR CIRCULARITY
Danone ( Danone ) commits to ensure that all its packaging
is designed to be 100 recyclable reusable or compostable by
2025 Moreover the company will develop alternative delivery
models or new reuse models where relevant and take action to
eliminate problematic or unnecessary plastic packaging
Already 86 of our packaging is recyclable reusable or
compostable and 50 of our water volumes are sold in reusable
jugs Their evian bottles are already 100 recyclable and Danone
have also piloted an innovation to eliminate non-recyclable
shrink film for multi-packs using specially designed adhesive
and tape handles Along with many other brands they are also
assessing alternatives to plastic straws through a pilot program to
be launched in 2019 with their AQUA brand in Indonesia
2 REUSED RECYCLED AND COMPOSTED IN PRACTICE
Danone recognizes that design wonrsquot be enough to make
its packaging fully circular Effective collection and recycling
systems are essential to ensuring packaging is recycled reused or
composted in practice
To help meet or go beyond
the collection targets set by
regulators such as the minimum
90 collection target for beverage
bottles expected to be set in
the EU for 2025 Danone will
support the most effective publicly
organized collection and recycling
systems including Extended
Producer Responsibility and
Deposit Return Scheme systems
when relevant
They will also invest in private initiatives that strengthen circular
infrastructure especially in countries where formal systems are
absent or in development or where there is a high risk of leakage
into the environment By 2025 Danone are aiming to have
initiated or supported collection and recycling initiatives in every
one of our top 20 markets (representing around 90 of sales)
3 PRESERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES
Danone use 14 of recycled PET on average in their water and
other beverage bottles by 2025 we will increase this amount to
50 The evian brand already contains 30 recycled plastic (rPET)
on average and intends to reach 100 by 2025 Their first 100
recycled PET bottle with the Lanjaron Red natural mineral water
brand in Spain and additional 100 recycled PET bottles reaching
all major water markets by 2021
In addition to these three tenets Danone are pushing the
message that collaboration is the cornerstone of success when
it comes to circular economy as we detailed in September They
have joined a global commitment led by the Ellen MacArthur
Foundation in collaboration with UN Environment Program
other businesses NGOs and governments to address plastic
waste and pollution
Dame Ellen MacArthur founder of the Ellen MacArthur
Foundation (circulareconomy) declared ldquoBy looking at the
whole system from product design to developing new reuse
models and collaborating with others these commitments
set Danone up to take important steps towards circularity
Commitments like those announced today can help drive the
global momentum needed to create a circular economy for
plastics that stops them from becoming waste and pollution
Now is the time to make it happenrdquo n
RECYCLED REUSED OR COMPOSTED - DANONE ANNOUNCE TRIO OF ACTIONS TO BE FULLY CIRCULAR BY 2025
FEATURE
6 BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM
l ightmyf i re com
Shakethe habit
BRING YOUR OWN
F O O D F R I E N D LYA N D B PA F R E E
M A D E I NS W E D E N
Disposable plastic bags disposable flatware disposable cups disposable wellalmost anything Things that can only be used once donacutet belong in a sustainableworld Shake the habit ndash bring your own
ReKitTM ndash Bring-along-friendly reusablekit for sips bites and drinks on the go
Now one project SWEETWOODS made up of
nine European companies all of whom have
wondered more about trees and their potential
is to begin producing wood-based biomaterials
for the first time on an industrial scale
This unique euro43 million bio-economy project funded by
the Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI JU) is now
underway with its key aim of developing a first-of-its-kind
bio-fractionation flagship plant in Estonia to turn sustainable
hardwood residues into high purity intermediate building blocks
of cellulosic sugars and high-quality lignin
To learn more about this project that has such huge potential
Bio-Based World Newsrsquo Luke Upton spoke exclusively to two
members of the consortium Matti Heikkilauml CTO of Finlandrsquos
pioneering enzyme technology company MetGen and Peep Pitk
RampD Manager of Europersquos largest pellet producer Graanul Invest
that is building up the wood fractionation flagship plant in Estonia
Matti tells more about the origins of the project ldquoThe concept
began around five years ago We knew about the potential of
wood that much more could be done with it and that a concept
of biorefining could transform hardwood into higher added value
products Most of the solutions and technologies to make this
happen were ready to be commercialised but we just needed to
match up the skills and partners to make the concept a realityrdquo
For Peep the opportunities of the partnership are clear ldquoThis
project really is a gamechangerrdquo He explains that it is outdated
understanding that the only way to valorise technological wood
is via highly resource demanding chemical pulping processes
The wood fractionation concept that we are working on can offer
PROJECT FOCUS CREATING HIGH PURITY LIGNIN AND AFFORDABLE PLATFORM CHEMICALS FROM WOOD-BASED SUGARSTHE AUTHOR AND POET RALPH WALDO EMERSON NO STRANGER TO THE BEAUTY OF THE NATURAL WORLD FAMOUSLY SAID THAT ldquoTHE WONDER IS THAT WE CAN SEE THESE TREES AND NOT WONDER MORErdquo SO MUCH OF OUR WORLD HAS ITS ROOTS IN OUR TREES FROM CLOTHES AND FURNITURE TO FOOD AND PAPER
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM8
FEATURE
so much more by converting over 90 of wood into useful high
value products with small ecological footprint
What is clear through the conversation with Matti and Peep is the
clarity of the SWEETWOODS vision Unlike some other projects
that pass through the bio-economy the goal and commercial
potential of the offering has been clear from the outset The
consortium powering the project connects all the links in the
value chain and covers the entire material process
By fractionating the wood into pure sugars and lignin it becomes
possible to further refine the material into high added value
products that can be used to replace oil-based chemicals and
plastics New bio-based consumer products including sports
mats insulation panels and replacements for plastics are just
some of the items mentioned in our discussion
Alongside MetGen and AS Graanul Invest the seven other
members of the European wide consortium are Tecnaro
Gesellschaft zur industriellen Anwendung Nachwachsender
Rohstoffe MBH (Germany) Ultima GMBH (Germany) Recticel
NV (Belgium) Global Bioenergies (France) 2B Srl (Italy) Vertech
Group (France) and Spinverse OY (Finland)
There has been a ldquospirit of collaborationrdquo among the partners
from the very start states Peep but the project has also
been greatly supported by the Bio-based Industries Joint
Undertaking (BBI JU) a public-private partnership between
the EU and the Bio-Based Industries Consortium (BIC) focused
on developing the European bio-based economy ldquoItrsquos been
very important to have had BBI-JU in supporting us They
have gathered industry expertees and offer a long-term
experienced view of what is required to build a successful bio-
economy consortium that can deliver a commercial successrdquo
says Matti ldquoWithout them it would have been far harder to
forge this alliancerdquo added Peep
The next steps for the project are to build the flagship plant
in Estonia to demonstrate its viability at industrial scale But
obviously there are still opportunities to take advantage of this
innovative projectrsquos outcomes ldquoWe are very much open for
discussions and open for business And by partnering now you
could still become an early adopter of the novel biomaterials in
diversity of end-use cases We believe this project will change the
way the wood industry is perceivedrdquo Matti concludes
To read more about the SWEETWOODS Project click here For
industrially representative lignin and sugars samples contact Peep Pitk
PeepPitkgraanulinvestcom For technology licensing opportunities
and modified lignin samples contact Mattimetgencom n
ldquoWE ARE VERY MUCH OPEN FOR DISCUSSIONS AND OPEN FOR BUSINESS AND BY PARTNERING NOW YOU COULD STILL BECOME AN EARLY ADOPTER OF THE NOVEL BIOMATERIALS IN DIVERSITY OF END-USE CASESrdquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 9
THE GREEN REVOLUTION WILL BE BLUE HARVESTING ALGAE FOR THE BIO-ECONOMY
When you think of algae what do you think of For
most people the thought of algae conjures up
images of a murky-looking pond However algae
are one of the largest unexploited resources on our
planet In fact the worldrsquos ocean could harbour up
to 1 million species depending on who you believe But we have just
barely begun to harvest and cultivate algae for mankindrsquos benefit
Algae are not just green stuff in the sea they are complex aquatic
organisms that have the ability to conduct photosynthesis
Algae have been used by human beings for a long time However
the number of companies developing algae-based biofuels
swelled in the 2000s as oil prices rose and supportive policies
were established for next-generation biofuels Yet when the
oil price dropped to record low levels in 2014 to under $35 per
barrel a lot of companies went bust backed away or shifted their
interests towards higher value markets such as health foods
beauty and personal care products and animal feed The use
of algae for applications in the nutraceutical chemicals and
cosmetic markets is growing in a world where companies are
increasingly seeking alternatives to fossil fuel-based products As
a result of this algae have come under the spotlight once again
However the industry has only industrialised a dozen or so of the
many variety of algae species so the opportunities are endless
HIGHLY-VALUED RESOURCE
So what opportunities exist By far the largest market for algae
commercialisation is the nutraceutical and animal feed sector
Today algae nutraceuticals generate around $05bn in revenue
annually according to Bloomberg In fact the most valuable
products made from algae today are human nutraceuticals such
as Omega 3 oils They can be sold in capsules in health stores or
added to food and drink products to enhance their offering
Algae-based food is big business In Asia macroalgae - also
known as seaweed is a highly valued resource with more
than 30 million tonnes farmed annually making it one of the
largest biomasses harvested from the oceans according to Jon
Funderud CEO at Norway-based Seaweed Energy Solutions
He says that more than half of this volume goes directly to human
consumption as healthy ldquosea vegetablesrdquo while the remainder
has various industrial uses such as for bioplastics animal feed or
fertilisers In Europe seaweeds are virtually unexploited but have
in recent years received a surge in interest both as a new super
food and for their potential as a bioenergy crop
However there has been no serious industrial efforts at large-
scale macroalgae farming because there has been no ldquooff the
shelfrdquo farming technology available Funderud says He says
the vast majority of seaweed farms in Asia are based on very
labour-intensive and low tech means with no real potential
for technology transfer to ldquohigh-cost countriesrdquo In Europe
the seaweed farming industry is still at pilot scale where the
production cost is still really expensive
Seaweed farming is not the only way to address feeding the
worldrsquos growing population Microalgae small microscopic aquatic
photosynthetic plants that require the aid of a microscope to be
seen can also do the job Ingmar Hoslashgoslashy chairman of Norway-
based microalgae technology company AlgaePro says that
microalgae can also provide food security and provide an alternative
to dairy and meat-based foods Matt Carr executive director of US
Algae Biomass Organisation concurs with Hoslashgoslashy and says that
algae used for nutraceutical sector and animal feed will drive growth
for the sector which in turn will help to produce more large-scale
production facilities and a variety of different production methods
BY LIZ GYEKYE
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM10
FEATURE
Unique production methods are already being utilised Scotland-
based biotechnology company ScotBio is just one firm doing just
this and has been successful in commercialising its natural blue
food colourant that is suitable for sweets ice cream and drinks
It was founded in 2007 and is based on the findings of PhD
student Chelsea Brain who found that a specific type of red light
increased the production of phycocyanin (natural blue pigment)
in microalgae spirulina
CEO DC Van Alstyne says the research that is happening in the UK
is ground-breaking on many fronts but many companies in the UK
have difficulty commercialising their innovations compared to the
US because the US academics tend to get more financial support
NOT JUST FOOD
In the US one company that is making waves in the algae-based
material space is California-based biotechnology company
Checkerspot The company is engineering microalgae to bring
high-performance materials to the market Checkerspot ferments
a class of sugar-eating microalgae called trebouxiophyceae
which swell with fat The company uses genetic engineering and
classical strain improvement to coax the algae to produce useful
triglycerides It is using this feedstock to create the foam used
in surfboards and is also working on creating water-repellent
coating for outdoor apparel
Another US company that is focusing on algae is oil giant Exxon
Mobil It is working with Synthetic Genomic to conduct a large
trial to engineer algae streams in outdoor settings to produce
biofuels In fact today most algae are grown outdoors in open
pods In contrast microalgae can be grown in lab with the help
of photobioreactors (a bioreactor that utilises a light source to
cultivate phototrophic microorganisms) and steel tanks
Yet environmental critics would question whether it was right
to genetically engineer these microorganisms for the good of
mankind Carr says ldquoUsing everything that we have already
learned in terms of containment researchers have designed
outdoor settings to ensure that they canrsquot produce the kinds of
negative environmental effects that some may fear You can do
that by engineering the organisms so that they canrsquot survive in
natural settingsrdquo
He says that algae producers in the US have been working with
the US Environmental Protection Agency to ensure that they are
designing systems that will not result in any kind of attack on the
broader eco system
In relation to the eco system waste wastewater treatment is
emerging as really important trend for algae Algae can be added
to wastewater or sewage to clean the water Carole Llewellyn
associate professor in applied aquatic bioscience at Swansea
University says algae can effectively capture and degrade
nitrogen and phosphorus in domestic wastewater and clear up
metals in mine wastewater streams
All of this looks promising However as Llewellyn says
ldquoHarvesting microalgae on a large scale and economically is a
challenge It is less of a challenge where the end product is of
high value but for low-value commodities low-cost harvesting
remains a challenge Some species are naturally self-flocculating
We probably need to understand this process a bit betterrdquo
Yet with only around 12 algae species industrialised the next step will
be to map the algae genome according to Carr It really does seem
like the world needs to prepare itself for a blue-green revolution n
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 11
ldquoWBM was very valuable to me since it brought all actors along the value chain of the bio-based economy around several tables in panel discussions I hardly know any other conference with so many different industry players presentrdquoRaul Pires VP New Technologies Covestro
MEET THE PRODUCERS AND BRANDS INVESTING IN BIO-BASED SOLUTIONS
Visit wwwWorldBioMarketscom Follow us Bio_BasedWorld WBM19
1-3 April 2019 Passenger Terminal Amsterdam Amsterdam
14th Annual
Produced by
US-based chemical engineer Frances Arnold
(pictured) is one of three scientists who have this
month been awarded the 2018 Nobel Prize in
Chemistry She has won the prize for her work on
the ldquodirected evolution of enzymesrdquo which is a bioengineering
method for creating new and better enzymes in the laboratory
using the principles of evolution Enzymes produced through
directed evolution are used to manufacture everything from
biofuels to pharmaceuticals
Directed evolution works in the same way that breeders mate
cats or dogs to bring out desired traits To perform the method
scientists begin by inducing mutations to the DNA or gene that
encodes a particular enzyme
An assortment of thousands of mutated enzymes is produced
and then tested for a desired trait The top-performing enzymes
are selected and the process is repeated to further enhance the
enzymesrsquo performances For instance in 2009 Arnold and her
team based at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
engineered enzymes that break down cellulose the main
component of plant cell walls creating better catalysts for turning
agricultural wastes into fuels and chemicals
A number of additional enzymes produced through directed
evolution are now used for a host of products including biofuels
agricultural chemicals paper products and pharmaceuticals
Arnold and her colleagues have also used directed evolution
to persuade bacteria to make chemicals not found in nature
including molecules containing silicon-carbon or boron-
carbon bonds or bicyclobutanes which contain energy-
packed carbon rings
By using bacteria researchers can potentially make these
chemical compounds in ldquogreenerrdquo ways that are more
economical and produce less toxic waste
Arnold ( francesarnold ) was born on 25 July 1956 in Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania and arrived at Caltech as a visiting associate in 1986
and was named assistant professor in 1987 associate professor in
1992 and professor in 1996
Speaking about her Nobel prize Arnold said she was ldquoabsolutely
flooredrdquo to receive the award adding ldquoI have to wrap my head
around this Itrsquos not something I was expectingrdquo
ldquoMy entire career I have been concerned about the damage we
are doing to the planet and each otherrdquo Arnold said ldquoScience
and technology can play a major role in mitigating our negative
influences on the environment
Changing behaviour is even more important However I feel
that change is easier when there are good economically-viable
alternatives to harmful habitsrdquo n
NOBEL NOD FOR THE GREEN PIONEER BEHIND lsquoDIRECTED
EVOLUTION ENZYMESrsquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 13
FEATURE
BRANDS A PRAGMATIC APPROACH TO BIO-BASED CHEMICALSCHRISTOPHE SCHILLING CEO GENOMATICA
The brands I speak with have well-crafted
plans for advancing the sustainability of their
products These address choosing materials
for recyclability considering end-of-life
reuse energy consumption during
production packaging and community-related issues
consistent with the United Nationsrsquo Sustainable
Development Goals
I was particularly energized by my conversations at the
VERGE18 conference where I was asked to be a discussion
leader at the Circular Plastics Summit co-led by the Ellen
MacArthur Foundation (I encourage you to read their New
Plastics Economy and Make Fashion Circular reports)
Increasingly brands are seeing the opportunity to improve
sustainability through increased use of renewably-sourced
materials This approach is part of a broader set of initiatives
to increase circularity in a range of global material flows
Although these approaches offer compelling benefits
making them happen can be challenging In this article Irsquod
like to share some ideas for tangible near-term actions that
emerged from my recent discussions as they apply to bio-
based chemicals
ONE KEY LEARNING CLOSER IS BETTER
Wersquove found that brands are more energized to act when
key chemicals are ldquocloserrdquo to their end products in the
sense of making up a substantial portion of the end
product A great example is nylon where the key chemical
caprolactam is only one step away from conversion to
nylon Genomatica is developing technology for bio-based
caprolactam which is then made into 100 bio-based
nylon-6 for apparel and carpet we announced Aquafil as
a partner in early 2018 Brands appreciate that moving to
100 bio-based nylon could allow them to have a major
impact on the sustainability of their products and on their
market differentiation
To make that happen only one chemical needs to be made
renewably This announcement was followed by Project
EFFECTIVE which aims to commercialize better fibers and
plastics and includes four major brands ndash HampM Vaude Carvico
and Balsan EFFECTIVE supported by the EUrsquos Horizon2020
program will use Genomaticarsquos caprolactam technology as
well as technology for the first bio-based chemical delivered
by Genomatica for 14-butanediol (BDO) to enable higher
renewable content in polyesters and polyurethanes
Two more examples are instructive First Genomatica has
also commercialized its Brontidetrade bio-based butylene glycol
Itrsquos certainly close to the customer as itrsquos used directly in
personal care and cosmetics products As a result
Brontide has resonated with major brands that
emphasize naturalness and purity Second is
Genomaticarsquos aforementioned BDO At
first glance BDO is a few conversion
ldquoWHEN BRANDS ARE LOOKING FOR NEAR-TERM IMPACT THEY NEED A BIO-BASED TECHNOLOGY THAT REALLY WORKSrdquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM14
FEATURE
steps away from most products But brands that look deeper have
realized they can quickly improve the sustainability of polymers
used in common urethane foams (for example) by replacing just
the BDO part with a bio-based version That wonrsquot take the product
to 100 but it allows for a fast improvement through better
understanding of where a productrsquos ingredients come from
ANOTHER IT HAS TO WORK
When brands are looking for near-term impact they need a bio-
based technology that really works That means it can be produced
at commercial scale today with competitive economics Tangible
examples like bio-based BDO and Brontide deliver immediate
opportunities and build confidence that the technology side of
our industry can deliver further innovations A recent example is
Novamontrsquos production of compostable biodegradable plastics
in Italy using bio-based BDO Their plant with a 30000 ton per
year capacity has helped revitalize the local economy providing
a market for farmersrsquo products plus the refurbishing of an older
industrial facility creating many jobs Novamont has secured
multiple well-known brands as customers including UK retailer
Co-op which will replace 180 million bags As brands see
biotechnology deliver at scale many want to learn whatrsquos next
WHAT BRANDS CAN DO NOW
To see how bio-based chemicals can fit your sustainability
strategy we recommend the following
bull Increase internal awareness and understanding This starts
with a deeper understanding of where your key production
inputs come from and how they are made When coupled
with greater exposure to what biotechnology can do it helps
prioritize what parts of your supply chain can be improved
Leverage outside expertise ndash invite biotech firms to share
what they know and do
bull Involve your upstream chemical and material suppliers
Give them updated requirements tied to your sustainability
objectives Encourage them to have direct discussions with
the biotechnology firms and biochemical producers that
expand their options and fit your needs
bull Be clear about your shopping list and priorities This allows
biotechnology firms and chemicalmaterial producers to
provide feedback and look for areas of overlap
bull Send tangible market signals If suppliers know yoursquore serious
about moving to more sustainable ingredients and process
technologies theyrsquoll pay attention This can tie directly to your
Corporate Sustainability Reporting and objectives
bull Publicise and celebrate your choices Let your customers
know about your process for improving and milestones along
the way Press releases speaking at conferences blogs and
tweets can all be effective
bull Get ldquoinside the tentrdquo with preferred partners Some of your
technology or supply chain partners can share more insights
or have a greater impact on your results Invest in ideation and
exploration if needed Close partnerships can help you influence
their priorities or gain early access to advantaged ingredients n
Irsquoll be a speaker at World Bio Markets in April Contact
me directly at cschillinggenomaticacom if yoursquod like
to discuss your companyrsquos vision and needs sooner
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 15
Yes thatrsquos us down there Yes you know us as a prime tourist destination and a business service hub But did you know that in the port of Amsterdam we have one of Europersquos largest biorefinery clustersThe port also has reliable infrastructure logistics providers and terminals utilities feedstock and markets literally at spitting distance Schiphol Airport is as you know just around the corner We reserved space for your business to grow Biopark Amsterdam So consider Amsterdam you are more than welcome to join us Discover our success stories on portofamsterdamcom
The greatest port you never thought of
Considered Amsterdam
In our industry where explaining the benefits of a
product can sometimes be a challenge a good
boost was received this week A familiar name to
most of our readers the Brazilian chemicals
company Braskem producers of Irsquom green ndash a
bio-based polyethylene made from sugarcane ndash has had its
negative carbon footprint credentials strengthened thanks to an
independent review The assessment was carried out by the
Carbon Trust an international organisation that helps businesses
governments and the public sector to accelerate the move to a
more sustainable low carbon economy And the result is that
Braskemrsquos bio-based plastic as used by LEGO (pictured above)
among others is effectively carbon-negative
In a new report comparing Irsquom green with fossil-based equivalents
the Carbon Trust has endorsed the methodology used by Braskem
to support claims that for every tonne of Irsquom green produced the
equivalent of around 3 tonnes of CO2 are locked away by the
sugarcane which provides the main raw material for its manufacture
Capturing CO2 during its lifecycle Irsquom green avoids emissions
related to the production of fossil fuel feedstock thereby
providing a net saving of the equivalent of around 5 tonnes of
CO2sup1 by the end of the plastic manufacturing process
Irsquom green is 100 recyclable plastic currently being used in a
range of applications from food packaging to personal care
products as well as more durable goods such as chairs and vases
Brand owners are increasingly responding to climate change
by reducing their carbon footprint which requires investment
in more efficient processes and using innovative renewable
materials Braskemrsquos Irsquom green is made from a renewable
feedstock and can make a significant contribution to reduce
carbon emissions
John Newton Associated Director at the Carbon Trust said ldquoTo
address climate change we will need innovative materials that
are radically lower in emissions compared to what is commonly
used today Products like Irsquom green which help lock away carbon
emissions in their production can be a real part of the solutionrdquo
Marco Jansen Commercial Director Renewable Chemicals at
Braskem said ldquoWersquore delighted that credible association Carbon
Trust further validates our calculations of Irsquom greenrsquos carbon
footprint Our customers know Irsquom green polyethylene is a smart
and sustainable way to reduce a productrsquos carbon footprint and we
hope more brands will use it as a renewable solution in the futurerdquo
This news will no doubt have been welcomed by LEGO too as
Braskem will supply the LEGO Group with Irsquom green as it makes
it switch to bio-based bricks Already in 2018 Green Plastic has
been used in the lsquobotanicalrsquo elements range such as trees bushes
and leaves that sold quickly once released
The LCA Summary is available here A one-page statement is
available here n
ITrsquoS OFFICIAL BRASKEMrsquoS CARBON-NEGATIVE
CLAIMS FOR ITS BIO-BASED PLASTIC ARE APPROVED
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 17
ldquo IT IS THE WAY TO STEP FORWARD TO AN EARTH-FRIENDLY SOLUTION REDUCING PETROLEUM BASED MATERIALSrdquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM18
FEATURE
BIO-BASED A POSSIBLE SOLUTION
TO MASTERCARDrsquoS SEARCH FOR MORE
SUSTAINABLE BANK CARDS
For many years the idea of going green with your
credit or debit card payments was limited to
buying sustainable products donating to
charities or paying for carbon offsets But now a
new alliance is aiming to green the card itself as
part of a wider array of actions a broader part of the payments
industry Global payment giants Mastercard and card
manufacturers Gemalto Giesecke+Devrient and IDEMIA have
this month launched the Greener Payments Partnership to
establish environmental best practices and reduce first-use PVC
plastic in card manufacturing Roughly six billion plastic payment
cards are made each year according to The Nilson Report
While Mastercard analysis shows that this is less than 0015
percent of the volume of plastic manufactured each year there
is room to improve that through the use of alternative materials
ldquoConsumers are increasingly moving from cash to card as they
look for greater security and sustainabilityrdquo commented Ajay
Bhalla president cyber and intelligence solutions Mastercard
( MastercardNews ) ldquoThis partnership will help us and our
industry reduce first-use plastic in cards Together we can
build on recent research and tests and drive adoption of
environmentally-friendly materials on a larger scalerdquo
Research and analysis into recyclable bio-sourced and bio-
degradable materials is already underway and now included in
this remit The partnership commits to accelerating that research
with the goal of delivering globally available solutions to reduce
first-use PVC plastic in card manufacturing in a matter of years
ldquoResponsible use of natural resources and protection of our
climate and environment are core elements of G+Drsquos Corporate
Responsibility policy We are committed to ensuring that our
entire value chain is sustainable and to continuously reducing
our ecological footprint As a participant of the Greener Payment
Partnership we work on the standardization of bio-sourced
materials in payment cards It is the way to step forward to an
earth-friendly solution reducing petroleum based materialsrdquo
says Gabrielle Bugat Head of the Financial Services Division at
Giesecke+Devrient Mobile Security
The group will also ensure best practices around how materials
are evaluated including environmental impact benefits and the
ability to meet increasing consumer concerns around the impact
of plastic globally
ldquoItrsquos no secret that we all need to change the way we live and
consume to reduce the impact wersquore having on our planet For
IDEMIA itrsquos essential as an industrial leader to effect change
for the better and play our part to reduce for instance our
reliance on plasticrdquo said Pierre Barrial executive vice president
for financial institutions activities at IDEMIA ( IdemiaGroup )
ldquoWersquore delighted to partner with Mastercard to deliver viable
environmentally friendly alternatives that bring positive change
to the industry as a wholerdquo
ldquoEnvironmental-friendly products are now a priority for all
stakeholders in the payment eco-systemrdquo says Sylvie Gibert
senior vice president of payment cards Gemalto ldquoWe are
committed to supporting this partnership formed by Mastercard
and we have already adopted sustainable practices in our
banking card business This initiative comes at a time where we
see a growing interest from the banks for greener cardsrdquo
This is no the first foray into bio-materials for Mastercard in
2016 they partnered with the Finnish Bank of Aringland WWF
Finland KPMG and Gemalto to create a credit card made of
renewable and biodegradable materials n
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 19
We regularly feature stories emerging from Canada
whether itrsquos about a new way to harness the
nations huge amounts of harvestable biomass
the commercialization of an innovation emerging
from one of their many illustrious university
laboratories or the growth in popularity of a bio-based product
for an increasingly environmentally aware population
So in order to learn more about one of the worldrsquos most vibrant
bio-economies our editor Luke Upton recently sat down with
Sandy Marshall the Executive Director of Bioindustrial Innovation
Canada a not-for-profit organisation focussed on catalysing the
further commercialisation of the bio-economy In a wide ranging
discussion they looked at how agriculture can better connect
with the bio-economy advice on starting a business and what
makes Canada so strong in this area
Luke Upton (LU) Thanks for the time today so as an
introduction ndash whatrsquos been your personal path to becoming
executive director of Bioindustrial Innovation Canada
Sandy Marshall (SM) I was raised on a farm near Blyth
Ontario Canada before graduating with Bachelor of Applied
Science Degree (BASc) and Masters of Applied Science Degree
(MASc) in Chemical Engineering from the University of Waterloo
I started my professional career in 1984 with Polysar Inc a
Canadian rubber manufacturer Over my 30 year career in
the chemical and polymers industry I worked in research and
process product development and market development before
moving into Operations and General Management I had two
international assignment one with Bayer AG in Germany and a
second with Lanxess in Cincinnati USA I finished my corporate
career as President and Managing Director responsible for
Canadian Operations of Lanxess Canada I have been recognized
as a leader committed to Corporate Social Responsibility and
environmental sustainability in Canada
I am very interested in sustainable chemistry and have been an
active Board member for Bioindustrial Innovation Canada (BIC)
from its inception in 2008 After I left Lanxess in 2013 I began
consulting in this space At that time I also took over the role of
Chairman of the BIC Board and worked very closely with Murray
McLaughlin Executive Director BIC In 2016 Murray McLaughlin
chose to step back as Executive Director and I was hired as his
replacement It is exciting to be back in a leadership role for an
organization with an inspiring vision and mission
LU For our readers who are unfamiliar with BIC could you
explain a little about the organisation and its aims
SM BIC is a nationally focused not-for-profit organization
based in Sarnia Ontario BICrsquos vision is to create jobs and
economic value sustainably for Canada BICrsquos mission is to
provide critical strategic investment advice and services to
THE LAST WORD WITHhellip SANDY MARSHALL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BIOINDUSTRIAL INNOVATION CANADA
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM20
FEATURE
business developers of clean green and sustainable technologies
Our expertise in commercialization builds a stronger Canada BIC
is focused on enabling Ontario and Canada to become globally
recognized leaders in converting renewable resources such as
agricultural and forestry by-products and residues into value-
added bioenergy biofuel biochemical and biomaterials for use
in a wide range of commercial applications along the chemistry
value chain to advanced manufacturing
LU BIC has worked with a number of companies is there a
particular project of which you are most proud
SM In 2012 BIC together with community leaders in Agriculture
embarked on a project to identify whether the Sarnia-Lambton
region could develop a source of cellulosic sugars using a biomass
supply chain based on agricultural residues BIC lead this project
with the support of numerous companies and government agencies
which lead to the formation of the Cellulosic Sugar Producers
Cooperative and identified Comet Bio as a viable technology
provider Currently these companies are partnering to establish the
worldrsquos first commercial cellulosic glucose sugar supply chain
LU What makes Canada a good home for a bio-based innovation
SM Canada is a vast country which is blessed with enormous
quantities of sustainably harvestable biomass both from forestry
and agriculture The access to raw materials is critical for the
success of any business venture Furthermore Canada is known
for its strong innovation capacity and its collaborative work
culture Together these attributes make Canada an ideal home of
the bio-based economy
LU What can agriculture do to better connect with bio-based
chemical and bio-based product manufactures
SM Agriculture needs to take a leadership role in the bio-
economy There has been a good start here in Canada It is
critical that the question about the availability of sustainably
harvestable biomass is answered through good science to allow
the industry to grow and leverage Canadarsquos great potential
Producers can also promote the bio-economy as an
opportunity to diversify their business models Generating
revenue through feedstock sales to bio-based chemical and
product producers or through participation as business partners
and investors in these ventures can be very beneficial in
reducing risk for all participants in the bio-economy
Government can support these entrepreneurial activities
through support of applied research and development of the
science to assure society that the bio-economy based on
agricultural feedstocks is both sustainable and critical to the
fight against climate change
LU What advice would you give someone looking to start a
bio-based business
SM Start with a solid business plan that clearly identified the
value proposition and can show profitability without relying on
long term government incentives I think that government has
an important role to de-risk early stage commercialization but
businesses must be able to show a path to successful commercial
independence
LU And finallyhellip whatrsquos your favourite sustainable bio-based
product
SM I do not have a favourite The petrochemical industry
succeeded based on leveraging all of the products in the barrel of
oil I see the bio-economy in the same way We need to valorize
all of the products in the truckload of biomass It is only through
leveraging sugars lignin renewable natural gas and the bio-
products produced from them that we can successfully build a
vibrant bio-economy n
ldquoTHE PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRY SUCCEEDED BASED ON LEVERAGING ALL OF THE PRODUCTS IN THE BARREL OF OIL I SEE THE BIO-ECONOMY IN THE SAME WAYrdquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 21
we can change the world
Discover the possibilities with Corbionrsquos co-creatorscorbioncomco-creators biobasedcorbioncom CorbionBiochems
we can change Tog983530983530983530983530983530983530983530983530983530983530
We know itrsquos a big vision
But at Corbion we passionately believe that by collaborating with like-minded organizations and a little time we can improve peoplersquos lives Not just today but for future generations We know the best way to achieve this is taking our partnerships to a whole new level
How We call it co-creation Bringing expertise in biobased and sustainable technologies for controlled release adhesion solvency emulsifi cation and antimicrobial solutions we work with you to discover breakthrough opportunities
Co-creation makes us greater to983531983531983530983530983531983531983531983530983530983531983531983531
10
EDITOR amp CO-FOUNDERLuke UptonLukeBioBasedWorldNewscomBio_BasedWorld
MANAGING DIRECTOR amp CO-FOUNDERAlex WilliamsonAlexBioBasedWorldNewscomalexjwmedia
OPERATIONS DIRECTORRosie NixonRosieBioBasedWorldNewscom
GLOBAL SALES DIRECTORMatt AndersonMattBioBasedWorldNewscom
COMMERICAL MANAGERRyan SwanichRyanBioBasedWorldNewscom
SENIOR CONTENT MANAGERLiz GyekyeLizBioBasedWorldNewscomLizGyekye
Web wwwbiobasedworldnewscom
wwwworldbiomarketscom
LinkedIn wwwlinkedincomgroups8429881
Facebook wwwfacebookcombiobasedworldnews
Instagram wwwinstagramcombiobasedworld
Bio-Based World Limited WeWork 131 Finsbury PavementLondon United KingdomEC2A 1NT
Bio-Based Quarterly is Designed by Coterie Creative Ltd wwwcoteriecreativecouk
Bio-Based World Quarterly is Published by Bio-Based World News Ltd
copy All rights reserved No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without the prior written permission of the copyright owners
CONTACT US
CONTENTS03Editorrsquos Welcome
04News In Brief
06Recycled reused or composted - Danone announce trio of actions to be fully circular by 2025
08Project focus Creating high purity lignin and affordable platform chemicals from wood-based sugars
10The green revolution will be blue Harvesting algae for the bio-economy
12World Bio Markets
13Nobel nod for the green pioneer behind lsquodirected evolution enzymesrsquo
14Brands A pragmatic approach to bio-based chemicals
17Itrsquos official Braskemrsquos carbon-negative claims for its bio-based plastic are approved
18Bio-based a possible solution to Mastercardrsquos search for more sustainable bank cards
20The Last Word withhellip Sandy Marshall Executive Director Bioindustrial Innovation Canada
CLICK ON TITLE TO GO TO ARTICLE
13
17
18 20
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 1
Will the market adopt yournext bio-based innovation
Find the right innovation partnersfrom our 500000+ technical community
Accelerate your innovation by 5Xwith our agile and digital methodology
Increase your success rate by 200when launching new bio-based products
SEE HOW WE CANACCELERATE YOUR INNOVATION
WELCOMEWelcome to the twelfth issue of the Bio-Based World Quarterly your dedicated guide to the latest news and essential business developments for bio-based and sustainable chemicals materials and products and the brands that purchase use and sell them
Every year the Collins English dictionary names a lsquoword of the yearrsquo ndash it typically reflects the cultural or political mood of the year in recent years it has been lsquobinge-watchrsquo lsquoBrexitrsquo and lsquofake newsrsquo And this year Itrsquos lsquosingle-usersquo ndash reflecting the increasing global awareness of environmental issues
Collinsrsquos lexicographers said the word is now being used more than ever before in light of growing efforts to try and nullify or reverse the damage that plastics pose to the environment with a spokesperson stating ldquoThe word single-use has seen a four-fold increase since 2013rdquo It is perhaps also worth noting that on a similar note of growing awareness lsquoveganrsquo also made the shortlist
I donrsquot need to tell you that there is a huge opportunity of bio-based to step in and offer solutions
Consumer-facing brands barring some noted exceptions have been slow to move away from their established effective and usually very cheap petroleum-based products But this awareness of the damage of that we are doing whilst hardly prevalent across all consumers is pouring focus on traditional practices Take the seasons launch of the Starbucks red cups and the subject of a recent feature on Bio-Based World News For all their endeavours with recycling (in specific places) an annual huge marketing push of single use cups feels increasingly out of step with customer demands
Sustainable living expert Jen Gale featured on the quote of left and here sees the days of the red cups numbered ldquohellip a disposable cup is still a disposable cup no matter how jolly and festive it looks Itrsquos still nigh on impossible to recycle and will sit in landfill (looking all jolly and festive) for years to comerdquo
So as we come to the end of one tumultuous year and head into one that looks set to be similar we can at least be proud that the concerns that we have had for many years regarding our disposable culture have moved into the mainstream
All the team here are very excited for World Bio Markets 2019 returning to Amsterdam on the 1st-3rd April If you enjoy this Quarterly then this event is perfect for you And representatives of several companies featured in this issue Genomatica MetGen Light My Fire SpecialChem Croda Tetra Pak and Braskem are already confirmed as being part of our expert speaker line-up
As always we are very grateful of the time that our contributors have shared with us on this issue in particular the SWEETWOODS Project and their partners at the Bio-Based Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI JU) Corbion Genomatica Light My Fire Port of Amsterdam and SpecialChem
Thanks for reading and please let me know if yoursquod like to contribute to our future issues ndash we are always looking for fresh voices and new stories
Luke UptonEditor amp Co-Founder Bio-Based World News LukeBioBasedWorldNewscom
ldquoI REALLY DONrsquoT UNDERSTAND ALL THE EXCITEMENT AROUND STARBUCKrsquoS SPECIAL CHRISTMAS RED CUPS - A DISPOSABLE CUP IS STILL A DISPOSABLE CUPhelliprdquo
Brightmark Energy invests $57m to construct the USrsquo lsquofirstrsquo commercial-scale plastics- to-fuel plantldquoThis sustainable technology directly
addresses an acute problem facing
the US more than 91 of the 345
million tons of plastic domestically
produced each year is not recycledrdquo US
renewable energy development company
Brightmark Energy is pushing forward
with its plans to develop what it claims is
the USrsquo first commercial-scale plastics-
to-fuel facility The company recently
it announced that it had acquired a
majority interest and invested $10m in
Ohio-based technology company RES
Polyflow while committing an additional
$47m investment to the first commercial-
scale plant to utilise this technology
Bio-plastic JV Synvina under threat over dispute about investment deadlineldquoWe are determined to pursue the commercialisation of FDCA and PEF ndash with or without BASFrdquo
The bio-plastics industry has suffered a potential blow after chemicals giant BASF
announced that it had threatened to pull out of its Synvina joint venture (JV) with Dutch
renewable chemicals company Avantium over a disagreement on an investment deadline
for the project
At the core of the JV is a focus on producing and marketing FDCA (furandicarboxylic
acid) as well as the marketing of new polymer PEF (polyethylenefuranoate) based on this
chemical building block
Clipper Teas claims world first with new non-GM plastic-free tea bag made from bananasldquoNow wersquove created and implemented a plastic-free bag we wonrsquot be
going backrdquo One of the UKrsquos biggest tea brands is set to launch what it claims is the
worldrsquos first plastic-free non-GM and unbleached heat-sealed teabag made from
bananas The problem of plastic pollution in the worldrsquos seas and oceans has forced
companies and governments to do things differently This concern has also led to an
increasing demand for alternatives to plastics A number of leading tea brands use
polypropylene a sealing plastic to fasten teabags and ensure that they hold their
shape However to tackle the issue of plastic waste Clipper Teas has developed a new
product designed specifically to help cut down on plastic pollution ndash a plastic-free
unbleached and non-genetically modified tea bag which it claims to be a world first
BIO-BASED WORLD NEWS IN BRIEF
4 BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM
Veolia and Tetra Pak team up to launch beverage carton recycling partnershipldquoWith this partnership we are combining our respective areas of expertise to find
sustainable solutions for PolyAl recyclingrdquo
Packaging giant Tetra Pak and resource management company Veolia have
announced what they call a ldquogame-changingrdquo partnership that will enable all
components of used beverage cartons collected within the EU to be recycled by 2025
The cartons collected will be turned into high-value secondary materials The average
beverage carton comprises around 75 paperboard 20 plastic and 5 aluminium
foil However while the fibres recovered during recycling have a healthy market when
converted into high-quality paper pulp for use in both industrial and consumer
products the same is not true for the recovered polymer and aluminium (PolyAl) mix
Croda officially launches new 100 bio-based surfactants ldquoWe are pleased to be able to offer such a
wide range of 100 bio-based and 100
renewable ingredients to meet the needs
of formulators and companies seeking to
deliver more sustainable optionsrdquo
Speciality chemicals company Croda
International has announced the official
launch and certification of its ECO range of
bio-based surfactants - ingredients designed
to meet increasing market demand for
sustainable high-performance ingredient
options With a vast product range that
includes everything from agrochemicals
building and construction materials and
adhesives to pharmaceuticals dietary
supplements and food and feedstocks
Croda is a company with a portfolio of
sustainable ingredients that are used by
small niche consumer markets as well as
much larger specialist industrial ones
Thyssenkrupp-commissioned bio-plastic plant starts production in ChinaldquoThe bio-plastics market will continue to grow in the coming years
not least due to the increasing environmental awareness of industry
governments and consumersrdquo
German industrial systems supplier Thyssenkrupp has recently
announced that the worldrsquos first commercial plant based on the
companyrsquos patented manufacturing process for bio-plastic polylactide
(PLA) called PLAneo has started production in Changchun China
The new plant is operated by the Jilin COFCO Biomaterial Corporation
a subsidiary of COFCO Chinarsquos largest food and agriculture group and
producer of edible oils and oilseeds
BIO-BASED WORLD NEWS IN BRIEF
5BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM
Multinational food-products giant Danone have
announced a series of initiatives to make its
packaging 100 circular and to accelerate
towards this being a standard for the industry
This includes initiatives to improve product design
and develop alternative delivery and reuse models investments to
develop effective efficient and inclusive systems for increased
collection and recycling to boost recycling and actions to
preserve natural resources by reintegrating recycled materials
into our packaging and developing use of renewable materials
Emmanuel Faber Chairman and CEO of Danone said ldquoWe
believe the time is now to step up and accelerate embrace our
responsibility and work with others to engage a radical shift that
will help free the world from packaging waste We will be acting
both at global and local level to ensure circularity of packaging
becomes the new norm Today we are announcing a series
of investments and commitments that - I believe - will have a
concrete impact These will be amplified as we collaborate with
industry-peers governments NGOs start-ups and the finance
sector harness new technologies and invest in new solutionsrdquo
Danone will accelerate transition towards circular economy of
packaging in three ways
1 PACKAGING DESIGNED FOR CIRCULARITY
Danone ( Danone ) commits to ensure that all its packaging
is designed to be 100 recyclable reusable or compostable by
2025 Moreover the company will develop alternative delivery
models or new reuse models where relevant and take action to
eliminate problematic or unnecessary plastic packaging
Already 86 of our packaging is recyclable reusable or
compostable and 50 of our water volumes are sold in reusable
jugs Their evian bottles are already 100 recyclable and Danone
have also piloted an innovation to eliminate non-recyclable
shrink film for multi-packs using specially designed adhesive
and tape handles Along with many other brands they are also
assessing alternatives to plastic straws through a pilot program to
be launched in 2019 with their AQUA brand in Indonesia
2 REUSED RECYCLED AND COMPOSTED IN PRACTICE
Danone recognizes that design wonrsquot be enough to make
its packaging fully circular Effective collection and recycling
systems are essential to ensuring packaging is recycled reused or
composted in practice
To help meet or go beyond
the collection targets set by
regulators such as the minimum
90 collection target for beverage
bottles expected to be set in
the EU for 2025 Danone will
support the most effective publicly
organized collection and recycling
systems including Extended
Producer Responsibility and
Deposit Return Scheme systems
when relevant
They will also invest in private initiatives that strengthen circular
infrastructure especially in countries where formal systems are
absent or in development or where there is a high risk of leakage
into the environment By 2025 Danone are aiming to have
initiated or supported collection and recycling initiatives in every
one of our top 20 markets (representing around 90 of sales)
3 PRESERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES
Danone use 14 of recycled PET on average in their water and
other beverage bottles by 2025 we will increase this amount to
50 The evian brand already contains 30 recycled plastic (rPET)
on average and intends to reach 100 by 2025 Their first 100
recycled PET bottle with the Lanjaron Red natural mineral water
brand in Spain and additional 100 recycled PET bottles reaching
all major water markets by 2021
In addition to these three tenets Danone are pushing the
message that collaboration is the cornerstone of success when
it comes to circular economy as we detailed in September They
have joined a global commitment led by the Ellen MacArthur
Foundation in collaboration with UN Environment Program
other businesses NGOs and governments to address plastic
waste and pollution
Dame Ellen MacArthur founder of the Ellen MacArthur
Foundation (circulareconomy) declared ldquoBy looking at the
whole system from product design to developing new reuse
models and collaborating with others these commitments
set Danone up to take important steps towards circularity
Commitments like those announced today can help drive the
global momentum needed to create a circular economy for
plastics that stops them from becoming waste and pollution
Now is the time to make it happenrdquo n
RECYCLED REUSED OR COMPOSTED - DANONE ANNOUNCE TRIO OF ACTIONS TO BE FULLY CIRCULAR BY 2025
FEATURE
6 BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM
l ightmyf i re com
Shakethe habit
BRING YOUR OWN
F O O D F R I E N D LYA N D B PA F R E E
M A D E I NS W E D E N
Disposable plastic bags disposable flatware disposable cups disposable wellalmost anything Things that can only be used once donacutet belong in a sustainableworld Shake the habit ndash bring your own
ReKitTM ndash Bring-along-friendly reusablekit for sips bites and drinks on the go
Now one project SWEETWOODS made up of
nine European companies all of whom have
wondered more about trees and their potential
is to begin producing wood-based biomaterials
for the first time on an industrial scale
This unique euro43 million bio-economy project funded by
the Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI JU) is now
underway with its key aim of developing a first-of-its-kind
bio-fractionation flagship plant in Estonia to turn sustainable
hardwood residues into high purity intermediate building blocks
of cellulosic sugars and high-quality lignin
To learn more about this project that has such huge potential
Bio-Based World Newsrsquo Luke Upton spoke exclusively to two
members of the consortium Matti Heikkilauml CTO of Finlandrsquos
pioneering enzyme technology company MetGen and Peep Pitk
RampD Manager of Europersquos largest pellet producer Graanul Invest
that is building up the wood fractionation flagship plant in Estonia
Matti tells more about the origins of the project ldquoThe concept
began around five years ago We knew about the potential of
wood that much more could be done with it and that a concept
of biorefining could transform hardwood into higher added value
products Most of the solutions and technologies to make this
happen were ready to be commercialised but we just needed to
match up the skills and partners to make the concept a realityrdquo
For Peep the opportunities of the partnership are clear ldquoThis
project really is a gamechangerrdquo He explains that it is outdated
understanding that the only way to valorise technological wood
is via highly resource demanding chemical pulping processes
The wood fractionation concept that we are working on can offer
PROJECT FOCUS CREATING HIGH PURITY LIGNIN AND AFFORDABLE PLATFORM CHEMICALS FROM WOOD-BASED SUGARSTHE AUTHOR AND POET RALPH WALDO EMERSON NO STRANGER TO THE BEAUTY OF THE NATURAL WORLD FAMOUSLY SAID THAT ldquoTHE WONDER IS THAT WE CAN SEE THESE TREES AND NOT WONDER MORErdquo SO MUCH OF OUR WORLD HAS ITS ROOTS IN OUR TREES FROM CLOTHES AND FURNITURE TO FOOD AND PAPER
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM8
FEATURE
so much more by converting over 90 of wood into useful high
value products with small ecological footprint
What is clear through the conversation with Matti and Peep is the
clarity of the SWEETWOODS vision Unlike some other projects
that pass through the bio-economy the goal and commercial
potential of the offering has been clear from the outset The
consortium powering the project connects all the links in the
value chain and covers the entire material process
By fractionating the wood into pure sugars and lignin it becomes
possible to further refine the material into high added value
products that can be used to replace oil-based chemicals and
plastics New bio-based consumer products including sports
mats insulation panels and replacements for plastics are just
some of the items mentioned in our discussion
Alongside MetGen and AS Graanul Invest the seven other
members of the European wide consortium are Tecnaro
Gesellschaft zur industriellen Anwendung Nachwachsender
Rohstoffe MBH (Germany) Ultima GMBH (Germany) Recticel
NV (Belgium) Global Bioenergies (France) 2B Srl (Italy) Vertech
Group (France) and Spinverse OY (Finland)
There has been a ldquospirit of collaborationrdquo among the partners
from the very start states Peep but the project has also
been greatly supported by the Bio-based Industries Joint
Undertaking (BBI JU) a public-private partnership between
the EU and the Bio-Based Industries Consortium (BIC) focused
on developing the European bio-based economy ldquoItrsquos been
very important to have had BBI-JU in supporting us They
have gathered industry expertees and offer a long-term
experienced view of what is required to build a successful bio-
economy consortium that can deliver a commercial successrdquo
says Matti ldquoWithout them it would have been far harder to
forge this alliancerdquo added Peep
The next steps for the project are to build the flagship plant
in Estonia to demonstrate its viability at industrial scale But
obviously there are still opportunities to take advantage of this
innovative projectrsquos outcomes ldquoWe are very much open for
discussions and open for business And by partnering now you
could still become an early adopter of the novel biomaterials in
diversity of end-use cases We believe this project will change the
way the wood industry is perceivedrdquo Matti concludes
To read more about the SWEETWOODS Project click here For
industrially representative lignin and sugars samples contact Peep Pitk
PeepPitkgraanulinvestcom For technology licensing opportunities
and modified lignin samples contact Mattimetgencom n
ldquoWE ARE VERY MUCH OPEN FOR DISCUSSIONS AND OPEN FOR BUSINESS AND BY PARTNERING NOW YOU COULD STILL BECOME AN EARLY ADOPTER OF THE NOVEL BIOMATERIALS IN DIVERSITY OF END-USE CASESrdquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 9
THE GREEN REVOLUTION WILL BE BLUE HARVESTING ALGAE FOR THE BIO-ECONOMY
When you think of algae what do you think of For
most people the thought of algae conjures up
images of a murky-looking pond However algae
are one of the largest unexploited resources on our
planet In fact the worldrsquos ocean could harbour up
to 1 million species depending on who you believe But we have just
barely begun to harvest and cultivate algae for mankindrsquos benefit
Algae are not just green stuff in the sea they are complex aquatic
organisms that have the ability to conduct photosynthesis
Algae have been used by human beings for a long time However
the number of companies developing algae-based biofuels
swelled in the 2000s as oil prices rose and supportive policies
were established for next-generation biofuels Yet when the
oil price dropped to record low levels in 2014 to under $35 per
barrel a lot of companies went bust backed away or shifted their
interests towards higher value markets such as health foods
beauty and personal care products and animal feed The use
of algae for applications in the nutraceutical chemicals and
cosmetic markets is growing in a world where companies are
increasingly seeking alternatives to fossil fuel-based products As
a result of this algae have come under the spotlight once again
However the industry has only industrialised a dozen or so of the
many variety of algae species so the opportunities are endless
HIGHLY-VALUED RESOURCE
So what opportunities exist By far the largest market for algae
commercialisation is the nutraceutical and animal feed sector
Today algae nutraceuticals generate around $05bn in revenue
annually according to Bloomberg In fact the most valuable
products made from algae today are human nutraceuticals such
as Omega 3 oils They can be sold in capsules in health stores or
added to food and drink products to enhance their offering
Algae-based food is big business In Asia macroalgae - also
known as seaweed is a highly valued resource with more
than 30 million tonnes farmed annually making it one of the
largest biomasses harvested from the oceans according to Jon
Funderud CEO at Norway-based Seaweed Energy Solutions
He says that more than half of this volume goes directly to human
consumption as healthy ldquosea vegetablesrdquo while the remainder
has various industrial uses such as for bioplastics animal feed or
fertilisers In Europe seaweeds are virtually unexploited but have
in recent years received a surge in interest both as a new super
food and for their potential as a bioenergy crop
However there has been no serious industrial efforts at large-
scale macroalgae farming because there has been no ldquooff the
shelfrdquo farming technology available Funderud says He says
the vast majority of seaweed farms in Asia are based on very
labour-intensive and low tech means with no real potential
for technology transfer to ldquohigh-cost countriesrdquo In Europe
the seaweed farming industry is still at pilot scale where the
production cost is still really expensive
Seaweed farming is not the only way to address feeding the
worldrsquos growing population Microalgae small microscopic aquatic
photosynthetic plants that require the aid of a microscope to be
seen can also do the job Ingmar Hoslashgoslashy chairman of Norway-
based microalgae technology company AlgaePro says that
microalgae can also provide food security and provide an alternative
to dairy and meat-based foods Matt Carr executive director of US
Algae Biomass Organisation concurs with Hoslashgoslashy and says that
algae used for nutraceutical sector and animal feed will drive growth
for the sector which in turn will help to produce more large-scale
production facilities and a variety of different production methods
BY LIZ GYEKYE
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM10
FEATURE
Unique production methods are already being utilised Scotland-
based biotechnology company ScotBio is just one firm doing just
this and has been successful in commercialising its natural blue
food colourant that is suitable for sweets ice cream and drinks
It was founded in 2007 and is based on the findings of PhD
student Chelsea Brain who found that a specific type of red light
increased the production of phycocyanin (natural blue pigment)
in microalgae spirulina
CEO DC Van Alstyne says the research that is happening in the UK
is ground-breaking on many fronts but many companies in the UK
have difficulty commercialising their innovations compared to the
US because the US academics tend to get more financial support
NOT JUST FOOD
In the US one company that is making waves in the algae-based
material space is California-based biotechnology company
Checkerspot The company is engineering microalgae to bring
high-performance materials to the market Checkerspot ferments
a class of sugar-eating microalgae called trebouxiophyceae
which swell with fat The company uses genetic engineering and
classical strain improvement to coax the algae to produce useful
triglycerides It is using this feedstock to create the foam used
in surfboards and is also working on creating water-repellent
coating for outdoor apparel
Another US company that is focusing on algae is oil giant Exxon
Mobil It is working with Synthetic Genomic to conduct a large
trial to engineer algae streams in outdoor settings to produce
biofuels In fact today most algae are grown outdoors in open
pods In contrast microalgae can be grown in lab with the help
of photobioreactors (a bioreactor that utilises a light source to
cultivate phototrophic microorganisms) and steel tanks
Yet environmental critics would question whether it was right
to genetically engineer these microorganisms for the good of
mankind Carr says ldquoUsing everything that we have already
learned in terms of containment researchers have designed
outdoor settings to ensure that they canrsquot produce the kinds of
negative environmental effects that some may fear You can do
that by engineering the organisms so that they canrsquot survive in
natural settingsrdquo
He says that algae producers in the US have been working with
the US Environmental Protection Agency to ensure that they are
designing systems that will not result in any kind of attack on the
broader eco system
In relation to the eco system waste wastewater treatment is
emerging as really important trend for algae Algae can be added
to wastewater or sewage to clean the water Carole Llewellyn
associate professor in applied aquatic bioscience at Swansea
University says algae can effectively capture and degrade
nitrogen and phosphorus in domestic wastewater and clear up
metals in mine wastewater streams
All of this looks promising However as Llewellyn says
ldquoHarvesting microalgae on a large scale and economically is a
challenge It is less of a challenge where the end product is of
high value but for low-value commodities low-cost harvesting
remains a challenge Some species are naturally self-flocculating
We probably need to understand this process a bit betterrdquo
Yet with only around 12 algae species industrialised the next step will
be to map the algae genome according to Carr It really does seem
like the world needs to prepare itself for a blue-green revolution n
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 11
ldquoWBM was very valuable to me since it brought all actors along the value chain of the bio-based economy around several tables in panel discussions I hardly know any other conference with so many different industry players presentrdquoRaul Pires VP New Technologies Covestro
MEET THE PRODUCERS AND BRANDS INVESTING IN BIO-BASED SOLUTIONS
Visit wwwWorldBioMarketscom Follow us Bio_BasedWorld WBM19
1-3 April 2019 Passenger Terminal Amsterdam Amsterdam
14th Annual
Produced by
US-based chemical engineer Frances Arnold
(pictured) is one of three scientists who have this
month been awarded the 2018 Nobel Prize in
Chemistry She has won the prize for her work on
the ldquodirected evolution of enzymesrdquo which is a bioengineering
method for creating new and better enzymes in the laboratory
using the principles of evolution Enzymes produced through
directed evolution are used to manufacture everything from
biofuels to pharmaceuticals
Directed evolution works in the same way that breeders mate
cats or dogs to bring out desired traits To perform the method
scientists begin by inducing mutations to the DNA or gene that
encodes a particular enzyme
An assortment of thousands of mutated enzymes is produced
and then tested for a desired trait The top-performing enzymes
are selected and the process is repeated to further enhance the
enzymesrsquo performances For instance in 2009 Arnold and her
team based at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
engineered enzymes that break down cellulose the main
component of plant cell walls creating better catalysts for turning
agricultural wastes into fuels and chemicals
A number of additional enzymes produced through directed
evolution are now used for a host of products including biofuels
agricultural chemicals paper products and pharmaceuticals
Arnold and her colleagues have also used directed evolution
to persuade bacteria to make chemicals not found in nature
including molecules containing silicon-carbon or boron-
carbon bonds or bicyclobutanes which contain energy-
packed carbon rings
By using bacteria researchers can potentially make these
chemical compounds in ldquogreenerrdquo ways that are more
economical and produce less toxic waste
Arnold ( francesarnold ) was born on 25 July 1956 in Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania and arrived at Caltech as a visiting associate in 1986
and was named assistant professor in 1987 associate professor in
1992 and professor in 1996
Speaking about her Nobel prize Arnold said she was ldquoabsolutely
flooredrdquo to receive the award adding ldquoI have to wrap my head
around this Itrsquos not something I was expectingrdquo
ldquoMy entire career I have been concerned about the damage we
are doing to the planet and each otherrdquo Arnold said ldquoScience
and technology can play a major role in mitigating our negative
influences on the environment
Changing behaviour is even more important However I feel
that change is easier when there are good economically-viable
alternatives to harmful habitsrdquo n
NOBEL NOD FOR THE GREEN PIONEER BEHIND lsquoDIRECTED
EVOLUTION ENZYMESrsquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 13
FEATURE
BRANDS A PRAGMATIC APPROACH TO BIO-BASED CHEMICALSCHRISTOPHE SCHILLING CEO GENOMATICA
The brands I speak with have well-crafted
plans for advancing the sustainability of their
products These address choosing materials
for recyclability considering end-of-life
reuse energy consumption during
production packaging and community-related issues
consistent with the United Nationsrsquo Sustainable
Development Goals
I was particularly energized by my conversations at the
VERGE18 conference where I was asked to be a discussion
leader at the Circular Plastics Summit co-led by the Ellen
MacArthur Foundation (I encourage you to read their New
Plastics Economy and Make Fashion Circular reports)
Increasingly brands are seeing the opportunity to improve
sustainability through increased use of renewably-sourced
materials This approach is part of a broader set of initiatives
to increase circularity in a range of global material flows
Although these approaches offer compelling benefits
making them happen can be challenging In this article Irsquod
like to share some ideas for tangible near-term actions that
emerged from my recent discussions as they apply to bio-
based chemicals
ONE KEY LEARNING CLOSER IS BETTER
Wersquove found that brands are more energized to act when
key chemicals are ldquocloserrdquo to their end products in the
sense of making up a substantial portion of the end
product A great example is nylon where the key chemical
caprolactam is only one step away from conversion to
nylon Genomatica is developing technology for bio-based
caprolactam which is then made into 100 bio-based
nylon-6 for apparel and carpet we announced Aquafil as
a partner in early 2018 Brands appreciate that moving to
100 bio-based nylon could allow them to have a major
impact on the sustainability of their products and on their
market differentiation
To make that happen only one chemical needs to be made
renewably This announcement was followed by Project
EFFECTIVE which aims to commercialize better fibers and
plastics and includes four major brands ndash HampM Vaude Carvico
and Balsan EFFECTIVE supported by the EUrsquos Horizon2020
program will use Genomaticarsquos caprolactam technology as
well as technology for the first bio-based chemical delivered
by Genomatica for 14-butanediol (BDO) to enable higher
renewable content in polyesters and polyurethanes
Two more examples are instructive First Genomatica has
also commercialized its Brontidetrade bio-based butylene glycol
Itrsquos certainly close to the customer as itrsquos used directly in
personal care and cosmetics products As a result
Brontide has resonated with major brands that
emphasize naturalness and purity Second is
Genomaticarsquos aforementioned BDO At
first glance BDO is a few conversion
ldquoWHEN BRANDS ARE LOOKING FOR NEAR-TERM IMPACT THEY NEED A BIO-BASED TECHNOLOGY THAT REALLY WORKSrdquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM14
FEATURE
steps away from most products But brands that look deeper have
realized they can quickly improve the sustainability of polymers
used in common urethane foams (for example) by replacing just
the BDO part with a bio-based version That wonrsquot take the product
to 100 but it allows for a fast improvement through better
understanding of where a productrsquos ingredients come from
ANOTHER IT HAS TO WORK
When brands are looking for near-term impact they need a bio-
based technology that really works That means it can be produced
at commercial scale today with competitive economics Tangible
examples like bio-based BDO and Brontide deliver immediate
opportunities and build confidence that the technology side of
our industry can deliver further innovations A recent example is
Novamontrsquos production of compostable biodegradable plastics
in Italy using bio-based BDO Their plant with a 30000 ton per
year capacity has helped revitalize the local economy providing
a market for farmersrsquo products plus the refurbishing of an older
industrial facility creating many jobs Novamont has secured
multiple well-known brands as customers including UK retailer
Co-op which will replace 180 million bags As brands see
biotechnology deliver at scale many want to learn whatrsquos next
WHAT BRANDS CAN DO NOW
To see how bio-based chemicals can fit your sustainability
strategy we recommend the following
bull Increase internal awareness and understanding This starts
with a deeper understanding of where your key production
inputs come from and how they are made When coupled
with greater exposure to what biotechnology can do it helps
prioritize what parts of your supply chain can be improved
Leverage outside expertise ndash invite biotech firms to share
what they know and do
bull Involve your upstream chemical and material suppliers
Give them updated requirements tied to your sustainability
objectives Encourage them to have direct discussions with
the biotechnology firms and biochemical producers that
expand their options and fit your needs
bull Be clear about your shopping list and priorities This allows
biotechnology firms and chemicalmaterial producers to
provide feedback and look for areas of overlap
bull Send tangible market signals If suppliers know yoursquore serious
about moving to more sustainable ingredients and process
technologies theyrsquoll pay attention This can tie directly to your
Corporate Sustainability Reporting and objectives
bull Publicise and celebrate your choices Let your customers
know about your process for improving and milestones along
the way Press releases speaking at conferences blogs and
tweets can all be effective
bull Get ldquoinside the tentrdquo with preferred partners Some of your
technology or supply chain partners can share more insights
or have a greater impact on your results Invest in ideation and
exploration if needed Close partnerships can help you influence
their priorities or gain early access to advantaged ingredients n
Irsquoll be a speaker at World Bio Markets in April Contact
me directly at cschillinggenomaticacom if yoursquod like
to discuss your companyrsquos vision and needs sooner
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 15
Yes thatrsquos us down there Yes you know us as a prime tourist destination and a business service hub But did you know that in the port of Amsterdam we have one of Europersquos largest biorefinery clustersThe port also has reliable infrastructure logistics providers and terminals utilities feedstock and markets literally at spitting distance Schiphol Airport is as you know just around the corner We reserved space for your business to grow Biopark Amsterdam So consider Amsterdam you are more than welcome to join us Discover our success stories on portofamsterdamcom
The greatest port you never thought of
Considered Amsterdam
In our industry where explaining the benefits of a
product can sometimes be a challenge a good
boost was received this week A familiar name to
most of our readers the Brazilian chemicals
company Braskem producers of Irsquom green ndash a
bio-based polyethylene made from sugarcane ndash has had its
negative carbon footprint credentials strengthened thanks to an
independent review The assessment was carried out by the
Carbon Trust an international organisation that helps businesses
governments and the public sector to accelerate the move to a
more sustainable low carbon economy And the result is that
Braskemrsquos bio-based plastic as used by LEGO (pictured above)
among others is effectively carbon-negative
In a new report comparing Irsquom green with fossil-based equivalents
the Carbon Trust has endorsed the methodology used by Braskem
to support claims that for every tonne of Irsquom green produced the
equivalent of around 3 tonnes of CO2 are locked away by the
sugarcane which provides the main raw material for its manufacture
Capturing CO2 during its lifecycle Irsquom green avoids emissions
related to the production of fossil fuel feedstock thereby
providing a net saving of the equivalent of around 5 tonnes of
CO2sup1 by the end of the plastic manufacturing process
Irsquom green is 100 recyclable plastic currently being used in a
range of applications from food packaging to personal care
products as well as more durable goods such as chairs and vases
Brand owners are increasingly responding to climate change
by reducing their carbon footprint which requires investment
in more efficient processes and using innovative renewable
materials Braskemrsquos Irsquom green is made from a renewable
feedstock and can make a significant contribution to reduce
carbon emissions
John Newton Associated Director at the Carbon Trust said ldquoTo
address climate change we will need innovative materials that
are radically lower in emissions compared to what is commonly
used today Products like Irsquom green which help lock away carbon
emissions in their production can be a real part of the solutionrdquo
Marco Jansen Commercial Director Renewable Chemicals at
Braskem said ldquoWersquore delighted that credible association Carbon
Trust further validates our calculations of Irsquom greenrsquos carbon
footprint Our customers know Irsquom green polyethylene is a smart
and sustainable way to reduce a productrsquos carbon footprint and we
hope more brands will use it as a renewable solution in the futurerdquo
This news will no doubt have been welcomed by LEGO too as
Braskem will supply the LEGO Group with Irsquom green as it makes
it switch to bio-based bricks Already in 2018 Green Plastic has
been used in the lsquobotanicalrsquo elements range such as trees bushes
and leaves that sold quickly once released
The LCA Summary is available here A one-page statement is
available here n
ITrsquoS OFFICIAL BRASKEMrsquoS CARBON-NEGATIVE
CLAIMS FOR ITS BIO-BASED PLASTIC ARE APPROVED
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 17
ldquo IT IS THE WAY TO STEP FORWARD TO AN EARTH-FRIENDLY SOLUTION REDUCING PETROLEUM BASED MATERIALSrdquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM18
FEATURE
BIO-BASED A POSSIBLE SOLUTION
TO MASTERCARDrsquoS SEARCH FOR MORE
SUSTAINABLE BANK CARDS
For many years the idea of going green with your
credit or debit card payments was limited to
buying sustainable products donating to
charities or paying for carbon offsets But now a
new alliance is aiming to green the card itself as
part of a wider array of actions a broader part of the payments
industry Global payment giants Mastercard and card
manufacturers Gemalto Giesecke+Devrient and IDEMIA have
this month launched the Greener Payments Partnership to
establish environmental best practices and reduce first-use PVC
plastic in card manufacturing Roughly six billion plastic payment
cards are made each year according to The Nilson Report
While Mastercard analysis shows that this is less than 0015
percent of the volume of plastic manufactured each year there
is room to improve that through the use of alternative materials
ldquoConsumers are increasingly moving from cash to card as they
look for greater security and sustainabilityrdquo commented Ajay
Bhalla president cyber and intelligence solutions Mastercard
( MastercardNews ) ldquoThis partnership will help us and our
industry reduce first-use plastic in cards Together we can
build on recent research and tests and drive adoption of
environmentally-friendly materials on a larger scalerdquo
Research and analysis into recyclable bio-sourced and bio-
degradable materials is already underway and now included in
this remit The partnership commits to accelerating that research
with the goal of delivering globally available solutions to reduce
first-use PVC plastic in card manufacturing in a matter of years
ldquoResponsible use of natural resources and protection of our
climate and environment are core elements of G+Drsquos Corporate
Responsibility policy We are committed to ensuring that our
entire value chain is sustainable and to continuously reducing
our ecological footprint As a participant of the Greener Payment
Partnership we work on the standardization of bio-sourced
materials in payment cards It is the way to step forward to an
earth-friendly solution reducing petroleum based materialsrdquo
says Gabrielle Bugat Head of the Financial Services Division at
Giesecke+Devrient Mobile Security
The group will also ensure best practices around how materials
are evaluated including environmental impact benefits and the
ability to meet increasing consumer concerns around the impact
of plastic globally
ldquoItrsquos no secret that we all need to change the way we live and
consume to reduce the impact wersquore having on our planet For
IDEMIA itrsquos essential as an industrial leader to effect change
for the better and play our part to reduce for instance our
reliance on plasticrdquo said Pierre Barrial executive vice president
for financial institutions activities at IDEMIA ( IdemiaGroup )
ldquoWersquore delighted to partner with Mastercard to deliver viable
environmentally friendly alternatives that bring positive change
to the industry as a wholerdquo
ldquoEnvironmental-friendly products are now a priority for all
stakeholders in the payment eco-systemrdquo says Sylvie Gibert
senior vice president of payment cards Gemalto ldquoWe are
committed to supporting this partnership formed by Mastercard
and we have already adopted sustainable practices in our
banking card business This initiative comes at a time where we
see a growing interest from the banks for greener cardsrdquo
This is no the first foray into bio-materials for Mastercard in
2016 they partnered with the Finnish Bank of Aringland WWF
Finland KPMG and Gemalto to create a credit card made of
renewable and biodegradable materials n
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 19
We regularly feature stories emerging from Canada
whether itrsquos about a new way to harness the
nations huge amounts of harvestable biomass
the commercialization of an innovation emerging
from one of their many illustrious university
laboratories or the growth in popularity of a bio-based product
for an increasingly environmentally aware population
So in order to learn more about one of the worldrsquos most vibrant
bio-economies our editor Luke Upton recently sat down with
Sandy Marshall the Executive Director of Bioindustrial Innovation
Canada a not-for-profit organisation focussed on catalysing the
further commercialisation of the bio-economy In a wide ranging
discussion they looked at how agriculture can better connect
with the bio-economy advice on starting a business and what
makes Canada so strong in this area
Luke Upton (LU) Thanks for the time today so as an
introduction ndash whatrsquos been your personal path to becoming
executive director of Bioindustrial Innovation Canada
Sandy Marshall (SM) I was raised on a farm near Blyth
Ontario Canada before graduating with Bachelor of Applied
Science Degree (BASc) and Masters of Applied Science Degree
(MASc) in Chemical Engineering from the University of Waterloo
I started my professional career in 1984 with Polysar Inc a
Canadian rubber manufacturer Over my 30 year career in
the chemical and polymers industry I worked in research and
process product development and market development before
moving into Operations and General Management I had two
international assignment one with Bayer AG in Germany and a
second with Lanxess in Cincinnati USA I finished my corporate
career as President and Managing Director responsible for
Canadian Operations of Lanxess Canada I have been recognized
as a leader committed to Corporate Social Responsibility and
environmental sustainability in Canada
I am very interested in sustainable chemistry and have been an
active Board member for Bioindustrial Innovation Canada (BIC)
from its inception in 2008 After I left Lanxess in 2013 I began
consulting in this space At that time I also took over the role of
Chairman of the BIC Board and worked very closely with Murray
McLaughlin Executive Director BIC In 2016 Murray McLaughlin
chose to step back as Executive Director and I was hired as his
replacement It is exciting to be back in a leadership role for an
organization with an inspiring vision and mission
LU For our readers who are unfamiliar with BIC could you
explain a little about the organisation and its aims
SM BIC is a nationally focused not-for-profit organization
based in Sarnia Ontario BICrsquos vision is to create jobs and
economic value sustainably for Canada BICrsquos mission is to
provide critical strategic investment advice and services to
THE LAST WORD WITHhellip SANDY MARSHALL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BIOINDUSTRIAL INNOVATION CANADA
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM20
FEATURE
business developers of clean green and sustainable technologies
Our expertise in commercialization builds a stronger Canada BIC
is focused on enabling Ontario and Canada to become globally
recognized leaders in converting renewable resources such as
agricultural and forestry by-products and residues into value-
added bioenergy biofuel biochemical and biomaterials for use
in a wide range of commercial applications along the chemistry
value chain to advanced manufacturing
LU BIC has worked with a number of companies is there a
particular project of which you are most proud
SM In 2012 BIC together with community leaders in Agriculture
embarked on a project to identify whether the Sarnia-Lambton
region could develop a source of cellulosic sugars using a biomass
supply chain based on agricultural residues BIC lead this project
with the support of numerous companies and government agencies
which lead to the formation of the Cellulosic Sugar Producers
Cooperative and identified Comet Bio as a viable technology
provider Currently these companies are partnering to establish the
worldrsquos first commercial cellulosic glucose sugar supply chain
LU What makes Canada a good home for a bio-based innovation
SM Canada is a vast country which is blessed with enormous
quantities of sustainably harvestable biomass both from forestry
and agriculture The access to raw materials is critical for the
success of any business venture Furthermore Canada is known
for its strong innovation capacity and its collaborative work
culture Together these attributes make Canada an ideal home of
the bio-based economy
LU What can agriculture do to better connect with bio-based
chemical and bio-based product manufactures
SM Agriculture needs to take a leadership role in the bio-
economy There has been a good start here in Canada It is
critical that the question about the availability of sustainably
harvestable biomass is answered through good science to allow
the industry to grow and leverage Canadarsquos great potential
Producers can also promote the bio-economy as an
opportunity to diversify their business models Generating
revenue through feedstock sales to bio-based chemical and
product producers or through participation as business partners
and investors in these ventures can be very beneficial in
reducing risk for all participants in the bio-economy
Government can support these entrepreneurial activities
through support of applied research and development of the
science to assure society that the bio-economy based on
agricultural feedstocks is both sustainable and critical to the
fight against climate change
LU What advice would you give someone looking to start a
bio-based business
SM Start with a solid business plan that clearly identified the
value proposition and can show profitability without relying on
long term government incentives I think that government has
an important role to de-risk early stage commercialization but
businesses must be able to show a path to successful commercial
independence
LU And finallyhellip whatrsquos your favourite sustainable bio-based
product
SM I do not have a favourite The petrochemical industry
succeeded based on leveraging all of the products in the barrel of
oil I see the bio-economy in the same way We need to valorize
all of the products in the truckload of biomass It is only through
leveraging sugars lignin renewable natural gas and the bio-
products produced from them that we can successfully build a
vibrant bio-economy n
ldquoTHE PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRY SUCCEEDED BASED ON LEVERAGING ALL OF THE PRODUCTS IN THE BARREL OF OIL I SEE THE BIO-ECONOMY IN THE SAME WAYrdquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 21
Will the market adopt yournext bio-based innovation
Find the right innovation partnersfrom our 500000+ technical community
Accelerate your innovation by 5Xwith our agile and digital methodology
Increase your success rate by 200when launching new bio-based products
SEE HOW WE CANACCELERATE YOUR INNOVATION
WELCOMEWelcome to the twelfth issue of the Bio-Based World Quarterly your dedicated guide to the latest news and essential business developments for bio-based and sustainable chemicals materials and products and the brands that purchase use and sell them
Every year the Collins English dictionary names a lsquoword of the yearrsquo ndash it typically reflects the cultural or political mood of the year in recent years it has been lsquobinge-watchrsquo lsquoBrexitrsquo and lsquofake newsrsquo And this year Itrsquos lsquosingle-usersquo ndash reflecting the increasing global awareness of environmental issues
Collinsrsquos lexicographers said the word is now being used more than ever before in light of growing efforts to try and nullify or reverse the damage that plastics pose to the environment with a spokesperson stating ldquoThe word single-use has seen a four-fold increase since 2013rdquo It is perhaps also worth noting that on a similar note of growing awareness lsquoveganrsquo also made the shortlist
I donrsquot need to tell you that there is a huge opportunity of bio-based to step in and offer solutions
Consumer-facing brands barring some noted exceptions have been slow to move away from their established effective and usually very cheap petroleum-based products But this awareness of the damage of that we are doing whilst hardly prevalent across all consumers is pouring focus on traditional practices Take the seasons launch of the Starbucks red cups and the subject of a recent feature on Bio-Based World News For all their endeavours with recycling (in specific places) an annual huge marketing push of single use cups feels increasingly out of step with customer demands
Sustainable living expert Jen Gale featured on the quote of left and here sees the days of the red cups numbered ldquohellip a disposable cup is still a disposable cup no matter how jolly and festive it looks Itrsquos still nigh on impossible to recycle and will sit in landfill (looking all jolly and festive) for years to comerdquo
So as we come to the end of one tumultuous year and head into one that looks set to be similar we can at least be proud that the concerns that we have had for many years regarding our disposable culture have moved into the mainstream
All the team here are very excited for World Bio Markets 2019 returning to Amsterdam on the 1st-3rd April If you enjoy this Quarterly then this event is perfect for you And representatives of several companies featured in this issue Genomatica MetGen Light My Fire SpecialChem Croda Tetra Pak and Braskem are already confirmed as being part of our expert speaker line-up
As always we are very grateful of the time that our contributors have shared with us on this issue in particular the SWEETWOODS Project and their partners at the Bio-Based Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI JU) Corbion Genomatica Light My Fire Port of Amsterdam and SpecialChem
Thanks for reading and please let me know if yoursquod like to contribute to our future issues ndash we are always looking for fresh voices and new stories
Luke UptonEditor amp Co-Founder Bio-Based World News LukeBioBasedWorldNewscom
ldquoI REALLY DONrsquoT UNDERSTAND ALL THE EXCITEMENT AROUND STARBUCKrsquoS SPECIAL CHRISTMAS RED CUPS - A DISPOSABLE CUP IS STILL A DISPOSABLE CUPhelliprdquo
Brightmark Energy invests $57m to construct the USrsquo lsquofirstrsquo commercial-scale plastics- to-fuel plantldquoThis sustainable technology directly
addresses an acute problem facing
the US more than 91 of the 345
million tons of plastic domestically
produced each year is not recycledrdquo US
renewable energy development company
Brightmark Energy is pushing forward
with its plans to develop what it claims is
the USrsquo first commercial-scale plastics-
to-fuel facility The company recently
it announced that it had acquired a
majority interest and invested $10m in
Ohio-based technology company RES
Polyflow while committing an additional
$47m investment to the first commercial-
scale plant to utilise this technology
Bio-plastic JV Synvina under threat over dispute about investment deadlineldquoWe are determined to pursue the commercialisation of FDCA and PEF ndash with or without BASFrdquo
The bio-plastics industry has suffered a potential blow after chemicals giant BASF
announced that it had threatened to pull out of its Synvina joint venture (JV) with Dutch
renewable chemicals company Avantium over a disagreement on an investment deadline
for the project
At the core of the JV is a focus on producing and marketing FDCA (furandicarboxylic
acid) as well as the marketing of new polymer PEF (polyethylenefuranoate) based on this
chemical building block
Clipper Teas claims world first with new non-GM plastic-free tea bag made from bananasldquoNow wersquove created and implemented a plastic-free bag we wonrsquot be
going backrdquo One of the UKrsquos biggest tea brands is set to launch what it claims is the
worldrsquos first plastic-free non-GM and unbleached heat-sealed teabag made from
bananas The problem of plastic pollution in the worldrsquos seas and oceans has forced
companies and governments to do things differently This concern has also led to an
increasing demand for alternatives to plastics A number of leading tea brands use
polypropylene a sealing plastic to fasten teabags and ensure that they hold their
shape However to tackle the issue of plastic waste Clipper Teas has developed a new
product designed specifically to help cut down on plastic pollution ndash a plastic-free
unbleached and non-genetically modified tea bag which it claims to be a world first
BIO-BASED WORLD NEWS IN BRIEF
4 BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM
Veolia and Tetra Pak team up to launch beverage carton recycling partnershipldquoWith this partnership we are combining our respective areas of expertise to find
sustainable solutions for PolyAl recyclingrdquo
Packaging giant Tetra Pak and resource management company Veolia have
announced what they call a ldquogame-changingrdquo partnership that will enable all
components of used beverage cartons collected within the EU to be recycled by 2025
The cartons collected will be turned into high-value secondary materials The average
beverage carton comprises around 75 paperboard 20 plastic and 5 aluminium
foil However while the fibres recovered during recycling have a healthy market when
converted into high-quality paper pulp for use in both industrial and consumer
products the same is not true for the recovered polymer and aluminium (PolyAl) mix
Croda officially launches new 100 bio-based surfactants ldquoWe are pleased to be able to offer such a
wide range of 100 bio-based and 100
renewable ingredients to meet the needs
of formulators and companies seeking to
deliver more sustainable optionsrdquo
Speciality chemicals company Croda
International has announced the official
launch and certification of its ECO range of
bio-based surfactants - ingredients designed
to meet increasing market demand for
sustainable high-performance ingredient
options With a vast product range that
includes everything from agrochemicals
building and construction materials and
adhesives to pharmaceuticals dietary
supplements and food and feedstocks
Croda is a company with a portfolio of
sustainable ingredients that are used by
small niche consumer markets as well as
much larger specialist industrial ones
Thyssenkrupp-commissioned bio-plastic plant starts production in ChinaldquoThe bio-plastics market will continue to grow in the coming years
not least due to the increasing environmental awareness of industry
governments and consumersrdquo
German industrial systems supplier Thyssenkrupp has recently
announced that the worldrsquos first commercial plant based on the
companyrsquos patented manufacturing process for bio-plastic polylactide
(PLA) called PLAneo has started production in Changchun China
The new plant is operated by the Jilin COFCO Biomaterial Corporation
a subsidiary of COFCO Chinarsquos largest food and agriculture group and
producer of edible oils and oilseeds
BIO-BASED WORLD NEWS IN BRIEF
5BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM
Multinational food-products giant Danone have
announced a series of initiatives to make its
packaging 100 circular and to accelerate
towards this being a standard for the industry
This includes initiatives to improve product design
and develop alternative delivery and reuse models investments to
develop effective efficient and inclusive systems for increased
collection and recycling to boost recycling and actions to
preserve natural resources by reintegrating recycled materials
into our packaging and developing use of renewable materials
Emmanuel Faber Chairman and CEO of Danone said ldquoWe
believe the time is now to step up and accelerate embrace our
responsibility and work with others to engage a radical shift that
will help free the world from packaging waste We will be acting
both at global and local level to ensure circularity of packaging
becomes the new norm Today we are announcing a series
of investments and commitments that - I believe - will have a
concrete impact These will be amplified as we collaborate with
industry-peers governments NGOs start-ups and the finance
sector harness new technologies and invest in new solutionsrdquo
Danone will accelerate transition towards circular economy of
packaging in three ways
1 PACKAGING DESIGNED FOR CIRCULARITY
Danone ( Danone ) commits to ensure that all its packaging
is designed to be 100 recyclable reusable or compostable by
2025 Moreover the company will develop alternative delivery
models or new reuse models where relevant and take action to
eliminate problematic or unnecessary plastic packaging
Already 86 of our packaging is recyclable reusable or
compostable and 50 of our water volumes are sold in reusable
jugs Their evian bottles are already 100 recyclable and Danone
have also piloted an innovation to eliminate non-recyclable
shrink film for multi-packs using specially designed adhesive
and tape handles Along with many other brands they are also
assessing alternatives to plastic straws through a pilot program to
be launched in 2019 with their AQUA brand in Indonesia
2 REUSED RECYCLED AND COMPOSTED IN PRACTICE
Danone recognizes that design wonrsquot be enough to make
its packaging fully circular Effective collection and recycling
systems are essential to ensuring packaging is recycled reused or
composted in practice
To help meet or go beyond
the collection targets set by
regulators such as the minimum
90 collection target for beverage
bottles expected to be set in
the EU for 2025 Danone will
support the most effective publicly
organized collection and recycling
systems including Extended
Producer Responsibility and
Deposit Return Scheme systems
when relevant
They will also invest in private initiatives that strengthen circular
infrastructure especially in countries where formal systems are
absent or in development or where there is a high risk of leakage
into the environment By 2025 Danone are aiming to have
initiated or supported collection and recycling initiatives in every
one of our top 20 markets (representing around 90 of sales)
3 PRESERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES
Danone use 14 of recycled PET on average in their water and
other beverage bottles by 2025 we will increase this amount to
50 The evian brand already contains 30 recycled plastic (rPET)
on average and intends to reach 100 by 2025 Their first 100
recycled PET bottle with the Lanjaron Red natural mineral water
brand in Spain and additional 100 recycled PET bottles reaching
all major water markets by 2021
In addition to these three tenets Danone are pushing the
message that collaboration is the cornerstone of success when
it comes to circular economy as we detailed in September They
have joined a global commitment led by the Ellen MacArthur
Foundation in collaboration with UN Environment Program
other businesses NGOs and governments to address plastic
waste and pollution
Dame Ellen MacArthur founder of the Ellen MacArthur
Foundation (circulareconomy) declared ldquoBy looking at the
whole system from product design to developing new reuse
models and collaborating with others these commitments
set Danone up to take important steps towards circularity
Commitments like those announced today can help drive the
global momentum needed to create a circular economy for
plastics that stops them from becoming waste and pollution
Now is the time to make it happenrdquo n
RECYCLED REUSED OR COMPOSTED - DANONE ANNOUNCE TRIO OF ACTIONS TO BE FULLY CIRCULAR BY 2025
FEATURE
6 BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM
l ightmyf i re com
Shakethe habit
BRING YOUR OWN
F O O D F R I E N D LYA N D B PA F R E E
M A D E I NS W E D E N
Disposable plastic bags disposable flatware disposable cups disposable wellalmost anything Things that can only be used once donacutet belong in a sustainableworld Shake the habit ndash bring your own
ReKitTM ndash Bring-along-friendly reusablekit for sips bites and drinks on the go
Now one project SWEETWOODS made up of
nine European companies all of whom have
wondered more about trees and their potential
is to begin producing wood-based biomaterials
for the first time on an industrial scale
This unique euro43 million bio-economy project funded by
the Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI JU) is now
underway with its key aim of developing a first-of-its-kind
bio-fractionation flagship plant in Estonia to turn sustainable
hardwood residues into high purity intermediate building blocks
of cellulosic sugars and high-quality lignin
To learn more about this project that has such huge potential
Bio-Based World Newsrsquo Luke Upton spoke exclusively to two
members of the consortium Matti Heikkilauml CTO of Finlandrsquos
pioneering enzyme technology company MetGen and Peep Pitk
RampD Manager of Europersquos largest pellet producer Graanul Invest
that is building up the wood fractionation flagship plant in Estonia
Matti tells more about the origins of the project ldquoThe concept
began around five years ago We knew about the potential of
wood that much more could be done with it and that a concept
of biorefining could transform hardwood into higher added value
products Most of the solutions and technologies to make this
happen were ready to be commercialised but we just needed to
match up the skills and partners to make the concept a realityrdquo
For Peep the opportunities of the partnership are clear ldquoThis
project really is a gamechangerrdquo He explains that it is outdated
understanding that the only way to valorise technological wood
is via highly resource demanding chemical pulping processes
The wood fractionation concept that we are working on can offer
PROJECT FOCUS CREATING HIGH PURITY LIGNIN AND AFFORDABLE PLATFORM CHEMICALS FROM WOOD-BASED SUGARSTHE AUTHOR AND POET RALPH WALDO EMERSON NO STRANGER TO THE BEAUTY OF THE NATURAL WORLD FAMOUSLY SAID THAT ldquoTHE WONDER IS THAT WE CAN SEE THESE TREES AND NOT WONDER MORErdquo SO MUCH OF OUR WORLD HAS ITS ROOTS IN OUR TREES FROM CLOTHES AND FURNITURE TO FOOD AND PAPER
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM8
FEATURE
so much more by converting over 90 of wood into useful high
value products with small ecological footprint
What is clear through the conversation with Matti and Peep is the
clarity of the SWEETWOODS vision Unlike some other projects
that pass through the bio-economy the goal and commercial
potential of the offering has been clear from the outset The
consortium powering the project connects all the links in the
value chain and covers the entire material process
By fractionating the wood into pure sugars and lignin it becomes
possible to further refine the material into high added value
products that can be used to replace oil-based chemicals and
plastics New bio-based consumer products including sports
mats insulation panels and replacements for plastics are just
some of the items mentioned in our discussion
Alongside MetGen and AS Graanul Invest the seven other
members of the European wide consortium are Tecnaro
Gesellschaft zur industriellen Anwendung Nachwachsender
Rohstoffe MBH (Germany) Ultima GMBH (Germany) Recticel
NV (Belgium) Global Bioenergies (France) 2B Srl (Italy) Vertech
Group (France) and Spinverse OY (Finland)
There has been a ldquospirit of collaborationrdquo among the partners
from the very start states Peep but the project has also
been greatly supported by the Bio-based Industries Joint
Undertaking (BBI JU) a public-private partnership between
the EU and the Bio-Based Industries Consortium (BIC) focused
on developing the European bio-based economy ldquoItrsquos been
very important to have had BBI-JU in supporting us They
have gathered industry expertees and offer a long-term
experienced view of what is required to build a successful bio-
economy consortium that can deliver a commercial successrdquo
says Matti ldquoWithout them it would have been far harder to
forge this alliancerdquo added Peep
The next steps for the project are to build the flagship plant
in Estonia to demonstrate its viability at industrial scale But
obviously there are still opportunities to take advantage of this
innovative projectrsquos outcomes ldquoWe are very much open for
discussions and open for business And by partnering now you
could still become an early adopter of the novel biomaterials in
diversity of end-use cases We believe this project will change the
way the wood industry is perceivedrdquo Matti concludes
To read more about the SWEETWOODS Project click here For
industrially representative lignin and sugars samples contact Peep Pitk
PeepPitkgraanulinvestcom For technology licensing opportunities
and modified lignin samples contact Mattimetgencom n
ldquoWE ARE VERY MUCH OPEN FOR DISCUSSIONS AND OPEN FOR BUSINESS AND BY PARTNERING NOW YOU COULD STILL BECOME AN EARLY ADOPTER OF THE NOVEL BIOMATERIALS IN DIVERSITY OF END-USE CASESrdquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 9
THE GREEN REVOLUTION WILL BE BLUE HARVESTING ALGAE FOR THE BIO-ECONOMY
When you think of algae what do you think of For
most people the thought of algae conjures up
images of a murky-looking pond However algae
are one of the largest unexploited resources on our
planet In fact the worldrsquos ocean could harbour up
to 1 million species depending on who you believe But we have just
barely begun to harvest and cultivate algae for mankindrsquos benefit
Algae are not just green stuff in the sea they are complex aquatic
organisms that have the ability to conduct photosynthesis
Algae have been used by human beings for a long time However
the number of companies developing algae-based biofuels
swelled in the 2000s as oil prices rose and supportive policies
were established for next-generation biofuels Yet when the
oil price dropped to record low levels in 2014 to under $35 per
barrel a lot of companies went bust backed away or shifted their
interests towards higher value markets such as health foods
beauty and personal care products and animal feed The use
of algae for applications in the nutraceutical chemicals and
cosmetic markets is growing in a world where companies are
increasingly seeking alternatives to fossil fuel-based products As
a result of this algae have come under the spotlight once again
However the industry has only industrialised a dozen or so of the
many variety of algae species so the opportunities are endless
HIGHLY-VALUED RESOURCE
So what opportunities exist By far the largest market for algae
commercialisation is the nutraceutical and animal feed sector
Today algae nutraceuticals generate around $05bn in revenue
annually according to Bloomberg In fact the most valuable
products made from algae today are human nutraceuticals such
as Omega 3 oils They can be sold in capsules in health stores or
added to food and drink products to enhance their offering
Algae-based food is big business In Asia macroalgae - also
known as seaweed is a highly valued resource with more
than 30 million tonnes farmed annually making it one of the
largest biomasses harvested from the oceans according to Jon
Funderud CEO at Norway-based Seaweed Energy Solutions
He says that more than half of this volume goes directly to human
consumption as healthy ldquosea vegetablesrdquo while the remainder
has various industrial uses such as for bioplastics animal feed or
fertilisers In Europe seaweeds are virtually unexploited but have
in recent years received a surge in interest both as a new super
food and for their potential as a bioenergy crop
However there has been no serious industrial efforts at large-
scale macroalgae farming because there has been no ldquooff the
shelfrdquo farming technology available Funderud says He says
the vast majority of seaweed farms in Asia are based on very
labour-intensive and low tech means with no real potential
for technology transfer to ldquohigh-cost countriesrdquo In Europe
the seaweed farming industry is still at pilot scale where the
production cost is still really expensive
Seaweed farming is not the only way to address feeding the
worldrsquos growing population Microalgae small microscopic aquatic
photosynthetic plants that require the aid of a microscope to be
seen can also do the job Ingmar Hoslashgoslashy chairman of Norway-
based microalgae technology company AlgaePro says that
microalgae can also provide food security and provide an alternative
to dairy and meat-based foods Matt Carr executive director of US
Algae Biomass Organisation concurs with Hoslashgoslashy and says that
algae used for nutraceutical sector and animal feed will drive growth
for the sector which in turn will help to produce more large-scale
production facilities and a variety of different production methods
BY LIZ GYEKYE
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM10
FEATURE
Unique production methods are already being utilised Scotland-
based biotechnology company ScotBio is just one firm doing just
this and has been successful in commercialising its natural blue
food colourant that is suitable for sweets ice cream and drinks
It was founded in 2007 and is based on the findings of PhD
student Chelsea Brain who found that a specific type of red light
increased the production of phycocyanin (natural blue pigment)
in microalgae spirulina
CEO DC Van Alstyne says the research that is happening in the UK
is ground-breaking on many fronts but many companies in the UK
have difficulty commercialising their innovations compared to the
US because the US academics tend to get more financial support
NOT JUST FOOD
In the US one company that is making waves in the algae-based
material space is California-based biotechnology company
Checkerspot The company is engineering microalgae to bring
high-performance materials to the market Checkerspot ferments
a class of sugar-eating microalgae called trebouxiophyceae
which swell with fat The company uses genetic engineering and
classical strain improvement to coax the algae to produce useful
triglycerides It is using this feedstock to create the foam used
in surfboards and is also working on creating water-repellent
coating for outdoor apparel
Another US company that is focusing on algae is oil giant Exxon
Mobil It is working with Synthetic Genomic to conduct a large
trial to engineer algae streams in outdoor settings to produce
biofuels In fact today most algae are grown outdoors in open
pods In contrast microalgae can be grown in lab with the help
of photobioreactors (a bioreactor that utilises a light source to
cultivate phototrophic microorganisms) and steel tanks
Yet environmental critics would question whether it was right
to genetically engineer these microorganisms for the good of
mankind Carr says ldquoUsing everything that we have already
learned in terms of containment researchers have designed
outdoor settings to ensure that they canrsquot produce the kinds of
negative environmental effects that some may fear You can do
that by engineering the organisms so that they canrsquot survive in
natural settingsrdquo
He says that algae producers in the US have been working with
the US Environmental Protection Agency to ensure that they are
designing systems that will not result in any kind of attack on the
broader eco system
In relation to the eco system waste wastewater treatment is
emerging as really important trend for algae Algae can be added
to wastewater or sewage to clean the water Carole Llewellyn
associate professor in applied aquatic bioscience at Swansea
University says algae can effectively capture and degrade
nitrogen and phosphorus in domestic wastewater and clear up
metals in mine wastewater streams
All of this looks promising However as Llewellyn says
ldquoHarvesting microalgae on a large scale and economically is a
challenge It is less of a challenge where the end product is of
high value but for low-value commodities low-cost harvesting
remains a challenge Some species are naturally self-flocculating
We probably need to understand this process a bit betterrdquo
Yet with only around 12 algae species industrialised the next step will
be to map the algae genome according to Carr It really does seem
like the world needs to prepare itself for a blue-green revolution n
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 11
ldquoWBM was very valuable to me since it brought all actors along the value chain of the bio-based economy around several tables in panel discussions I hardly know any other conference with so many different industry players presentrdquoRaul Pires VP New Technologies Covestro
MEET THE PRODUCERS AND BRANDS INVESTING IN BIO-BASED SOLUTIONS
Visit wwwWorldBioMarketscom Follow us Bio_BasedWorld WBM19
1-3 April 2019 Passenger Terminal Amsterdam Amsterdam
14th Annual
Produced by
US-based chemical engineer Frances Arnold
(pictured) is one of three scientists who have this
month been awarded the 2018 Nobel Prize in
Chemistry She has won the prize for her work on
the ldquodirected evolution of enzymesrdquo which is a bioengineering
method for creating new and better enzymes in the laboratory
using the principles of evolution Enzymes produced through
directed evolution are used to manufacture everything from
biofuels to pharmaceuticals
Directed evolution works in the same way that breeders mate
cats or dogs to bring out desired traits To perform the method
scientists begin by inducing mutations to the DNA or gene that
encodes a particular enzyme
An assortment of thousands of mutated enzymes is produced
and then tested for a desired trait The top-performing enzymes
are selected and the process is repeated to further enhance the
enzymesrsquo performances For instance in 2009 Arnold and her
team based at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
engineered enzymes that break down cellulose the main
component of plant cell walls creating better catalysts for turning
agricultural wastes into fuels and chemicals
A number of additional enzymes produced through directed
evolution are now used for a host of products including biofuels
agricultural chemicals paper products and pharmaceuticals
Arnold and her colleagues have also used directed evolution
to persuade bacteria to make chemicals not found in nature
including molecules containing silicon-carbon or boron-
carbon bonds or bicyclobutanes which contain energy-
packed carbon rings
By using bacteria researchers can potentially make these
chemical compounds in ldquogreenerrdquo ways that are more
economical and produce less toxic waste
Arnold ( francesarnold ) was born on 25 July 1956 in Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania and arrived at Caltech as a visiting associate in 1986
and was named assistant professor in 1987 associate professor in
1992 and professor in 1996
Speaking about her Nobel prize Arnold said she was ldquoabsolutely
flooredrdquo to receive the award adding ldquoI have to wrap my head
around this Itrsquos not something I was expectingrdquo
ldquoMy entire career I have been concerned about the damage we
are doing to the planet and each otherrdquo Arnold said ldquoScience
and technology can play a major role in mitigating our negative
influences on the environment
Changing behaviour is even more important However I feel
that change is easier when there are good economically-viable
alternatives to harmful habitsrdquo n
NOBEL NOD FOR THE GREEN PIONEER BEHIND lsquoDIRECTED
EVOLUTION ENZYMESrsquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 13
FEATURE
BRANDS A PRAGMATIC APPROACH TO BIO-BASED CHEMICALSCHRISTOPHE SCHILLING CEO GENOMATICA
The brands I speak with have well-crafted
plans for advancing the sustainability of their
products These address choosing materials
for recyclability considering end-of-life
reuse energy consumption during
production packaging and community-related issues
consistent with the United Nationsrsquo Sustainable
Development Goals
I was particularly energized by my conversations at the
VERGE18 conference where I was asked to be a discussion
leader at the Circular Plastics Summit co-led by the Ellen
MacArthur Foundation (I encourage you to read their New
Plastics Economy and Make Fashion Circular reports)
Increasingly brands are seeing the opportunity to improve
sustainability through increased use of renewably-sourced
materials This approach is part of a broader set of initiatives
to increase circularity in a range of global material flows
Although these approaches offer compelling benefits
making them happen can be challenging In this article Irsquod
like to share some ideas for tangible near-term actions that
emerged from my recent discussions as they apply to bio-
based chemicals
ONE KEY LEARNING CLOSER IS BETTER
Wersquove found that brands are more energized to act when
key chemicals are ldquocloserrdquo to their end products in the
sense of making up a substantial portion of the end
product A great example is nylon where the key chemical
caprolactam is only one step away from conversion to
nylon Genomatica is developing technology for bio-based
caprolactam which is then made into 100 bio-based
nylon-6 for apparel and carpet we announced Aquafil as
a partner in early 2018 Brands appreciate that moving to
100 bio-based nylon could allow them to have a major
impact on the sustainability of their products and on their
market differentiation
To make that happen only one chemical needs to be made
renewably This announcement was followed by Project
EFFECTIVE which aims to commercialize better fibers and
plastics and includes four major brands ndash HampM Vaude Carvico
and Balsan EFFECTIVE supported by the EUrsquos Horizon2020
program will use Genomaticarsquos caprolactam technology as
well as technology for the first bio-based chemical delivered
by Genomatica for 14-butanediol (BDO) to enable higher
renewable content in polyesters and polyurethanes
Two more examples are instructive First Genomatica has
also commercialized its Brontidetrade bio-based butylene glycol
Itrsquos certainly close to the customer as itrsquos used directly in
personal care and cosmetics products As a result
Brontide has resonated with major brands that
emphasize naturalness and purity Second is
Genomaticarsquos aforementioned BDO At
first glance BDO is a few conversion
ldquoWHEN BRANDS ARE LOOKING FOR NEAR-TERM IMPACT THEY NEED A BIO-BASED TECHNOLOGY THAT REALLY WORKSrdquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM14
FEATURE
steps away from most products But brands that look deeper have
realized they can quickly improve the sustainability of polymers
used in common urethane foams (for example) by replacing just
the BDO part with a bio-based version That wonrsquot take the product
to 100 but it allows for a fast improvement through better
understanding of where a productrsquos ingredients come from
ANOTHER IT HAS TO WORK
When brands are looking for near-term impact they need a bio-
based technology that really works That means it can be produced
at commercial scale today with competitive economics Tangible
examples like bio-based BDO and Brontide deliver immediate
opportunities and build confidence that the technology side of
our industry can deliver further innovations A recent example is
Novamontrsquos production of compostable biodegradable plastics
in Italy using bio-based BDO Their plant with a 30000 ton per
year capacity has helped revitalize the local economy providing
a market for farmersrsquo products plus the refurbishing of an older
industrial facility creating many jobs Novamont has secured
multiple well-known brands as customers including UK retailer
Co-op which will replace 180 million bags As brands see
biotechnology deliver at scale many want to learn whatrsquos next
WHAT BRANDS CAN DO NOW
To see how bio-based chemicals can fit your sustainability
strategy we recommend the following
bull Increase internal awareness and understanding This starts
with a deeper understanding of where your key production
inputs come from and how they are made When coupled
with greater exposure to what biotechnology can do it helps
prioritize what parts of your supply chain can be improved
Leverage outside expertise ndash invite biotech firms to share
what they know and do
bull Involve your upstream chemical and material suppliers
Give them updated requirements tied to your sustainability
objectives Encourage them to have direct discussions with
the biotechnology firms and biochemical producers that
expand their options and fit your needs
bull Be clear about your shopping list and priorities This allows
biotechnology firms and chemicalmaterial producers to
provide feedback and look for areas of overlap
bull Send tangible market signals If suppliers know yoursquore serious
about moving to more sustainable ingredients and process
technologies theyrsquoll pay attention This can tie directly to your
Corporate Sustainability Reporting and objectives
bull Publicise and celebrate your choices Let your customers
know about your process for improving and milestones along
the way Press releases speaking at conferences blogs and
tweets can all be effective
bull Get ldquoinside the tentrdquo with preferred partners Some of your
technology or supply chain partners can share more insights
or have a greater impact on your results Invest in ideation and
exploration if needed Close partnerships can help you influence
their priorities or gain early access to advantaged ingredients n
Irsquoll be a speaker at World Bio Markets in April Contact
me directly at cschillinggenomaticacom if yoursquod like
to discuss your companyrsquos vision and needs sooner
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 15
Yes thatrsquos us down there Yes you know us as a prime tourist destination and a business service hub But did you know that in the port of Amsterdam we have one of Europersquos largest biorefinery clustersThe port also has reliable infrastructure logistics providers and terminals utilities feedstock and markets literally at spitting distance Schiphol Airport is as you know just around the corner We reserved space for your business to grow Biopark Amsterdam So consider Amsterdam you are more than welcome to join us Discover our success stories on portofamsterdamcom
The greatest port you never thought of
Considered Amsterdam
In our industry where explaining the benefits of a
product can sometimes be a challenge a good
boost was received this week A familiar name to
most of our readers the Brazilian chemicals
company Braskem producers of Irsquom green ndash a
bio-based polyethylene made from sugarcane ndash has had its
negative carbon footprint credentials strengthened thanks to an
independent review The assessment was carried out by the
Carbon Trust an international organisation that helps businesses
governments and the public sector to accelerate the move to a
more sustainable low carbon economy And the result is that
Braskemrsquos bio-based plastic as used by LEGO (pictured above)
among others is effectively carbon-negative
In a new report comparing Irsquom green with fossil-based equivalents
the Carbon Trust has endorsed the methodology used by Braskem
to support claims that for every tonne of Irsquom green produced the
equivalent of around 3 tonnes of CO2 are locked away by the
sugarcane which provides the main raw material for its manufacture
Capturing CO2 during its lifecycle Irsquom green avoids emissions
related to the production of fossil fuel feedstock thereby
providing a net saving of the equivalent of around 5 tonnes of
CO2sup1 by the end of the plastic manufacturing process
Irsquom green is 100 recyclable plastic currently being used in a
range of applications from food packaging to personal care
products as well as more durable goods such as chairs and vases
Brand owners are increasingly responding to climate change
by reducing their carbon footprint which requires investment
in more efficient processes and using innovative renewable
materials Braskemrsquos Irsquom green is made from a renewable
feedstock and can make a significant contribution to reduce
carbon emissions
John Newton Associated Director at the Carbon Trust said ldquoTo
address climate change we will need innovative materials that
are radically lower in emissions compared to what is commonly
used today Products like Irsquom green which help lock away carbon
emissions in their production can be a real part of the solutionrdquo
Marco Jansen Commercial Director Renewable Chemicals at
Braskem said ldquoWersquore delighted that credible association Carbon
Trust further validates our calculations of Irsquom greenrsquos carbon
footprint Our customers know Irsquom green polyethylene is a smart
and sustainable way to reduce a productrsquos carbon footprint and we
hope more brands will use it as a renewable solution in the futurerdquo
This news will no doubt have been welcomed by LEGO too as
Braskem will supply the LEGO Group with Irsquom green as it makes
it switch to bio-based bricks Already in 2018 Green Plastic has
been used in the lsquobotanicalrsquo elements range such as trees bushes
and leaves that sold quickly once released
The LCA Summary is available here A one-page statement is
available here n
ITrsquoS OFFICIAL BRASKEMrsquoS CARBON-NEGATIVE
CLAIMS FOR ITS BIO-BASED PLASTIC ARE APPROVED
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 17
ldquo IT IS THE WAY TO STEP FORWARD TO AN EARTH-FRIENDLY SOLUTION REDUCING PETROLEUM BASED MATERIALSrdquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM18
FEATURE
BIO-BASED A POSSIBLE SOLUTION
TO MASTERCARDrsquoS SEARCH FOR MORE
SUSTAINABLE BANK CARDS
For many years the idea of going green with your
credit or debit card payments was limited to
buying sustainable products donating to
charities or paying for carbon offsets But now a
new alliance is aiming to green the card itself as
part of a wider array of actions a broader part of the payments
industry Global payment giants Mastercard and card
manufacturers Gemalto Giesecke+Devrient and IDEMIA have
this month launched the Greener Payments Partnership to
establish environmental best practices and reduce first-use PVC
plastic in card manufacturing Roughly six billion plastic payment
cards are made each year according to The Nilson Report
While Mastercard analysis shows that this is less than 0015
percent of the volume of plastic manufactured each year there
is room to improve that through the use of alternative materials
ldquoConsumers are increasingly moving from cash to card as they
look for greater security and sustainabilityrdquo commented Ajay
Bhalla president cyber and intelligence solutions Mastercard
( MastercardNews ) ldquoThis partnership will help us and our
industry reduce first-use plastic in cards Together we can
build on recent research and tests and drive adoption of
environmentally-friendly materials on a larger scalerdquo
Research and analysis into recyclable bio-sourced and bio-
degradable materials is already underway and now included in
this remit The partnership commits to accelerating that research
with the goal of delivering globally available solutions to reduce
first-use PVC plastic in card manufacturing in a matter of years
ldquoResponsible use of natural resources and protection of our
climate and environment are core elements of G+Drsquos Corporate
Responsibility policy We are committed to ensuring that our
entire value chain is sustainable and to continuously reducing
our ecological footprint As a participant of the Greener Payment
Partnership we work on the standardization of bio-sourced
materials in payment cards It is the way to step forward to an
earth-friendly solution reducing petroleum based materialsrdquo
says Gabrielle Bugat Head of the Financial Services Division at
Giesecke+Devrient Mobile Security
The group will also ensure best practices around how materials
are evaluated including environmental impact benefits and the
ability to meet increasing consumer concerns around the impact
of plastic globally
ldquoItrsquos no secret that we all need to change the way we live and
consume to reduce the impact wersquore having on our planet For
IDEMIA itrsquos essential as an industrial leader to effect change
for the better and play our part to reduce for instance our
reliance on plasticrdquo said Pierre Barrial executive vice president
for financial institutions activities at IDEMIA ( IdemiaGroup )
ldquoWersquore delighted to partner with Mastercard to deliver viable
environmentally friendly alternatives that bring positive change
to the industry as a wholerdquo
ldquoEnvironmental-friendly products are now a priority for all
stakeholders in the payment eco-systemrdquo says Sylvie Gibert
senior vice president of payment cards Gemalto ldquoWe are
committed to supporting this partnership formed by Mastercard
and we have already adopted sustainable practices in our
banking card business This initiative comes at a time where we
see a growing interest from the banks for greener cardsrdquo
This is no the first foray into bio-materials for Mastercard in
2016 they partnered with the Finnish Bank of Aringland WWF
Finland KPMG and Gemalto to create a credit card made of
renewable and biodegradable materials n
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 19
We regularly feature stories emerging from Canada
whether itrsquos about a new way to harness the
nations huge amounts of harvestable biomass
the commercialization of an innovation emerging
from one of their many illustrious university
laboratories or the growth in popularity of a bio-based product
for an increasingly environmentally aware population
So in order to learn more about one of the worldrsquos most vibrant
bio-economies our editor Luke Upton recently sat down with
Sandy Marshall the Executive Director of Bioindustrial Innovation
Canada a not-for-profit organisation focussed on catalysing the
further commercialisation of the bio-economy In a wide ranging
discussion they looked at how agriculture can better connect
with the bio-economy advice on starting a business and what
makes Canada so strong in this area
Luke Upton (LU) Thanks for the time today so as an
introduction ndash whatrsquos been your personal path to becoming
executive director of Bioindustrial Innovation Canada
Sandy Marshall (SM) I was raised on a farm near Blyth
Ontario Canada before graduating with Bachelor of Applied
Science Degree (BASc) and Masters of Applied Science Degree
(MASc) in Chemical Engineering from the University of Waterloo
I started my professional career in 1984 with Polysar Inc a
Canadian rubber manufacturer Over my 30 year career in
the chemical and polymers industry I worked in research and
process product development and market development before
moving into Operations and General Management I had two
international assignment one with Bayer AG in Germany and a
second with Lanxess in Cincinnati USA I finished my corporate
career as President and Managing Director responsible for
Canadian Operations of Lanxess Canada I have been recognized
as a leader committed to Corporate Social Responsibility and
environmental sustainability in Canada
I am very interested in sustainable chemistry and have been an
active Board member for Bioindustrial Innovation Canada (BIC)
from its inception in 2008 After I left Lanxess in 2013 I began
consulting in this space At that time I also took over the role of
Chairman of the BIC Board and worked very closely with Murray
McLaughlin Executive Director BIC In 2016 Murray McLaughlin
chose to step back as Executive Director and I was hired as his
replacement It is exciting to be back in a leadership role for an
organization with an inspiring vision and mission
LU For our readers who are unfamiliar with BIC could you
explain a little about the organisation and its aims
SM BIC is a nationally focused not-for-profit organization
based in Sarnia Ontario BICrsquos vision is to create jobs and
economic value sustainably for Canada BICrsquos mission is to
provide critical strategic investment advice and services to
THE LAST WORD WITHhellip SANDY MARSHALL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BIOINDUSTRIAL INNOVATION CANADA
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM20
FEATURE
business developers of clean green and sustainable technologies
Our expertise in commercialization builds a stronger Canada BIC
is focused on enabling Ontario and Canada to become globally
recognized leaders in converting renewable resources such as
agricultural and forestry by-products and residues into value-
added bioenergy biofuel biochemical and biomaterials for use
in a wide range of commercial applications along the chemistry
value chain to advanced manufacturing
LU BIC has worked with a number of companies is there a
particular project of which you are most proud
SM In 2012 BIC together with community leaders in Agriculture
embarked on a project to identify whether the Sarnia-Lambton
region could develop a source of cellulosic sugars using a biomass
supply chain based on agricultural residues BIC lead this project
with the support of numerous companies and government agencies
which lead to the formation of the Cellulosic Sugar Producers
Cooperative and identified Comet Bio as a viable technology
provider Currently these companies are partnering to establish the
worldrsquos first commercial cellulosic glucose sugar supply chain
LU What makes Canada a good home for a bio-based innovation
SM Canada is a vast country which is blessed with enormous
quantities of sustainably harvestable biomass both from forestry
and agriculture The access to raw materials is critical for the
success of any business venture Furthermore Canada is known
for its strong innovation capacity and its collaborative work
culture Together these attributes make Canada an ideal home of
the bio-based economy
LU What can agriculture do to better connect with bio-based
chemical and bio-based product manufactures
SM Agriculture needs to take a leadership role in the bio-
economy There has been a good start here in Canada It is
critical that the question about the availability of sustainably
harvestable biomass is answered through good science to allow
the industry to grow and leverage Canadarsquos great potential
Producers can also promote the bio-economy as an
opportunity to diversify their business models Generating
revenue through feedstock sales to bio-based chemical and
product producers or through participation as business partners
and investors in these ventures can be very beneficial in
reducing risk for all participants in the bio-economy
Government can support these entrepreneurial activities
through support of applied research and development of the
science to assure society that the bio-economy based on
agricultural feedstocks is both sustainable and critical to the
fight against climate change
LU What advice would you give someone looking to start a
bio-based business
SM Start with a solid business plan that clearly identified the
value proposition and can show profitability without relying on
long term government incentives I think that government has
an important role to de-risk early stage commercialization but
businesses must be able to show a path to successful commercial
independence
LU And finallyhellip whatrsquos your favourite sustainable bio-based
product
SM I do not have a favourite The petrochemical industry
succeeded based on leveraging all of the products in the barrel of
oil I see the bio-economy in the same way We need to valorize
all of the products in the truckload of biomass It is only through
leveraging sugars lignin renewable natural gas and the bio-
products produced from them that we can successfully build a
vibrant bio-economy n
ldquoTHE PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRY SUCCEEDED BASED ON LEVERAGING ALL OF THE PRODUCTS IN THE BARREL OF OIL I SEE THE BIO-ECONOMY IN THE SAME WAYrdquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 21
WELCOMEWelcome to the twelfth issue of the Bio-Based World Quarterly your dedicated guide to the latest news and essential business developments for bio-based and sustainable chemicals materials and products and the brands that purchase use and sell them
Every year the Collins English dictionary names a lsquoword of the yearrsquo ndash it typically reflects the cultural or political mood of the year in recent years it has been lsquobinge-watchrsquo lsquoBrexitrsquo and lsquofake newsrsquo And this year Itrsquos lsquosingle-usersquo ndash reflecting the increasing global awareness of environmental issues
Collinsrsquos lexicographers said the word is now being used more than ever before in light of growing efforts to try and nullify or reverse the damage that plastics pose to the environment with a spokesperson stating ldquoThe word single-use has seen a four-fold increase since 2013rdquo It is perhaps also worth noting that on a similar note of growing awareness lsquoveganrsquo also made the shortlist
I donrsquot need to tell you that there is a huge opportunity of bio-based to step in and offer solutions
Consumer-facing brands barring some noted exceptions have been slow to move away from their established effective and usually very cheap petroleum-based products But this awareness of the damage of that we are doing whilst hardly prevalent across all consumers is pouring focus on traditional practices Take the seasons launch of the Starbucks red cups and the subject of a recent feature on Bio-Based World News For all their endeavours with recycling (in specific places) an annual huge marketing push of single use cups feels increasingly out of step with customer demands
Sustainable living expert Jen Gale featured on the quote of left and here sees the days of the red cups numbered ldquohellip a disposable cup is still a disposable cup no matter how jolly and festive it looks Itrsquos still nigh on impossible to recycle and will sit in landfill (looking all jolly and festive) for years to comerdquo
So as we come to the end of one tumultuous year and head into one that looks set to be similar we can at least be proud that the concerns that we have had for many years regarding our disposable culture have moved into the mainstream
All the team here are very excited for World Bio Markets 2019 returning to Amsterdam on the 1st-3rd April If you enjoy this Quarterly then this event is perfect for you And representatives of several companies featured in this issue Genomatica MetGen Light My Fire SpecialChem Croda Tetra Pak and Braskem are already confirmed as being part of our expert speaker line-up
As always we are very grateful of the time that our contributors have shared with us on this issue in particular the SWEETWOODS Project and their partners at the Bio-Based Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI JU) Corbion Genomatica Light My Fire Port of Amsterdam and SpecialChem
Thanks for reading and please let me know if yoursquod like to contribute to our future issues ndash we are always looking for fresh voices and new stories
Luke UptonEditor amp Co-Founder Bio-Based World News LukeBioBasedWorldNewscom
ldquoI REALLY DONrsquoT UNDERSTAND ALL THE EXCITEMENT AROUND STARBUCKrsquoS SPECIAL CHRISTMAS RED CUPS - A DISPOSABLE CUP IS STILL A DISPOSABLE CUPhelliprdquo
Brightmark Energy invests $57m to construct the USrsquo lsquofirstrsquo commercial-scale plastics- to-fuel plantldquoThis sustainable technology directly
addresses an acute problem facing
the US more than 91 of the 345
million tons of plastic domestically
produced each year is not recycledrdquo US
renewable energy development company
Brightmark Energy is pushing forward
with its plans to develop what it claims is
the USrsquo first commercial-scale plastics-
to-fuel facility The company recently
it announced that it had acquired a
majority interest and invested $10m in
Ohio-based technology company RES
Polyflow while committing an additional
$47m investment to the first commercial-
scale plant to utilise this technology
Bio-plastic JV Synvina under threat over dispute about investment deadlineldquoWe are determined to pursue the commercialisation of FDCA and PEF ndash with or without BASFrdquo
The bio-plastics industry has suffered a potential blow after chemicals giant BASF
announced that it had threatened to pull out of its Synvina joint venture (JV) with Dutch
renewable chemicals company Avantium over a disagreement on an investment deadline
for the project
At the core of the JV is a focus on producing and marketing FDCA (furandicarboxylic
acid) as well as the marketing of new polymer PEF (polyethylenefuranoate) based on this
chemical building block
Clipper Teas claims world first with new non-GM plastic-free tea bag made from bananasldquoNow wersquove created and implemented a plastic-free bag we wonrsquot be
going backrdquo One of the UKrsquos biggest tea brands is set to launch what it claims is the
worldrsquos first plastic-free non-GM and unbleached heat-sealed teabag made from
bananas The problem of plastic pollution in the worldrsquos seas and oceans has forced
companies and governments to do things differently This concern has also led to an
increasing demand for alternatives to plastics A number of leading tea brands use
polypropylene a sealing plastic to fasten teabags and ensure that they hold their
shape However to tackle the issue of plastic waste Clipper Teas has developed a new
product designed specifically to help cut down on plastic pollution ndash a plastic-free
unbleached and non-genetically modified tea bag which it claims to be a world first
BIO-BASED WORLD NEWS IN BRIEF
4 BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM
Veolia and Tetra Pak team up to launch beverage carton recycling partnershipldquoWith this partnership we are combining our respective areas of expertise to find
sustainable solutions for PolyAl recyclingrdquo
Packaging giant Tetra Pak and resource management company Veolia have
announced what they call a ldquogame-changingrdquo partnership that will enable all
components of used beverage cartons collected within the EU to be recycled by 2025
The cartons collected will be turned into high-value secondary materials The average
beverage carton comprises around 75 paperboard 20 plastic and 5 aluminium
foil However while the fibres recovered during recycling have a healthy market when
converted into high-quality paper pulp for use in both industrial and consumer
products the same is not true for the recovered polymer and aluminium (PolyAl) mix
Croda officially launches new 100 bio-based surfactants ldquoWe are pleased to be able to offer such a
wide range of 100 bio-based and 100
renewable ingredients to meet the needs
of formulators and companies seeking to
deliver more sustainable optionsrdquo
Speciality chemicals company Croda
International has announced the official
launch and certification of its ECO range of
bio-based surfactants - ingredients designed
to meet increasing market demand for
sustainable high-performance ingredient
options With a vast product range that
includes everything from agrochemicals
building and construction materials and
adhesives to pharmaceuticals dietary
supplements and food and feedstocks
Croda is a company with a portfolio of
sustainable ingredients that are used by
small niche consumer markets as well as
much larger specialist industrial ones
Thyssenkrupp-commissioned bio-plastic plant starts production in ChinaldquoThe bio-plastics market will continue to grow in the coming years
not least due to the increasing environmental awareness of industry
governments and consumersrdquo
German industrial systems supplier Thyssenkrupp has recently
announced that the worldrsquos first commercial plant based on the
companyrsquos patented manufacturing process for bio-plastic polylactide
(PLA) called PLAneo has started production in Changchun China
The new plant is operated by the Jilin COFCO Biomaterial Corporation
a subsidiary of COFCO Chinarsquos largest food and agriculture group and
producer of edible oils and oilseeds
BIO-BASED WORLD NEWS IN BRIEF
5BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM
Multinational food-products giant Danone have
announced a series of initiatives to make its
packaging 100 circular and to accelerate
towards this being a standard for the industry
This includes initiatives to improve product design
and develop alternative delivery and reuse models investments to
develop effective efficient and inclusive systems for increased
collection and recycling to boost recycling and actions to
preserve natural resources by reintegrating recycled materials
into our packaging and developing use of renewable materials
Emmanuel Faber Chairman and CEO of Danone said ldquoWe
believe the time is now to step up and accelerate embrace our
responsibility and work with others to engage a radical shift that
will help free the world from packaging waste We will be acting
both at global and local level to ensure circularity of packaging
becomes the new norm Today we are announcing a series
of investments and commitments that - I believe - will have a
concrete impact These will be amplified as we collaborate with
industry-peers governments NGOs start-ups and the finance
sector harness new technologies and invest in new solutionsrdquo
Danone will accelerate transition towards circular economy of
packaging in three ways
1 PACKAGING DESIGNED FOR CIRCULARITY
Danone ( Danone ) commits to ensure that all its packaging
is designed to be 100 recyclable reusable or compostable by
2025 Moreover the company will develop alternative delivery
models or new reuse models where relevant and take action to
eliminate problematic or unnecessary plastic packaging
Already 86 of our packaging is recyclable reusable or
compostable and 50 of our water volumes are sold in reusable
jugs Their evian bottles are already 100 recyclable and Danone
have also piloted an innovation to eliminate non-recyclable
shrink film for multi-packs using specially designed adhesive
and tape handles Along with many other brands they are also
assessing alternatives to plastic straws through a pilot program to
be launched in 2019 with their AQUA brand in Indonesia
2 REUSED RECYCLED AND COMPOSTED IN PRACTICE
Danone recognizes that design wonrsquot be enough to make
its packaging fully circular Effective collection and recycling
systems are essential to ensuring packaging is recycled reused or
composted in practice
To help meet or go beyond
the collection targets set by
regulators such as the minimum
90 collection target for beverage
bottles expected to be set in
the EU for 2025 Danone will
support the most effective publicly
organized collection and recycling
systems including Extended
Producer Responsibility and
Deposit Return Scheme systems
when relevant
They will also invest in private initiatives that strengthen circular
infrastructure especially in countries where formal systems are
absent or in development or where there is a high risk of leakage
into the environment By 2025 Danone are aiming to have
initiated or supported collection and recycling initiatives in every
one of our top 20 markets (representing around 90 of sales)
3 PRESERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES
Danone use 14 of recycled PET on average in their water and
other beverage bottles by 2025 we will increase this amount to
50 The evian brand already contains 30 recycled plastic (rPET)
on average and intends to reach 100 by 2025 Their first 100
recycled PET bottle with the Lanjaron Red natural mineral water
brand in Spain and additional 100 recycled PET bottles reaching
all major water markets by 2021
In addition to these three tenets Danone are pushing the
message that collaboration is the cornerstone of success when
it comes to circular economy as we detailed in September They
have joined a global commitment led by the Ellen MacArthur
Foundation in collaboration with UN Environment Program
other businesses NGOs and governments to address plastic
waste and pollution
Dame Ellen MacArthur founder of the Ellen MacArthur
Foundation (circulareconomy) declared ldquoBy looking at the
whole system from product design to developing new reuse
models and collaborating with others these commitments
set Danone up to take important steps towards circularity
Commitments like those announced today can help drive the
global momentum needed to create a circular economy for
plastics that stops them from becoming waste and pollution
Now is the time to make it happenrdquo n
RECYCLED REUSED OR COMPOSTED - DANONE ANNOUNCE TRIO OF ACTIONS TO BE FULLY CIRCULAR BY 2025
FEATURE
6 BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM
l ightmyf i re com
Shakethe habit
BRING YOUR OWN
F O O D F R I E N D LYA N D B PA F R E E
M A D E I NS W E D E N
Disposable plastic bags disposable flatware disposable cups disposable wellalmost anything Things that can only be used once donacutet belong in a sustainableworld Shake the habit ndash bring your own
ReKitTM ndash Bring-along-friendly reusablekit for sips bites and drinks on the go
Now one project SWEETWOODS made up of
nine European companies all of whom have
wondered more about trees and their potential
is to begin producing wood-based biomaterials
for the first time on an industrial scale
This unique euro43 million bio-economy project funded by
the Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI JU) is now
underway with its key aim of developing a first-of-its-kind
bio-fractionation flagship plant in Estonia to turn sustainable
hardwood residues into high purity intermediate building blocks
of cellulosic sugars and high-quality lignin
To learn more about this project that has such huge potential
Bio-Based World Newsrsquo Luke Upton spoke exclusively to two
members of the consortium Matti Heikkilauml CTO of Finlandrsquos
pioneering enzyme technology company MetGen and Peep Pitk
RampD Manager of Europersquos largest pellet producer Graanul Invest
that is building up the wood fractionation flagship plant in Estonia
Matti tells more about the origins of the project ldquoThe concept
began around five years ago We knew about the potential of
wood that much more could be done with it and that a concept
of biorefining could transform hardwood into higher added value
products Most of the solutions and technologies to make this
happen were ready to be commercialised but we just needed to
match up the skills and partners to make the concept a realityrdquo
For Peep the opportunities of the partnership are clear ldquoThis
project really is a gamechangerrdquo He explains that it is outdated
understanding that the only way to valorise technological wood
is via highly resource demanding chemical pulping processes
The wood fractionation concept that we are working on can offer
PROJECT FOCUS CREATING HIGH PURITY LIGNIN AND AFFORDABLE PLATFORM CHEMICALS FROM WOOD-BASED SUGARSTHE AUTHOR AND POET RALPH WALDO EMERSON NO STRANGER TO THE BEAUTY OF THE NATURAL WORLD FAMOUSLY SAID THAT ldquoTHE WONDER IS THAT WE CAN SEE THESE TREES AND NOT WONDER MORErdquo SO MUCH OF OUR WORLD HAS ITS ROOTS IN OUR TREES FROM CLOTHES AND FURNITURE TO FOOD AND PAPER
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM8
FEATURE
so much more by converting over 90 of wood into useful high
value products with small ecological footprint
What is clear through the conversation with Matti and Peep is the
clarity of the SWEETWOODS vision Unlike some other projects
that pass through the bio-economy the goal and commercial
potential of the offering has been clear from the outset The
consortium powering the project connects all the links in the
value chain and covers the entire material process
By fractionating the wood into pure sugars and lignin it becomes
possible to further refine the material into high added value
products that can be used to replace oil-based chemicals and
plastics New bio-based consumer products including sports
mats insulation panels and replacements for plastics are just
some of the items mentioned in our discussion
Alongside MetGen and AS Graanul Invest the seven other
members of the European wide consortium are Tecnaro
Gesellschaft zur industriellen Anwendung Nachwachsender
Rohstoffe MBH (Germany) Ultima GMBH (Germany) Recticel
NV (Belgium) Global Bioenergies (France) 2B Srl (Italy) Vertech
Group (France) and Spinverse OY (Finland)
There has been a ldquospirit of collaborationrdquo among the partners
from the very start states Peep but the project has also
been greatly supported by the Bio-based Industries Joint
Undertaking (BBI JU) a public-private partnership between
the EU and the Bio-Based Industries Consortium (BIC) focused
on developing the European bio-based economy ldquoItrsquos been
very important to have had BBI-JU in supporting us They
have gathered industry expertees and offer a long-term
experienced view of what is required to build a successful bio-
economy consortium that can deliver a commercial successrdquo
says Matti ldquoWithout them it would have been far harder to
forge this alliancerdquo added Peep
The next steps for the project are to build the flagship plant
in Estonia to demonstrate its viability at industrial scale But
obviously there are still opportunities to take advantage of this
innovative projectrsquos outcomes ldquoWe are very much open for
discussions and open for business And by partnering now you
could still become an early adopter of the novel biomaterials in
diversity of end-use cases We believe this project will change the
way the wood industry is perceivedrdquo Matti concludes
To read more about the SWEETWOODS Project click here For
industrially representative lignin and sugars samples contact Peep Pitk
PeepPitkgraanulinvestcom For technology licensing opportunities
and modified lignin samples contact Mattimetgencom n
ldquoWE ARE VERY MUCH OPEN FOR DISCUSSIONS AND OPEN FOR BUSINESS AND BY PARTNERING NOW YOU COULD STILL BECOME AN EARLY ADOPTER OF THE NOVEL BIOMATERIALS IN DIVERSITY OF END-USE CASESrdquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 9
THE GREEN REVOLUTION WILL BE BLUE HARVESTING ALGAE FOR THE BIO-ECONOMY
When you think of algae what do you think of For
most people the thought of algae conjures up
images of a murky-looking pond However algae
are one of the largest unexploited resources on our
planet In fact the worldrsquos ocean could harbour up
to 1 million species depending on who you believe But we have just
barely begun to harvest and cultivate algae for mankindrsquos benefit
Algae are not just green stuff in the sea they are complex aquatic
organisms that have the ability to conduct photosynthesis
Algae have been used by human beings for a long time However
the number of companies developing algae-based biofuels
swelled in the 2000s as oil prices rose and supportive policies
were established for next-generation biofuels Yet when the
oil price dropped to record low levels in 2014 to under $35 per
barrel a lot of companies went bust backed away or shifted their
interests towards higher value markets such as health foods
beauty and personal care products and animal feed The use
of algae for applications in the nutraceutical chemicals and
cosmetic markets is growing in a world where companies are
increasingly seeking alternatives to fossil fuel-based products As
a result of this algae have come under the spotlight once again
However the industry has only industrialised a dozen or so of the
many variety of algae species so the opportunities are endless
HIGHLY-VALUED RESOURCE
So what opportunities exist By far the largest market for algae
commercialisation is the nutraceutical and animal feed sector
Today algae nutraceuticals generate around $05bn in revenue
annually according to Bloomberg In fact the most valuable
products made from algae today are human nutraceuticals such
as Omega 3 oils They can be sold in capsules in health stores or
added to food and drink products to enhance their offering
Algae-based food is big business In Asia macroalgae - also
known as seaweed is a highly valued resource with more
than 30 million tonnes farmed annually making it one of the
largest biomasses harvested from the oceans according to Jon
Funderud CEO at Norway-based Seaweed Energy Solutions
He says that more than half of this volume goes directly to human
consumption as healthy ldquosea vegetablesrdquo while the remainder
has various industrial uses such as for bioplastics animal feed or
fertilisers In Europe seaweeds are virtually unexploited but have
in recent years received a surge in interest both as a new super
food and for their potential as a bioenergy crop
However there has been no serious industrial efforts at large-
scale macroalgae farming because there has been no ldquooff the
shelfrdquo farming technology available Funderud says He says
the vast majority of seaweed farms in Asia are based on very
labour-intensive and low tech means with no real potential
for technology transfer to ldquohigh-cost countriesrdquo In Europe
the seaweed farming industry is still at pilot scale where the
production cost is still really expensive
Seaweed farming is not the only way to address feeding the
worldrsquos growing population Microalgae small microscopic aquatic
photosynthetic plants that require the aid of a microscope to be
seen can also do the job Ingmar Hoslashgoslashy chairman of Norway-
based microalgae technology company AlgaePro says that
microalgae can also provide food security and provide an alternative
to dairy and meat-based foods Matt Carr executive director of US
Algae Biomass Organisation concurs with Hoslashgoslashy and says that
algae used for nutraceutical sector and animal feed will drive growth
for the sector which in turn will help to produce more large-scale
production facilities and a variety of different production methods
BY LIZ GYEKYE
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM10
FEATURE
Unique production methods are already being utilised Scotland-
based biotechnology company ScotBio is just one firm doing just
this and has been successful in commercialising its natural blue
food colourant that is suitable for sweets ice cream and drinks
It was founded in 2007 and is based on the findings of PhD
student Chelsea Brain who found that a specific type of red light
increased the production of phycocyanin (natural blue pigment)
in microalgae spirulina
CEO DC Van Alstyne says the research that is happening in the UK
is ground-breaking on many fronts but many companies in the UK
have difficulty commercialising their innovations compared to the
US because the US academics tend to get more financial support
NOT JUST FOOD
In the US one company that is making waves in the algae-based
material space is California-based biotechnology company
Checkerspot The company is engineering microalgae to bring
high-performance materials to the market Checkerspot ferments
a class of sugar-eating microalgae called trebouxiophyceae
which swell with fat The company uses genetic engineering and
classical strain improvement to coax the algae to produce useful
triglycerides It is using this feedstock to create the foam used
in surfboards and is also working on creating water-repellent
coating for outdoor apparel
Another US company that is focusing on algae is oil giant Exxon
Mobil It is working with Synthetic Genomic to conduct a large
trial to engineer algae streams in outdoor settings to produce
biofuels In fact today most algae are grown outdoors in open
pods In contrast microalgae can be grown in lab with the help
of photobioreactors (a bioreactor that utilises a light source to
cultivate phototrophic microorganisms) and steel tanks
Yet environmental critics would question whether it was right
to genetically engineer these microorganisms for the good of
mankind Carr says ldquoUsing everything that we have already
learned in terms of containment researchers have designed
outdoor settings to ensure that they canrsquot produce the kinds of
negative environmental effects that some may fear You can do
that by engineering the organisms so that they canrsquot survive in
natural settingsrdquo
He says that algae producers in the US have been working with
the US Environmental Protection Agency to ensure that they are
designing systems that will not result in any kind of attack on the
broader eco system
In relation to the eco system waste wastewater treatment is
emerging as really important trend for algae Algae can be added
to wastewater or sewage to clean the water Carole Llewellyn
associate professor in applied aquatic bioscience at Swansea
University says algae can effectively capture and degrade
nitrogen and phosphorus in domestic wastewater and clear up
metals in mine wastewater streams
All of this looks promising However as Llewellyn says
ldquoHarvesting microalgae on a large scale and economically is a
challenge It is less of a challenge where the end product is of
high value but for low-value commodities low-cost harvesting
remains a challenge Some species are naturally self-flocculating
We probably need to understand this process a bit betterrdquo
Yet with only around 12 algae species industrialised the next step will
be to map the algae genome according to Carr It really does seem
like the world needs to prepare itself for a blue-green revolution n
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 11
ldquoWBM was very valuable to me since it brought all actors along the value chain of the bio-based economy around several tables in panel discussions I hardly know any other conference with so many different industry players presentrdquoRaul Pires VP New Technologies Covestro
MEET THE PRODUCERS AND BRANDS INVESTING IN BIO-BASED SOLUTIONS
Visit wwwWorldBioMarketscom Follow us Bio_BasedWorld WBM19
1-3 April 2019 Passenger Terminal Amsterdam Amsterdam
14th Annual
Produced by
US-based chemical engineer Frances Arnold
(pictured) is one of three scientists who have this
month been awarded the 2018 Nobel Prize in
Chemistry She has won the prize for her work on
the ldquodirected evolution of enzymesrdquo which is a bioengineering
method for creating new and better enzymes in the laboratory
using the principles of evolution Enzymes produced through
directed evolution are used to manufacture everything from
biofuels to pharmaceuticals
Directed evolution works in the same way that breeders mate
cats or dogs to bring out desired traits To perform the method
scientists begin by inducing mutations to the DNA or gene that
encodes a particular enzyme
An assortment of thousands of mutated enzymes is produced
and then tested for a desired trait The top-performing enzymes
are selected and the process is repeated to further enhance the
enzymesrsquo performances For instance in 2009 Arnold and her
team based at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
engineered enzymes that break down cellulose the main
component of plant cell walls creating better catalysts for turning
agricultural wastes into fuels and chemicals
A number of additional enzymes produced through directed
evolution are now used for a host of products including biofuels
agricultural chemicals paper products and pharmaceuticals
Arnold and her colleagues have also used directed evolution
to persuade bacteria to make chemicals not found in nature
including molecules containing silicon-carbon or boron-
carbon bonds or bicyclobutanes which contain energy-
packed carbon rings
By using bacteria researchers can potentially make these
chemical compounds in ldquogreenerrdquo ways that are more
economical and produce less toxic waste
Arnold ( francesarnold ) was born on 25 July 1956 in Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania and arrived at Caltech as a visiting associate in 1986
and was named assistant professor in 1987 associate professor in
1992 and professor in 1996
Speaking about her Nobel prize Arnold said she was ldquoabsolutely
flooredrdquo to receive the award adding ldquoI have to wrap my head
around this Itrsquos not something I was expectingrdquo
ldquoMy entire career I have been concerned about the damage we
are doing to the planet and each otherrdquo Arnold said ldquoScience
and technology can play a major role in mitigating our negative
influences on the environment
Changing behaviour is even more important However I feel
that change is easier when there are good economically-viable
alternatives to harmful habitsrdquo n
NOBEL NOD FOR THE GREEN PIONEER BEHIND lsquoDIRECTED
EVOLUTION ENZYMESrsquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 13
FEATURE
BRANDS A PRAGMATIC APPROACH TO BIO-BASED CHEMICALSCHRISTOPHE SCHILLING CEO GENOMATICA
The brands I speak with have well-crafted
plans for advancing the sustainability of their
products These address choosing materials
for recyclability considering end-of-life
reuse energy consumption during
production packaging and community-related issues
consistent with the United Nationsrsquo Sustainable
Development Goals
I was particularly energized by my conversations at the
VERGE18 conference where I was asked to be a discussion
leader at the Circular Plastics Summit co-led by the Ellen
MacArthur Foundation (I encourage you to read their New
Plastics Economy and Make Fashion Circular reports)
Increasingly brands are seeing the opportunity to improve
sustainability through increased use of renewably-sourced
materials This approach is part of a broader set of initiatives
to increase circularity in a range of global material flows
Although these approaches offer compelling benefits
making them happen can be challenging In this article Irsquod
like to share some ideas for tangible near-term actions that
emerged from my recent discussions as they apply to bio-
based chemicals
ONE KEY LEARNING CLOSER IS BETTER
Wersquove found that brands are more energized to act when
key chemicals are ldquocloserrdquo to their end products in the
sense of making up a substantial portion of the end
product A great example is nylon where the key chemical
caprolactam is only one step away from conversion to
nylon Genomatica is developing technology for bio-based
caprolactam which is then made into 100 bio-based
nylon-6 for apparel and carpet we announced Aquafil as
a partner in early 2018 Brands appreciate that moving to
100 bio-based nylon could allow them to have a major
impact on the sustainability of their products and on their
market differentiation
To make that happen only one chemical needs to be made
renewably This announcement was followed by Project
EFFECTIVE which aims to commercialize better fibers and
plastics and includes four major brands ndash HampM Vaude Carvico
and Balsan EFFECTIVE supported by the EUrsquos Horizon2020
program will use Genomaticarsquos caprolactam technology as
well as technology for the first bio-based chemical delivered
by Genomatica for 14-butanediol (BDO) to enable higher
renewable content in polyesters and polyurethanes
Two more examples are instructive First Genomatica has
also commercialized its Brontidetrade bio-based butylene glycol
Itrsquos certainly close to the customer as itrsquos used directly in
personal care and cosmetics products As a result
Brontide has resonated with major brands that
emphasize naturalness and purity Second is
Genomaticarsquos aforementioned BDO At
first glance BDO is a few conversion
ldquoWHEN BRANDS ARE LOOKING FOR NEAR-TERM IMPACT THEY NEED A BIO-BASED TECHNOLOGY THAT REALLY WORKSrdquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM14
FEATURE
steps away from most products But brands that look deeper have
realized they can quickly improve the sustainability of polymers
used in common urethane foams (for example) by replacing just
the BDO part with a bio-based version That wonrsquot take the product
to 100 but it allows for a fast improvement through better
understanding of where a productrsquos ingredients come from
ANOTHER IT HAS TO WORK
When brands are looking for near-term impact they need a bio-
based technology that really works That means it can be produced
at commercial scale today with competitive economics Tangible
examples like bio-based BDO and Brontide deliver immediate
opportunities and build confidence that the technology side of
our industry can deliver further innovations A recent example is
Novamontrsquos production of compostable biodegradable plastics
in Italy using bio-based BDO Their plant with a 30000 ton per
year capacity has helped revitalize the local economy providing
a market for farmersrsquo products plus the refurbishing of an older
industrial facility creating many jobs Novamont has secured
multiple well-known brands as customers including UK retailer
Co-op which will replace 180 million bags As brands see
biotechnology deliver at scale many want to learn whatrsquos next
WHAT BRANDS CAN DO NOW
To see how bio-based chemicals can fit your sustainability
strategy we recommend the following
bull Increase internal awareness and understanding This starts
with a deeper understanding of where your key production
inputs come from and how they are made When coupled
with greater exposure to what biotechnology can do it helps
prioritize what parts of your supply chain can be improved
Leverage outside expertise ndash invite biotech firms to share
what they know and do
bull Involve your upstream chemical and material suppliers
Give them updated requirements tied to your sustainability
objectives Encourage them to have direct discussions with
the biotechnology firms and biochemical producers that
expand their options and fit your needs
bull Be clear about your shopping list and priorities This allows
biotechnology firms and chemicalmaterial producers to
provide feedback and look for areas of overlap
bull Send tangible market signals If suppliers know yoursquore serious
about moving to more sustainable ingredients and process
technologies theyrsquoll pay attention This can tie directly to your
Corporate Sustainability Reporting and objectives
bull Publicise and celebrate your choices Let your customers
know about your process for improving and milestones along
the way Press releases speaking at conferences blogs and
tweets can all be effective
bull Get ldquoinside the tentrdquo with preferred partners Some of your
technology or supply chain partners can share more insights
or have a greater impact on your results Invest in ideation and
exploration if needed Close partnerships can help you influence
their priorities or gain early access to advantaged ingredients n
Irsquoll be a speaker at World Bio Markets in April Contact
me directly at cschillinggenomaticacom if yoursquod like
to discuss your companyrsquos vision and needs sooner
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 15
Yes thatrsquos us down there Yes you know us as a prime tourist destination and a business service hub But did you know that in the port of Amsterdam we have one of Europersquos largest biorefinery clustersThe port also has reliable infrastructure logistics providers and terminals utilities feedstock and markets literally at spitting distance Schiphol Airport is as you know just around the corner We reserved space for your business to grow Biopark Amsterdam So consider Amsterdam you are more than welcome to join us Discover our success stories on portofamsterdamcom
The greatest port you never thought of
Considered Amsterdam
In our industry where explaining the benefits of a
product can sometimes be a challenge a good
boost was received this week A familiar name to
most of our readers the Brazilian chemicals
company Braskem producers of Irsquom green ndash a
bio-based polyethylene made from sugarcane ndash has had its
negative carbon footprint credentials strengthened thanks to an
independent review The assessment was carried out by the
Carbon Trust an international organisation that helps businesses
governments and the public sector to accelerate the move to a
more sustainable low carbon economy And the result is that
Braskemrsquos bio-based plastic as used by LEGO (pictured above)
among others is effectively carbon-negative
In a new report comparing Irsquom green with fossil-based equivalents
the Carbon Trust has endorsed the methodology used by Braskem
to support claims that for every tonne of Irsquom green produced the
equivalent of around 3 tonnes of CO2 are locked away by the
sugarcane which provides the main raw material for its manufacture
Capturing CO2 during its lifecycle Irsquom green avoids emissions
related to the production of fossil fuel feedstock thereby
providing a net saving of the equivalent of around 5 tonnes of
CO2sup1 by the end of the plastic manufacturing process
Irsquom green is 100 recyclable plastic currently being used in a
range of applications from food packaging to personal care
products as well as more durable goods such as chairs and vases
Brand owners are increasingly responding to climate change
by reducing their carbon footprint which requires investment
in more efficient processes and using innovative renewable
materials Braskemrsquos Irsquom green is made from a renewable
feedstock and can make a significant contribution to reduce
carbon emissions
John Newton Associated Director at the Carbon Trust said ldquoTo
address climate change we will need innovative materials that
are radically lower in emissions compared to what is commonly
used today Products like Irsquom green which help lock away carbon
emissions in their production can be a real part of the solutionrdquo
Marco Jansen Commercial Director Renewable Chemicals at
Braskem said ldquoWersquore delighted that credible association Carbon
Trust further validates our calculations of Irsquom greenrsquos carbon
footprint Our customers know Irsquom green polyethylene is a smart
and sustainable way to reduce a productrsquos carbon footprint and we
hope more brands will use it as a renewable solution in the futurerdquo
This news will no doubt have been welcomed by LEGO too as
Braskem will supply the LEGO Group with Irsquom green as it makes
it switch to bio-based bricks Already in 2018 Green Plastic has
been used in the lsquobotanicalrsquo elements range such as trees bushes
and leaves that sold quickly once released
The LCA Summary is available here A one-page statement is
available here n
ITrsquoS OFFICIAL BRASKEMrsquoS CARBON-NEGATIVE
CLAIMS FOR ITS BIO-BASED PLASTIC ARE APPROVED
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 17
ldquo IT IS THE WAY TO STEP FORWARD TO AN EARTH-FRIENDLY SOLUTION REDUCING PETROLEUM BASED MATERIALSrdquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM18
FEATURE
BIO-BASED A POSSIBLE SOLUTION
TO MASTERCARDrsquoS SEARCH FOR MORE
SUSTAINABLE BANK CARDS
For many years the idea of going green with your
credit or debit card payments was limited to
buying sustainable products donating to
charities or paying for carbon offsets But now a
new alliance is aiming to green the card itself as
part of a wider array of actions a broader part of the payments
industry Global payment giants Mastercard and card
manufacturers Gemalto Giesecke+Devrient and IDEMIA have
this month launched the Greener Payments Partnership to
establish environmental best practices and reduce first-use PVC
plastic in card manufacturing Roughly six billion plastic payment
cards are made each year according to The Nilson Report
While Mastercard analysis shows that this is less than 0015
percent of the volume of plastic manufactured each year there
is room to improve that through the use of alternative materials
ldquoConsumers are increasingly moving from cash to card as they
look for greater security and sustainabilityrdquo commented Ajay
Bhalla president cyber and intelligence solutions Mastercard
( MastercardNews ) ldquoThis partnership will help us and our
industry reduce first-use plastic in cards Together we can
build on recent research and tests and drive adoption of
environmentally-friendly materials on a larger scalerdquo
Research and analysis into recyclable bio-sourced and bio-
degradable materials is already underway and now included in
this remit The partnership commits to accelerating that research
with the goal of delivering globally available solutions to reduce
first-use PVC plastic in card manufacturing in a matter of years
ldquoResponsible use of natural resources and protection of our
climate and environment are core elements of G+Drsquos Corporate
Responsibility policy We are committed to ensuring that our
entire value chain is sustainable and to continuously reducing
our ecological footprint As a participant of the Greener Payment
Partnership we work on the standardization of bio-sourced
materials in payment cards It is the way to step forward to an
earth-friendly solution reducing petroleum based materialsrdquo
says Gabrielle Bugat Head of the Financial Services Division at
Giesecke+Devrient Mobile Security
The group will also ensure best practices around how materials
are evaluated including environmental impact benefits and the
ability to meet increasing consumer concerns around the impact
of plastic globally
ldquoItrsquos no secret that we all need to change the way we live and
consume to reduce the impact wersquore having on our planet For
IDEMIA itrsquos essential as an industrial leader to effect change
for the better and play our part to reduce for instance our
reliance on plasticrdquo said Pierre Barrial executive vice president
for financial institutions activities at IDEMIA ( IdemiaGroup )
ldquoWersquore delighted to partner with Mastercard to deliver viable
environmentally friendly alternatives that bring positive change
to the industry as a wholerdquo
ldquoEnvironmental-friendly products are now a priority for all
stakeholders in the payment eco-systemrdquo says Sylvie Gibert
senior vice president of payment cards Gemalto ldquoWe are
committed to supporting this partnership formed by Mastercard
and we have already adopted sustainable practices in our
banking card business This initiative comes at a time where we
see a growing interest from the banks for greener cardsrdquo
This is no the first foray into bio-materials for Mastercard in
2016 they partnered with the Finnish Bank of Aringland WWF
Finland KPMG and Gemalto to create a credit card made of
renewable and biodegradable materials n
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 19
We regularly feature stories emerging from Canada
whether itrsquos about a new way to harness the
nations huge amounts of harvestable biomass
the commercialization of an innovation emerging
from one of their many illustrious university
laboratories or the growth in popularity of a bio-based product
for an increasingly environmentally aware population
So in order to learn more about one of the worldrsquos most vibrant
bio-economies our editor Luke Upton recently sat down with
Sandy Marshall the Executive Director of Bioindustrial Innovation
Canada a not-for-profit organisation focussed on catalysing the
further commercialisation of the bio-economy In a wide ranging
discussion they looked at how agriculture can better connect
with the bio-economy advice on starting a business and what
makes Canada so strong in this area
Luke Upton (LU) Thanks for the time today so as an
introduction ndash whatrsquos been your personal path to becoming
executive director of Bioindustrial Innovation Canada
Sandy Marshall (SM) I was raised on a farm near Blyth
Ontario Canada before graduating with Bachelor of Applied
Science Degree (BASc) and Masters of Applied Science Degree
(MASc) in Chemical Engineering from the University of Waterloo
I started my professional career in 1984 with Polysar Inc a
Canadian rubber manufacturer Over my 30 year career in
the chemical and polymers industry I worked in research and
process product development and market development before
moving into Operations and General Management I had two
international assignment one with Bayer AG in Germany and a
second with Lanxess in Cincinnati USA I finished my corporate
career as President and Managing Director responsible for
Canadian Operations of Lanxess Canada I have been recognized
as a leader committed to Corporate Social Responsibility and
environmental sustainability in Canada
I am very interested in sustainable chemistry and have been an
active Board member for Bioindustrial Innovation Canada (BIC)
from its inception in 2008 After I left Lanxess in 2013 I began
consulting in this space At that time I also took over the role of
Chairman of the BIC Board and worked very closely with Murray
McLaughlin Executive Director BIC In 2016 Murray McLaughlin
chose to step back as Executive Director and I was hired as his
replacement It is exciting to be back in a leadership role for an
organization with an inspiring vision and mission
LU For our readers who are unfamiliar with BIC could you
explain a little about the organisation and its aims
SM BIC is a nationally focused not-for-profit organization
based in Sarnia Ontario BICrsquos vision is to create jobs and
economic value sustainably for Canada BICrsquos mission is to
provide critical strategic investment advice and services to
THE LAST WORD WITHhellip SANDY MARSHALL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BIOINDUSTRIAL INNOVATION CANADA
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM20
FEATURE
business developers of clean green and sustainable technologies
Our expertise in commercialization builds a stronger Canada BIC
is focused on enabling Ontario and Canada to become globally
recognized leaders in converting renewable resources such as
agricultural and forestry by-products and residues into value-
added bioenergy biofuel biochemical and biomaterials for use
in a wide range of commercial applications along the chemistry
value chain to advanced manufacturing
LU BIC has worked with a number of companies is there a
particular project of which you are most proud
SM In 2012 BIC together with community leaders in Agriculture
embarked on a project to identify whether the Sarnia-Lambton
region could develop a source of cellulosic sugars using a biomass
supply chain based on agricultural residues BIC lead this project
with the support of numerous companies and government agencies
which lead to the formation of the Cellulosic Sugar Producers
Cooperative and identified Comet Bio as a viable technology
provider Currently these companies are partnering to establish the
worldrsquos first commercial cellulosic glucose sugar supply chain
LU What makes Canada a good home for a bio-based innovation
SM Canada is a vast country which is blessed with enormous
quantities of sustainably harvestable biomass both from forestry
and agriculture The access to raw materials is critical for the
success of any business venture Furthermore Canada is known
for its strong innovation capacity and its collaborative work
culture Together these attributes make Canada an ideal home of
the bio-based economy
LU What can agriculture do to better connect with bio-based
chemical and bio-based product manufactures
SM Agriculture needs to take a leadership role in the bio-
economy There has been a good start here in Canada It is
critical that the question about the availability of sustainably
harvestable biomass is answered through good science to allow
the industry to grow and leverage Canadarsquos great potential
Producers can also promote the bio-economy as an
opportunity to diversify their business models Generating
revenue through feedstock sales to bio-based chemical and
product producers or through participation as business partners
and investors in these ventures can be very beneficial in
reducing risk for all participants in the bio-economy
Government can support these entrepreneurial activities
through support of applied research and development of the
science to assure society that the bio-economy based on
agricultural feedstocks is both sustainable and critical to the
fight against climate change
LU What advice would you give someone looking to start a
bio-based business
SM Start with a solid business plan that clearly identified the
value proposition and can show profitability without relying on
long term government incentives I think that government has
an important role to de-risk early stage commercialization but
businesses must be able to show a path to successful commercial
independence
LU And finallyhellip whatrsquos your favourite sustainable bio-based
product
SM I do not have a favourite The petrochemical industry
succeeded based on leveraging all of the products in the barrel of
oil I see the bio-economy in the same way We need to valorize
all of the products in the truckload of biomass It is only through
leveraging sugars lignin renewable natural gas and the bio-
products produced from them that we can successfully build a
vibrant bio-economy n
ldquoTHE PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRY SUCCEEDED BASED ON LEVERAGING ALL OF THE PRODUCTS IN THE BARREL OF OIL I SEE THE BIO-ECONOMY IN THE SAME WAYrdquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 21
Brightmark Energy invests $57m to construct the USrsquo lsquofirstrsquo commercial-scale plastics- to-fuel plantldquoThis sustainable technology directly
addresses an acute problem facing
the US more than 91 of the 345
million tons of plastic domestically
produced each year is not recycledrdquo US
renewable energy development company
Brightmark Energy is pushing forward
with its plans to develop what it claims is
the USrsquo first commercial-scale plastics-
to-fuel facility The company recently
it announced that it had acquired a
majority interest and invested $10m in
Ohio-based technology company RES
Polyflow while committing an additional
$47m investment to the first commercial-
scale plant to utilise this technology
Bio-plastic JV Synvina under threat over dispute about investment deadlineldquoWe are determined to pursue the commercialisation of FDCA and PEF ndash with or without BASFrdquo
The bio-plastics industry has suffered a potential blow after chemicals giant BASF
announced that it had threatened to pull out of its Synvina joint venture (JV) with Dutch
renewable chemicals company Avantium over a disagreement on an investment deadline
for the project
At the core of the JV is a focus on producing and marketing FDCA (furandicarboxylic
acid) as well as the marketing of new polymer PEF (polyethylenefuranoate) based on this
chemical building block
Clipper Teas claims world first with new non-GM plastic-free tea bag made from bananasldquoNow wersquove created and implemented a plastic-free bag we wonrsquot be
going backrdquo One of the UKrsquos biggest tea brands is set to launch what it claims is the
worldrsquos first plastic-free non-GM and unbleached heat-sealed teabag made from
bananas The problem of plastic pollution in the worldrsquos seas and oceans has forced
companies and governments to do things differently This concern has also led to an
increasing demand for alternatives to plastics A number of leading tea brands use
polypropylene a sealing plastic to fasten teabags and ensure that they hold their
shape However to tackle the issue of plastic waste Clipper Teas has developed a new
product designed specifically to help cut down on plastic pollution ndash a plastic-free
unbleached and non-genetically modified tea bag which it claims to be a world first
BIO-BASED WORLD NEWS IN BRIEF
4 BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM
Veolia and Tetra Pak team up to launch beverage carton recycling partnershipldquoWith this partnership we are combining our respective areas of expertise to find
sustainable solutions for PolyAl recyclingrdquo
Packaging giant Tetra Pak and resource management company Veolia have
announced what they call a ldquogame-changingrdquo partnership that will enable all
components of used beverage cartons collected within the EU to be recycled by 2025
The cartons collected will be turned into high-value secondary materials The average
beverage carton comprises around 75 paperboard 20 plastic and 5 aluminium
foil However while the fibres recovered during recycling have a healthy market when
converted into high-quality paper pulp for use in both industrial and consumer
products the same is not true for the recovered polymer and aluminium (PolyAl) mix
Croda officially launches new 100 bio-based surfactants ldquoWe are pleased to be able to offer such a
wide range of 100 bio-based and 100
renewable ingredients to meet the needs
of formulators and companies seeking to
deliver more sustainable optionsrdquo
Speciality chemicals company Croda
International has announced the official
launch and certification of its ECO range of
bio-based surfactants - ingredients designed
to meet increasing market demand for
sustainable high-performance ingredient
options With a vast product range that
includes everything from agrochemicals
building and construction materials and
adhesives to pharmaceuticals dietary
supplements and food and feedstocks
Croda is a company with a portfolio of
sustainable ingredients that are used by
small niche consumer markets as well as
much larger specialist industrial ones
Thyssenkrupp-commissioned bio-plastic plant starts production in ChinaldquoThe bio-plastics market will continue to grow in the coming years
not least due to the increasing environmental awareness of industry
governments and consumersrdquo
German industrial systems supplier Thyssenkrupp has recently
announced that the worldrsquos first commercial plant based on the
companyrsquos patented manufacturing process for bio-plastic polylactide
(PLA) called PLAneo has started production in Changchun China
The new plant is operated by the Jilin COFCO Biomaterial Corporation
a subsidiary of COFCO Chinarsquos largest food and agriculture group and
producer of edible oils and oilseeds
BIO-BASED WORLD NEWS IN BRIEF
5BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM
Multinational food-products giant Danone have
announced a series of initiatives to make its
packaging 100 circular and to accelerate
towards this being a standard for the industry
This includes initiatives to improve product design
and develop alternative delivery and reuse models investments to
develop effective efficient and inclusive systems for increased
collection and recycling to boost recycling and actions to
preserve natural resources by reintegrating recycled materials
into our packaging and developing use of renewable materials
Emmanuel Faber Chairman and CEO of Danone said ldquoWe
believe the time is now to step up and accelerate embrace our
responsibility and work with others to engage a radical shift that
will help free the world from packaging waste We will be acting
both at global and local level to ensure circularity of packaging
becomes the new norm Today we are announcing a series
of investments and commitments that - I believe - will have a
concrete impact These will be amplified as we collaborate with
industry-peers governments NGOs start-ups and the finance
sector harness new technologies and invest in new solutionsrdquo
Danone will accelerate transition towards circular economy of
packaging in three ways
1 PACKAGING DESIGNED FOR CIRCULARITY
Danone ( Danone ) commits to ensure that all its packaging
is designed to be 100 recyclable reusable or compostable by
2025 Moreover the company will develop alternative delivery
models or new reuse models where relevant and take action to
eliminate problematic or unnecessary plastic packaging
Already 86 of our packaging is recyclable reusable or
compostable and 50 of our water volumes are sold in reusable
jugs Their evian bottles are already 100 recyclable and Danone
have also piloted an innovation to eliminate non-recyclable
shrink film for multi-packs using specially designed adhesive
and tape handles Along with many other brands they are also
assessing alternatives to plastic straws through a pilot program to
be launched in 2019 with their AQUA brand in Indonesia
2 REUSED RECYCLED AND COMPOSTED IN PRACTICE
Danone recognizes that design wonrsquot be enough to make
its packaging fully circular Effective collection and recycling
systems are essential to ensuring packaging is recycled reused or
composted in practice
To help meet or go beyond
the collection targets set by
regulators such as the minimum
90 collection target for beverage
bottles expected to be set in
the EU for 2025 Danone will
support the most effective publicly
organized collection and recycling
systems including Extended
Producer Responsibility and
Deposit Return Scheme systems
when relevant
They will also invest in private initiatives that strengthen circular
infrastructure especially in countries where formal systems are
absent or in development or where there is a high risk of leakage
into the environment By 2025 Danone are aiming to have
initiated or supported collection and recycling initiatives in every
one of our top 20 markets (representing around 90 of sales)
3 PRESERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES
Danone use 14 of recycled PET on average in their water and
other beverage bottles by 2025 we will increase this amount to
50 The evian brand already contains 30 recycled plastic (rPET)
on average and intends to reach 100 by 2025 Their first 100
recycled PET bottle with the Lanjaron Red natural mineral water
brand in Spain and additional 100 recycled PET bottles reaching
all major water markets by 2021
In addition to these three tenets Danone are pushing the
message that collaboration is the cornerstone of success when
it comes to circular economy as we detailed in September They
have joined a global commitment led by the Ellen MacArthur
Foundation in collaboration with UN Environment Program
other businesses NGOs and governments to address plastic
waste and pollution
Dame Ellen MacArthur founder of the Ellen MacArthur
Foundation (circulareconomy) declared ldquoBy looking at the
whole system from product design to developing new reuse
models and collaborating with others these commitments
set Danone up to take important steps towards circularity
Commitments like those announced today can help drive the
global momentum needed to create a circular economy for
plastics that stops them from becoming waste and pollution
Now is the time to make it happenrdquo n
RECYCLED REUSED OR COMPOSTED - DANONE ANNOUNCE TRIO OF ACTIONS TO BE FULLY CIRCULAR BY 2025
FEATURE
6 BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM
l ightmyf i re com
Shakethe habit
BRING YOUR OWN
F O O D F R I E N D LYA N D B PA F R E E
M A D E I NS W E D E N
Disposable plastic bags disposable flatware disposable cups disposable wellalmost anything Things that can only be used once donacutet belong in a sustainableworld Shake the habit ndash bring your own
ReKitTM ndash Bring-along-friendly reusablekit for sips bites and drinks on the go
Now one project SWEETWOODS made up of
nine European companies all of whom have
wondered more about trees and their potential
is to begin producing wood-based biomaterials
for the first time on an industrial scale
This unique euro43 million bio-economy project funded by
the Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI JU) is now
underway with its key aim of developing a first-of-its-kind
bio-fractionation flagship plant in Estonia to turn sustainable
hardwood residues into high purity intermediate building blocks
of cellulosic sugars and high-quality lignin
To learn more about this project that has such huge potential
Bio-Based World Newsrsquo Luke Upton spoke exclusively to two
members of the consortium Matti Heikkilauml CTO of Finlandrsquos
pioneering enzyme technology company MetGen and Peep Pitk
RampD Manager of Europersquos largest pellet producer Graanul Invest
that is building up the wood fractionation flagship plant in Estonia
Matti tells more about the origins of the project ldquoThe concept
began around five years ago We knew about the potential of
wood that much more could be done with it and that a concept
of biorefining could transform hardwood into higher added value
products Most of the solutions and technologies to make this
happen were ready to be commercialised but we just needed to
match up the skills and partners to make the concept a realityrdquo
For Peep the opportunities of the partnership are clear ldquoThis
project really is a gamechangerrdquo He explains that it is outdated
understanding that the only way to valorise technological wood
is via highly resource demanding chemical pulping processes
The wood fractionation concept that we are working on can offer
PROJECT FOCUS CREATING HIGH PURITY LIGNIN AND AFFORDABLE PLATFORM CHEMICALS FROM WOOD-BASED SUGARSTHE AUTHOR AND POET RALPH WALDO EMERSON NO STRANGER TO THE BEAUTY OF THE NATURAL WORLD FAMOUSLY SAID THAT ldquoTHE WONDER IS THAT WE CAN SEE THESE TREES AND NOT WONDER MORErdquo SO MUCH OF OUR WORLD HAS ITS ROOTS IN OUR TREES FROM CLOTHES AND FURNITURE TO FOOD AND PAPER
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM8
FEATURE
so much more by converting over 90 of wood into useful high
value products with small ecological footprint
What is clear through the conversation with Matti and Peep is the
clarity of the SWEETWOODS vision Unlike some other projects
that pass through the bio-economy the goal and commercial
potential of the offering has been clear from the outset The
consortium powering the project connects all the links in the
value chain and covers the entire material process
By fractionating the wood into pure sugars and lignin it becomes
possible to further refine the material into high added value
products that can be used to replace oil-based chemicals and
plastics New bio-based consumer products including sports
mats insulation panels and replacements for plastics are just
some of the items mentioned in our discussion
Alongside MetGen and AS Graanul Invest the seven other
members of the European wide consortium are Tecnaro
Gesellschaft zur industriellen Anwendung Nachwachsender
Rohstoffe MBH (Germany) Ultima GMBH (Germany) Recticel
NV (Belgium) Global Bioenergies (France) 2B Srl (Italy) Vertech
Group (France) and Spinverse OY (Finland)
There has been a ldquospirit of collaborationrdquo among the partners
from the very start states Peep but the project has also
been greatly supported by the Bio-based Industries Joint
Undertaking (BBI JU) a public-private partnership between
the EU and the Bio-Based Industries Consortium (BIC) focused
on developing the European bio-based economy ldquoItrsquos been
very important to have had BBI-JU in supporting us They
have gathered industry expertees and offer a long-term
experienced view of what is required to build a successful bio-
economy consortium that can deliver a commercial successrdquo
says Matti ldquoWithout them it would have been far harder to
forge this alliancerdquo added Peep
The next steps for the project are to build the flagship plant
in Estonia to demonstrate its viability at industrial scale But
obviously there are still opportunities to take advantage of this
innovative projectrsquos outcomes ldquoWe are very much open for
discussions and open for business And by partnering now you
could still become an early adopter of the novel biomaterials in
diversity of end-use cases We believe this project will change the
way the wood industry is perceivedrdquo Matti concludes
To read more about the SWEETWOODS Project click here For
industrially representative lignin and sugars samples contact Peep Pitk
PeepPitkgraanulinvestcom For technology licensing opportunities
and modified lignin samples contact Mattimetgencom n
ldquoWE ARE VERY MUCH OPEN FOR DISCUSSIONS AND OPEN FOR BUSINESS AND BY PARTNERING NOW YOU COULD STILL BECOME AN EARLY ADOPTER OF THE NOVEL BIOMATERIALS IN DIVERSITY OF END-USE CASESrdquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 9
THE GREEN REVOLUTION WILL BE BLUE HARVESTING ALGAE FOR THE BIO-ECONOMY
When you think of algae what do you think of For
most people the thought of algae conjures up
images of a murky-looking pond However algae
are one of the largest unexploited resources on our
planet In fact the worldrsquos ocean could harbour up
to 1 million species depending on who you believe But we have just
barely begun to harvest and cultivate algae for mankindrsquos benefit
Algae are not just green stuff in the sea they are complex aquatic
organisms that have the ability to conduct photosynthesis
Algae have been used by human beings for a long time However
the number of companies developing algae-based biofuels
swelled in the 2000s as oil prices rose and supportive policies
were established for next-generation biofuels Yet when the
oil price dropped to record low levels in 2014 to under $35 per
barrel a lot of companies went bust backed away or shifted their
interests towards higher value markets such as health foods
beauty and personal care products and animal feed The use
of algae for applications in the nutraceutical chemicals and
cosmetic markets is growing in a world where companies are
increasingly seeking alternatives to fossil fuel-based products As
a result of this algae have come under the spotlight once again
However the industry has only industrialised a dozen or so of the
many variety of algae species so the opportunities are endless
HIGHLY-VALUED RESOURCE
So what opportunities exist By far the largest market for algae
commercialisation is the nutraceutical and animal feed sector
Today algae nutraceuticals generate around $05bn in revenue
annually according to Bloomberg In fact the most valuable
products made from algae today are human nutraceuticals such
as Omega 3 oils They can be sold in capsules in health stores or
added to food and drink products to enhance their offering
Algae-based food is big business In Asia macroalgae - also
known as seaweed is a highly valued resource with more
than 30 million tonnes farmed annually making it one of the
largest biomasses harvested from the oceans according to Jon
Funderud CEO at Norway-based Seaweed Energy Solutions
He says that more than half of this volume goes directly to human
consumption as healthy ldquosea vegetablesrdquo while the remainder
has various industrial uses such as for bioplastics animal feed or
fertilisers In Europe seaweeds are virtually unexploited but have
in recent years received a surge in interest both as a new super
food and for their potential as a bioenergy crop
However there has been no serious industrial efforts at large-
scale macroalgae farming because there has been no ldquooff the
shelfrdquo farming technology available Funderud says He says
the vast majority of seaweed farms in Asia are based on very
labour-intensive and low tech means with no real potential
for technology transfer to ldquohigh-cost countriesrdquo In Europe
the seaweed farming industry is still at pilot scale where the
production cost is still really expensive
Seaweed farming is not the only way to address feeding the
worldrsquos growing population Microalgae small microscopic aquatic
photosynthetic plants that require the aid of a microscope to be
seen can also do the job Ingmar Hoslashgoslashy chairman of Norway-
based microalgae technology company AlgaePro says that
microalgae can also provide food security and provide an alternative
to dairy and meat-based foods Matt Carr executive director of US
Algae Biomass Organisation concurs with Hoslashgoslashy and says that
algae used for nutraceutical sector and animal feed will drive growth
for the sector which in turn will help to produce more large-scale
production facilities and a variety of different production methods
BY LIZ GYEKYE
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM10
FEATURE
Unique production methods are already being utilised Scotland-
based biotechnology company ScotBio is just one firm doing just
this and has been successful in commercialising its natural blue
food colourant that is suitable for sweets ice cream and drinks
It was founded in 2007 and is based on the findings of PhD
student Chelsea Brain who found that a specific type of red light
increased the production of phycocyanin (natural blue pigment)
in microalgae spirulina
CEO DC Van Alstyne says the research that is happening in the UK
is ground-breaking on many fronts but many companies in the UK
have difficulty commercialising their innovations compared to the
US because the US academics tend to get more financial support
NOT JUST FOOD
In the US one company that is making waves in the algae-based
material space is California-based biotechnology company
Checkerspot The company is engineering microalgae to bring
high-performance materials to the market Checkerspot ferments
a class of sugar-eating microalgae called trebouxiophyceae
which swell with fat The company uses genetic engineering and
classical strain improvement to coax the algae to produce useful
triglycerides It is using this feedstock to create the foam used
in surfboards and is also working on creating water-repellent
coating for outdoor apparel
Another US company that is focusing on algae is oil giant Exxon
Mobil It is working with Synthetic Genomic to conduct a large
trial to engineer algae streams in outdoor settings to produce
biofuels In fact today most algae are grown outdoors in open
pods In contrast microalgae can be grown in lab with the help
of photobioreactors (a bioreactor that utilises a light source to
cultivate phototrophic microorganisms) and steel tanks
Yet environmental critics would question whether it was right
to genetically engineer these microorganisms for the good of
mankind Carr says ldquoUsing everything that we have already
learned in terms of containment researchers have designed
outdoor settings to ensure that they canrsquot produce the kinds of
negative environmental effects that some may fear You can do
that by engineering the organisms so that they canrsquot survive in
natural settingsrdquo
He says that algae producers in the US have been working with
the US Environmental Protection Agency to ensure that they are
designing systems that will not result in any kind of attack on the
broader eco system
In relation to the eco system waste wastewater treatment is
emerging as really important trend for algae Algae can be added
to wastewater or sewage to clean the water Carole Llewellyn
associate professor in applied aquatic bioscience at Swansea
University says algae can effectively capture and degrade
nitrogen and phosphorus in domestic wastewater and clear up
metals in mine wastewater streams
All of this looks promising However as Llewellyn says
ldquoHarvesting microalgae on a large scale and economically is a
challenge It is less of a challenge where the end product is of
high value but for low-value commodities low-cost harvesting
remains a challenge Some species are naturally self-flocculating
We probably need to understand this process a bit betterrdquo
Yet with only around 12 algae species industrialised the next step will
be to map the algae genome according to Carr It really does seem
like the world needs to prepare itself for a blue-green revolution n
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 11
ldquoWBM was very valuable to me since it brought all actors along the value chain of the bio-based economy around several tables in panel discussions I hardly know any other conference with so many different industry players presentrdquoRaul Pires VP New Technologies Covestro
MEET THE PRODUCERS AND BRANDS INVESTING IN BIO-BASED SOLUTIONS
Visit wwwWorldBioMarketscom Follow us Bio_BasedWorld WBM19
1-3 April 2019 Passenger Terminal Amsterdam Amsterdam
14th Annual
Produced by
US-based chemical engineer Frances Arnold
(pictured) is one of three scientists who have this
month been awarded the 2018 Nobel Prize in
Chemistry She has won the prize for her work on
the ldquodirected evolution of enzymesrdquo which is a bioengineering
method for creating new and better enzymes in the laboratory
using the principles of evolution Enzymes produced through
directed evolution are used to manufacture everything from
biofuels to pharmaceuticals
Directed evolution works in the same way that breeders mate
cats or dogs to bring out desired traits To perform the method
scientists begin by inducing mutations to the DNA or gene that
encodes a particular enzyme
An assortment of thousands of mutated enzymes is produced
and then tested for a desired trait The top-performing enzymes
are selected and the process is repeated to further enhance the
enzymesrsquo performances For instance in 2009 Arnold and her
team based at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
engineered enzymes that break down cellulose the main
component of plant cell walls creating better catalysts for turning
agricultural wastes into fuels and chemicals
A number of additional enzymes produced through directed
evolution are now used for a host of products including biofuels
agricultural chemicals paper products and pharmaceuticals
Arnold and her colleagues have also used directed evolution
to persuade bacteria to make chemicals not found in nature
including molecules containing silicon-carbon or boron-
carbon bonds or bicyclobutanes which contain energy-
packed carbon rings
By using bacteria researchers can potentially make these
chemical compounds in ldquogreenerrdquo ways that are more
economical and produce less toxic waste
Arnold ( francesarnold ) was born on 25 July 1956 in Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania and arrived at Caltech as a visiting associate in 1986
and was named assistant professor in 1987 associate professor in
1992 and professor in 1996
Speaking about her Nobel prize Arnold said she was ldquoabsolutely
flooredrdquo to receive the award adding ldquoI have to wrap my head
around this Itrsquos not something I was expectingrdquo
ldquoMy entire career I have been concerned about the damage we
are doing to the planet and each otherrdquo Arnold said ldquoScience
and technology can play a major role in mitigating our negative
influences on the environment
Changing behaviour is even more important However I feel
that change is easier when there are good economically-viable
alternatives to harmful habitsrdquo n
NOBEL NOD FOR THE GREEN PIONEER BEHIND lsquoDIRECTED
EVOLUTION ENZYMESrsquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 13
FEATURE
BRANDS A PRAGMATIC APPROACH TO BIO-BASED CHEMICALSCHRISTOPHE SCHILLING CEO GENOMATICA
The brands I speak with have well-crafted
plans for advancing the sustainability of their
products These address choosing materials
for recyclability considering end-of-life
reuse energy consumption during
production packaging and community-related issues
consistent with the United Nationsrsquo Sustainable
Development Goals
I was particularly energized by my conversations at the
VERGE18 conference where I was asked to be a discussion
leader at the Circular Plastics Summit co-led by the Ellen
MacArthur Foundation (I encourage you to read their New
Plastics Economy and Make Fashion Circular reports)
Increasingly brands are seeing the opportunity to improve
sustainability through increased use of renewably-sourced
materials This approach is part of a broader set of initiatives
to increase circularity in a range of global material flows
Although these approaches offer compelling benefits
making them happen can be challenging In this article Irsquod
like to share some ideas for tangible near-term actions that
emerged from my recent discussions as they apply to bio-
based chemicals
ONE KEY LEARNING CLOSER IS BETTER
Wersquove found that brands are more energized to act when
key chemicals are ldquocloserrdquo to their end products in the
sense of making up a substantial portion of the end
product A great example is nylon where the key chemical
caprolactam is only one step away from conversion to
nylon Genomatica is developing technology for bio-based
caprolactam which is then made into 100 bio-based
nylon-6 for apparel and carpet we announced Aquafil as
a partner in early 2018 Brands appreciate that moving to
100 bio-based nylon could allow them to have a major
impact on the sustainability of their products and on their
market differentiation
To make that happen only one chemical needs to be made
renewably This announcement was followed by Project
EFFECTIVE which aims to commercialize better fibers and
plastics and includes four major brands ndash HampM Vaude Carvico
and Balsan EFFECTIVE supported by the EUrsquos Horizon2020
program will use Genomaticarsquos caprolactam technology as
well as technology for the first bio-based chemical delivered
by Genomatica for 14-butanediol (BDO) to enable higher
renewable content in polyesters and polyurethanes
Two more examples are instructive First Genomatica has
also commercialized its Brontidetrade bio-based butylene glycol
Itrsquos certainly close to the customer as itrsquos used directly in
personal care and cosmetics products As a result
Brontide has resonated with major brands that
emphasize naturalness and purity Second is
Genomaticarsquos aforementioned BDO At
first glance BDO is a few conversion
ldquoWHEN BRANDS ARE LOOKING FOR NEAR-TERM IMPACT THEY NEED A BIO-BASED TECHNOLOGY THAT REALLY WORKSrdquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM14
FEATURE
steps away from most products But brands that look deeper have
realized they can quickly improve the sustainability of polymers
used in common urethane foams (for example) by replacing just
the BDO part with a bio-based version That wonrsquot take the product
to 100 but it allows for a fast improvement through better
understanding of where a productrsquos ingredients come from
ANOTHER IT HAS TO WORK
When brands are looking for near-term impact they need a bio-
based technology that really works That means it can be produced
at commercial scale today with competitive economics Tangible
examples like bio-based BDO and Brontide deliver immediate
opportunities and build confidence that the technology side of
our industry can deliver further innovations A recent example is
Novamontrsquos production of compostable biodegradable plastics
in Italy using bio-based BDO Their plant with a 30000 ton per
year capacity has helped revitalize the local economy providing
a market for farmersrsquo products plus the refurbishing of an older
industrial facility creating many jobs Novamont has secured
multiple well-known brands as customers including UK retailer
Co-op which will replace 180 million bags As brands see
biotechnology deliver at scale many want to learn whatrsquos next
WHAT BRANDS CAN DO NOW
To see how bio-based chemicals can fit your sustainability
strategy we recommend the following
bull Increase internal awareness and understanding This starts
with a deeper understanding of where your key production
inputs come from and how they are made When coupled
with greater exposure to what biotechnology can do it helps
prioritize what parts of your supply chain can be improved
Leverage outside expertise ndash invite biotech firms to share
what they know and do
bull Involve your upstream chemical and material suppliers
Give them updated requirements tied to your sustainability
objectives Encourage them to have direct discussions with
the biotechnology firms and biochemical producers that
expand their options and fit your needs
bull Be clear about your shopping list and priorities This allows
biotechnology firms and chemicalmaterial producers to
provide feedback and look for areas of overlap
bull Send tangible market signals If suppliers know yoursquore serious
about moving to more sustainable ingredients and process
technologies theyrsquoll pay attention This can tie directly to your
Corporate Sustainability Reporting and objectives
bull Publicise and celebrate your choices Let your customers
know about your process for improving and milestones along
the way Press releases speaking at conferences blogs and
tweets can all be effective
bull Get ldquoinside the tentrdquo with preferred partners Some of your
technology or supply chain partners can share more insights
or have a greater impact on your results Invest in ideation and
exploration if needed Close partnerships can help you influence
their priorities or gain early access to advantaged ingredients n
Irsquoll be a speaker at World Bio Markets in April Contact
me directly at cschillinggenomaticacom if yoursquod like
to discuss your companyrsquos vision and needs sooner
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 15
Yes thatrsquos us down there Yes you know us as a prime tourist destination and a business service hub But did you know that in the port of Amsterdam we have one of Europersquos largest biorefinery clustersThe port also has reliable infrastructure logistics providers and terminals utilities feedstock and markets literally at spitting distance Schiphol Airport is as you know just around the corner We reserved space for your business to grow Biopark Amsterdam So consider Amsterdam you are more than welcome to join us Discover our success stories on portofamsterdamcom
The greatest port you never thought of
Considered Amsterdam
In our industry where explaining the benefits of a
product can sometimes be a challenge a good
boost was received this week A familiar name to
most of our readers the Brazilian chemicals
company Braskem producers of Irsquom green ndash a
bio-based polyethylene made from sugarcane ndash has had its
negative carbon footprint credentials strengthened thanks to an
independent review The assessment was carried out by the
Carbon Trust an international organisation that helps businesses
governments and the public sector to accelerate the move to a
more sustainable low carbon economy And the result is that
Braskemrsquos bio-based plastic as used by LEGO (pictured above)
among others is effectively carbon-negative
In a new report comparing Irsquom green with fossil-based equivalents
the Carbon Trust has endorsed the methodology used by Braskem
to support claims that for every tonne of Irsquom green produced the
equivalent of around 3 tonnes of CO2 are locked away by the
sugarcane which provides the main raw material for its manufacture
Capturing CO2 during its lifecycle Irsquom green avoids emissions
related to the production of fossil fuel feedstock thereby
providing a net saving of the equivalent of around 5 tonnes of
CO2sup1 by the end of the plastic manufacturing process
Irsquom green is 100 recyclable plastic currently being used in a
range of applications from food packaging to personal care
products as well as more durable goods such as chairs and vases
Brand owners are increasingly responding to climate change
by reducing their carbon footprint which requires investment
in more efficient processes and using innovative renewable
materials Braskemrsquos Irsquom green is made from a renewable
feedstock and can make a significant contribution to reduce
carbon emissions
John Newton Associated Director at the Carbon Trust said ldquoTo
address climate change we will need innovative materials that
are radically lower in emissions compared to what is commonly
used today Products like Irsquom green which help lock away carbon
emissions in their production can be a real part of the solutionrdquo
Marco Jansen Commercial Director Renewable Chemicals at
Braskem said ldquoWersquore delighted that credible association Carbon
Trust further validates our calculations of Irsquom greenrsquos carbon
footprint Our customers know Irsquom green polyethylene is a smart
and sustainable way to reduce a productrsquos carbon footprint and we
hope more brands will use it as a renewable solution in the futurerdquo
This news will no doubt have been welcomed by LEGO too as
Braskem will supply the LEGO Group with Irsquom green as it makes
it switch to bio-based bricks Already in 2018 Green Plastic has
been used in the lsquobotanicalrsquo elements range such as trees bushes
and leaves that sold quickly once released
The LCA Summary is available here A one-page statement is
available here n
ITrsquoS OFFICIAL BRASKEMrsquoS CARBON-NEGATIVE
CLAIMS FOR ITS BIO-BASED PLASTIC ARE APPROVED
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 17
ldquo IT IS THE WAY TO STEP FORWARD TO AN EARTH-FRIENDLY SOLUTION REDUCING PETROLEUM BASED MATERIALSrdquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM18
FEATURE
BIO-BASED A POSSIBLE SOLUTION
TO MASTERCARDrsquoS SEARCH FOR MORE
SUSTAINABLE BANK CARDS
For many years the idea of going green with your
credit or debit card payments was limited to
buying sustainable products donating to
charities or paying for carbon offsets But now a
new alliance is aiming to green the card itself as
part of a wider array of actions a broader part of the payments
industry Global payment giants Mastercard and card
manufacturers Gemalto Giesecke+Devrient and IDEMIA have
this month launched the Greener Payments Partnership to
establish environmental best practices and reduce first-use PVC
plastic in card manufacturing Roughly six billion plastic payment
cards are made each year according to The Nilson Report
While Mastercard analysis shows that this is less than 0015
percent of the volume of plastic manufactured each year there
is room to improve that through the use of alternative materials
ldquoConsumers are increasingly moving from cash to card as they
look for greater security and sustainabilityrdquo commented Ajay
Bhalla president cyber and intelligence solutions Mastercard
( MastercardNews ) ldquoThis partnership will help us and our
industry reduce first-use plastic in cards Together we can
build on recent research and tests and drive adoption of
environmentally-friendly materials on a larger scalerdquo
Research and analysis into recyclable bio-sourced and bio-
degradable materials is already underway and now included in
this remit The partnership commits to accelerating that research
with the goal of delivering globally available solutions to reduce
first-use PVC plastic in card manufacturing in a matter of years
ldquoResponsible use of natural resources and protection of our
climate and environment are core elements of G+Drsquos Corporate
Responsibility policy We are committed to ensuring that our
entire value chain is sustainable and to continuously reducing
our ecological footprint As a participant of the Greener Payment
Partnership we work on the standardization of bio-sourced
materials in payment cards It is the way to step forward to an
earth-friendly solution reducing petroleum based materialsrdquo
says Gabrielle Bugat Head of the Financial Services Division at
Giesecke+Devrient Mobile Security
The group will also ensure best practices around how materials
are evaluated including environmental impact benefits and the
ability to meet increasing consumer concerns around the impact
of plastic globally
ldquoItrsquos no secret that we all need to change the way we live and
consume to reduce the impact wersquore having on our planet For
IDEMIA itrsquos essential as an industrial leader to effect change
for the better and play our part to reduce for instance our
reliance on plasticrdquo said Pierre Barrial executive vice president
for financial institutions activities at IDEMIA ( IdemiaGroup )
ldquoWersquore delighted to partner with Mastercard to deliver viable
environmentally friendly alternatives that bring positive change
to the industry as a wholerdquo
ldquoEnvironmental-friendly products are now a priority for all
stakeholders in the payment eco-systemrdquo says Sylvie Gibert
senior vice president of payment cards Gemalto ldquoWe are
committed to supporting this partnership formed by Mastercard
and we have already adopted sustainable practices in our
banking card business This initiative comes at a time where we
see a growing interest from the banks for greener cardsrdquo
This is no the first foray into bio-materials for Mastercard in
2016 they partnered with the Finnish Bank of Aringland WWF
Finland KPMG and Gemalto to create a credit card made of
renewable and biodegradable materials n
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 19
We regularly feature stories emerging from Canada
whether itrsquos about a new way to harness the
nations huge amounts of harvestable biomass
the commercialization of an innovation emerging
from one of their many illustrious university
laboratories or the growth in popularity of a bio-based product
for an increasingly environmentally aware population
So in order to learn more about one of the worldrsquos most vibrant
bio-economies our editor Luke Upton recently sat down with
Sandy Marshall the Executive Director of Bioindustrial Innovation
Canada a not-for-profit organisation focussed on catalysing the
further commercialisation of the bio-economy In a wide ranging
discussion they looked at how agriculture can better connect
with the bio-economy advice on starting a business and what
makes Canada so strong in this area
Luke Upton (LU) Thanks for the time today so as an
introduction ndash whatrsquos been your personal path to becoming
executive director of Bioindustrial Innovation Canada
Sandy Marshall (SM) I was raised on a farm near Blyth
Ontario Canada before graduating with Bachelor of Applied
Science Degree (BASc) and Masters of Applied Science Degree
(MASc) in Chemical Engineering from the University of Waterloo
I started my professional career in 1984 with Polysar Inc a
Canadian rubber manufacturer Over my 30 year career in
the chemical and polymers industry I worked in research and
process product development and market development before
moving into Operations and General Management I had two
international assignment one with Bayer AG in Germany and a
second with Lanxess in Cincinnati USA I finished my corporate
career as President and Managing Director responsible for
Canadian Operations of Lanxess Canada I have been recognized
as a leader committed to Corporate Social Responsibility and
environmental sustainability in Canada
I am very interested in sustainable chemistry and have been an
active Board member for Bioindustrial Innovation Canada (BIC)
from its inception in 2008 After I left Lanxess in 2013 I began
consulting in this space At that time I also took over the role of
Chairman of the BIC Board and worked very closely with Murray
McLaughlin Executive Director BIC In 2016 Murray McLaughlin
chose to step back as Executive Director and I was hired as his
replacement It is exciting to be back in a leadership role for an
organization with an inspiring vision and mission
LU For our readers who are unfamiliar with BIC could you
explain a little about the organisation and its aims
SM BIC is a nationally focused not-for-profit organization
based in Sarnia Ontario BICrsquos vision is to create jobs and
economic value sustainably for Canada BICrsquos mission is to
provide critical strategic investment advice and services to
THE LAST WORD WITHhellip SANDY MARSHALL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BIOINDUSTRIAL INNOVATION CANADA
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM20
FEATURE
business developers of clean green and sustainable technologies
Our expertise in commercialization builds a stronger Canada BIC
is focused on enabling Ontario and Canada to become globally
recognized leaders in converting renewable resources such as
agricultural and forestry by-products and residues into value-
added bioenergy biofuel biochemical and biomaterials for use
in a wide range of commercial applications along the chemistry
value chain to advanced manufacturing
LU BIC has worked with a number of companies is there a
particular project of which you are most proud
SM In 2012 BIC together with community leaders in Agriculture
embarked on a project to identify whether the Sarnia-Lambton
region could develop a source of cellulosic sugars using a biomass
supply chain based on agricultural residues BIC lead this project
with the support of numerous companies and government agencies
which lead to the formation of the Cellulosic Sugar Producers
Cooperative and identified Comet Bio as a viable technology
provider Currently these companies are partnering to establish the
worldrsquos first commercial cellulosic glucose sugar supply chain
LU What makes Canada a good home for a bio-based innovation
SM Canada is a vast country which is blessed with enormous
quantities of sustainably harvestable biomass both from forestry
and agriculture The access to raw materials is critical for the
success of any business venture Furthermore Canada is known
for its strong innovation capacity and its collaborative work
culture Together these attributes make Canada an ideal home of
the bio-based economy
LU What can agriculture do to better connect with bio-based
chemical and bio-based product manufactures
SM Agriculture needs to take a leadership role in the bio-
economy There has been a good start here in Canada It is
critical that the question about the availability of sustainably
harvestable biomass is answered through good science to allow
the industry to grow and leverage Canadarsquos great potential
Producers can also promote the bio-economy as an
opportunity to diversify their business models Generating
revenue through feedstock sales to bio-based chemical and
product producers or through participation as business partners
and investors in these ventures can be very beneficial in
reducing risk for all participants in the bio-economy
Government can support these entrepreneurial activities
through support of applied research and development of the
science to assure society that the bio-economy based on
agricultural feedstocks is both sustainable and critical to the
fight against climate change
LU What advice would you give someone looking to start a
bio-based business
SM Start with a solid business plan that clearly identified the
value proposition and can show profitability without relying on
long term government incentives I think that government has
an important role to de-risk early stage commercialization but
businesses must be able to show a path to successful commercial
independence
LU And finallyhellip whatrsquos your favourite sustainable bio-based
product
SM I do not have a favourite The petrochemical industry
succeeded based on leveraging all of the products in the barrel of
oil I see the bio-economy in the same way We need to valorize
all of the products in the truckload of biomass It is only through
leveraging sugars lignin renewable natural gas and the bio-
products produced from them that we can successfully build a
vibrant bio-economy n
ldquoTHE PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRY SUCCEEDED BASED ON LEVERAGING ALL OF THE PRODUCTS IN THE BARREL OF OIL I SEE THE BIO-ECONOMY IN THE SAME WAYrdquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 21
Veolia and Tetra Pak team up to launch beverage carton recycling partnershipldquoWith this partnership we are combining our respective areas of expertise to find
sustainable solutions for PolyAl recyclingrdquo
Packaging giant Tetra Pak and resource management company Veolia have
announced what they call a ldquogame-changingrdquo partnership that will enable all
components of used beverage cartons collected within the EU to be recycled by 2025
The cartons collected will be turned into high-value secondary materials The average
beverage carton comprises around 75 paperboard 20 plastic and 5 aluminium
foil However while the fibres recovered during recycling have a healthy market when
converted into high-quality paper pulp for use in both industrial and consumer
products the same is not true for the recovered polymer and aluminium (PolyAl) mix
Croda officially launches new 100 bio-based surfactants ldquoWe are pleased to be able to offer such a
wide range of 100 bio-based and 100
renewable ingredients to meet the needs
of formulators and companies seeking to
deliver more sustainable optionsrdquo
Speciality chemicals company Croda
International has announced the official
launch and certification of its ECO range of
bio-based surfactants - ingredients designed
to meet increasing market demand for
sustainable high-performance ingredient
options With a vast product range that
includes everything from agrochemicals
building and construction materials and
adhesives to pharmaceuticals dietary
supplements and food and feedstocks
Croda is a company with a portfolio of
sustainable ingredients that are used by
small niche consumer markets as well as
much larger specialist industrial ones
Thyssenkrupp-commissioned bio-plastic plant starts production in ChinaldquoThe bio-plastics market will continue to grow in the coming years
not least due to the increasing environmental awareness of industry
governments and consumersrdquo
German industrial systems supplier Thyssenkrupp has recently
announced that the worldrsquos first commercial plant based on the
companyrsquos patented manufacturing process for bio-plastic polylactide
(PLA) called PLAneo has started production in Changchun China
The new plant is operated by the Jilin COFCO Biomaterial Corporation
a subsidiary of COFCO Chinarsquos largest food and agriculture group and
producer of edible oils and oilseeds
BIO-BASED WORLD NEWS IN BRIEF
5BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM
Multinational food-products giant Danone have
announced a series of initiatives to make its
packaging 100 circular and to accelerate
towards this being a standard for the industry
This includes initiatives to improve product design
and develop alternative delivery and reuse models investments to
develop effective efficient and inclusive systems for increased
collection and recycling to boost recycling and actions to
preserve natural resources by reintegrating recycled materials
into our packaging and developing use of renewable materials
Emmanuel Faber Chairman and CEO of Danone said ldquoWe
believe the time is now to step up and accelerate embrace our
responsibility and work with others to engage a radical shift that
will help free the world from packaging waste We will be acting
both at global and local level to ensure circularity of packaging
becomes the new norm Today we are announcing a series
of investments and commitments that - I believe - will have a
concrete impact These will be amplified as we collaborate with
industry-peers governments NGOs start-ups and the finance
sector harness new technologies and invest in new solutionsrdquo
Danone will accelerate transition towards circular economy of
packaging in three ways
1 PACKAGING DESIGNED FOR CIRCULARITY
Danone ( Danone ) commits to ensure that all its packaging
is designed to be 100 recyclable reusable or compostable by
2025 Moreover the company will develop alternative delivery
models or new reuse models where relevant and take action to
eliminate problematic or unnecessary plastic packaging
Already 86 of our packaging is recyclable reusable or
compostable and 50 of our water volumes are sold in reusable
jugs Their evian bottles are already 100 recyclable and Danone
have also piloted an innovation to eliminate non-recyclable
shrink film for multi-packs using specially designed adhesive
and tape handles Along with many other brands they are also
assessing alternatives to plastic straws through a pilot program to
be launched in 2019 with their AQUA brand in Indonesia
2 REUSED RECYCLED AND COMPOSTED IN PRACTICE
Danone recognizes that design wonrsquot be enough to make
its packaging fully circular Effective collection and recycling
systems are essential to ensuring packaging is recycled reused or
composted in practice
To help meet or go beyond
the collection targets set by
regulators such as the minimum
90 collection target for beverage
bottles expected to be set in
the EU for 2025 Danone will
support the most effective publicly
organized collection and recycling
systems including Extended
Producer Responsibility and
Deposit Return Scheme systems
when relevant
They will also invest in private initiatives that strengthen circular
infrastructure especially in countries where formal systems are
absent or in development or where there is a high risk of leakage
into the environment By 2025 Danone are aiming to have
initiated or supported collection and recycling initiatives in every
one of our top 20 markets (representing around 90 of sales)
3 PRESERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES
Danone use 14 of recycled PET on average in their water and
other beverage bottles by 2025 we will increase this amount to
50 The evian brand already contains 30 recycled plastic (rPET)
on average and intends to reach 100 by 2025 Their first 100
recycled PET bottle with the Lanjaron Red natural mineral water
brand in Spain and additional 100 recycled PET bottles reaching
all major water markets by 2021
In addition to these three tenets Danone are pushing the
message that collaboration is the cornerstone of success when
it comes to circular economy as we detailed in September They
have joined a global commitment led by the Ellen MacArthur
Foundation in collaboration with UN Environment Program
other businesses NGOs and governments to address plastic
waste and pollution
Dame Ellen MacArthur founder of the Ellen MacArthur
Foundation (circulareconomy) declared ldquoBy looking at the
whole system from product design to developing new reuse
models and collaborating with others these commitments
set Danone up to take important steps towards circularity
Commitments like those announced today can help drive the
global momentum needed to create a circular economy for
plastics that stops them from becoming waste and pollution
Now is the time to make it happenrdquo n
RECYCLED REUSED OR COMPOSTED - DANONE ANNOUNCE TRIO OF ACTIONS TO BE FULLY CIRCULAR BY 2025
FEATURE
6 BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM
l ightmyf i re com
Shakethe habit
BRING YOUR OWN
F O O D F R I E N D LYA N D B PA F R E E
M A D E I NS W E D E N
Disposable plastic bags disposable flatware disposable cups disposable wellalmost anything Things that can only be used once donacutet belong in a sustainableworld Shake the habit ndash bring your own
ReKitTM ndash Bring-along-friendly reusablekit for sips bites and drinks on the go
Now one project SWEETWOODS made up of
nine European companies all of whom have
wondered more about trees and their potential
is to begin producing wood-based biomaterials
for the first time on an industrial scale
This unique euro43 million bio-economy project funded by
the Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI JU) is now
underway with its key aim of developing a first-of-its-kind
bio-fractionation flagship plant in Estonia to turn sustainable
hardwood residues into high purity intermediate building blocks
of cellulosic sugars and high-quality lignin
To learn more about this project that has such huge potential
Bio-Based World Newsrsquo Luke Upton spoke exclusively to two
members of the consortium Matti Heikkilauml CTO of Finlandrsquos
pioneering enzyme technology company MetGen and Peep Pitk
RampD Manager of Europersquos largest pellet producer Graanul Invest
that is building up the wood fractionation flagship plant in Estonia
Matti tells more about the origins of the project ldquoThe concept
began around five years ago We knew about the potential of
wood that much more could be done with it and that a concept
of biorefining could transform hardwood into higher added value
products Most of the solutions and technologies to make this
happen were ready to be commercialised but we just needed to
match up the skills and partners to make the concept a realityrdquo
For Peep the opportunities of the partnership are clear ldquoThis
project really is a gamechangerrdquo He explains that it is outdated
understanding that the only way to valorise technological wood
is via highly resource demanding chemical pulping processes
The wood fractionation concept that we are working on can offer
PROJECT FOCUS CREATING HIGH PURITY LIGNIN AND AFFORDABLE PLATFORM CHEMICALS FROM WOOD-BASED SUGARSTHE AUTHOR AND POET RALPH WALDO EMERSON NO STRANGER TO THE BEAUTY OF THE NATURAL WORLD FAMOUSLY SAID THAT ldquoTHE WONDER IS THAT WE CAN SEE THESE TREES AND NOT WONDER MORErdquo SO MUCH OF OUR WORLD HAS ITS ROOTS IN OUR TREES FROM CLOTHES AND FURNITURE TO FOOD AND PAPER
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM8
FEATURE
so much more by converting over 90 of wood into useful high
value products with small ecological footprint
What is clear through the conversation with Matti and Peep is the
clarity of the SWEETWOODS vision Unlike some other projects
that pass through the bio-economy the goal and commercial
potential of the offering has been clear from the outset The
consortium powering the project connects all the links in the
value chain and covers the entire material process
By fractionating the wood into pure sugars and lignin it becomes
possible to further refine the material into high added value
products that can be used to replace oil-based chemicals and
plastics New bio-based consumer products including sports
mats insulation panels and replacements for plastics are just
some of the items mentioned in our discussion
Alongside MetGen and AS Graanul Invest the seven other
members of the European wide consortium are Tecnaro
Gesellschaft zur industriellen Anwendung Nachwachsender
Rohstoffe MBH (Germany) Ultima GMBH (Germany) Recticel
NV (Belgium) Global Bioenergies (France) 2B Srl (Italy) Vertech
Group (France) and Spinverse OY (Finland)
There has been a ldquospirit of collaborationrdquo among the partners
from the very start states Peep but the project has also
been greatly supported by the Bio-based Industries Joint
Undertaking (BBI JU) a public-private partnership between
the EU and the Bio-Based Industries Consortium (BIC) focused
on developing the European bio-based economy ldquoItrsquos been
very important to have had BBI-JU in supporting us They
have gathered industry expertees and offer a long-term
experienced view of what is required to build a successful bio-
economy consortium that can deliver a commercial successrdquo
says Matti ldquoWithout them it would have been far harder to
forge this alliancerdquo added Peep
The next steps for the project are to build the flagship plant
in Estonia to demonstrate its viability at industrial scale But
obviously there are still opportunities to take advantage of this
innovative projectrsquos outcomes ldquoWe are very much open for
discussions and open for business And by partnering now you
could still become an early adopter of the novel biomaterials in
diversity of end-use cases We believe this project will change the
way the wood industry is perceivedrdquo Matti concludes
To read more about the SWEETWOODS Project click here For
industrially representative lignin and sugars samples contact Peep Pitk
PeepPitkgraanulinvestcom For technology licensing opportunities
and modified lignin samples contact Mattimetgencom n
ldquoWE ARE VERY MUCH OPEN FOR DISCUSSIONS AND OPEN FOR BUSINESS AND BY PARTNERING NOW YOU COULD STILL BECOME AN EARLY ADOPTER OF THE NOVEL BIOMATERIALS IN DIVERSITY OF END-USE CASESrdquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 9
THE GREEN REVOLUTION WILL BE BLUE HARVESTING ALGAE FOR THE BIO-ECONOMY
When you think of algae what do you think of For
most people the thought of algae conjures up
images of a murky-looking pond However algae
are one of the largest unexploited resources on our
planet In fact the worldrsquos ocean could harbour up
to 1 million species depending on who you believe But we have just
barely begun to harvest and cultivate algae for mankindrsquos benefit
Algae are not just green stuff in the sea they are complex aquatic
organisms that have the ability to conduct photosynthesis
Algae have been used by human beings for a long time However
the number of companies developing algae-based biofuels
swelled in the 2000s as oil prices rose and supportive policies
were established for next-generation biofuels Yet when the
oil price dropped to record low levels in 2014 to under $35 per
barrel a lot of companies went bust backed away or shifted their
interests towards higher value markets such as health foods
beauty and personal care products and animal feed The use
of algae for applications in the nutraceutical chemicals and
cosmetic markets is growing in a world where companies are
increasingly seeking alternatives to fossil fuel-based products As
a result of this algae have come under the spotlight once again
However the industry has only industrialised a dozen or so of the
many variety of algae species so the opportunities are endless
HIGHLY-VALUED RESOURCE
So what opportunities exist By far the largest market for algae
commercialisation is the nutraceutical and animal feed sector
Today algae nutraceuticals generate around $05bn in revenue
annually according to Bloomberg In fact the most valuable
products made from algae today are human nutraceuticals such
as Omega 3 oils They can be sold in capsules in health stores or
added to food and drink products to enhance their offering
Algae-based food is big business In Asia macroalgae - also
known as seaweed is a highly valued resource with more
than 30 million tonnes farmed annually making it one of the
largest biomasses harvested from the oceans according to Jon
Funderud CEO at Norway-based Seaweed Energy Solutions
He says that more than half of this volume goes directly to human
consumption as healthy ldquosea vegetablesrdquo while the remainder
has various industrial uses such as for bioplastics animal feed or
fertilisers In Europe seaweeds are virtually unexploited but have
in recent years received a surge in interest both as a new super
food and for their potential as a bioenergy crop
However there has been no serious industrial efforts at large-
scale macroalgae farming because there has been no ldquooff the
shelfrdquo farming technology available Funderud says He says
the vast majority of seaweed farms in Asia are based on very
labour-intensive and low tech means with no real potential
for technology transfer to ldquohigh-cost countriesrdquo In Europe
the seaweed farming industry is still at pilot scale where the
production cost is still really expensive
Seaweed farming is not the only way to address feeding the
worldrsquos growing population Microalgae small microscopic aquatic
photosynthetic plants that require the aid of a microscope to be
seen can also do the job Ingmar Hoslashgoslashy chairman of Norway-
based microalgae technology company AlgaePro says that
microalgae can also provide food security and provide an alternative
to dairy and meat-based foods Matt Carr executive director of US
Algae Biomass Organisation concurs with Hoslashgoslashy and says that
algae used for nutraceutical sector and animal feed will drive growth
for the sector which in turn will help to produce more large-scale
production facilities and a variety of different production methods
BY LIZ GYEKYE
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM10
FEATURE
Unique production methods are already being utilised Scotland-
based biotechnology company ScotBio is just one firm doing just
this and has been successful in commercialising its natural blue
food colourant that is suitable for sweets ice cream and drinks
It was founded in 2007 and is based on the findings of PhD
student Chelsea Brain who found that a specific type of red light
increased the production of phycocyanin (natural blue pigment)
in microalgae spirulina
CEO DC Van Alstyne says the research that is happening in the UK
is ground-breaking on many fronts but many companies in the UK
have difficulty commercialising their innovations compared to the
US because the US academics tend to get more financial support
NOT JUST FOOD
In the US one company that is making waves in the algae-based
material space is California-based biotechnology company
Checkerspot The company is engineering microalgae to bring
high-performance materials to the market Checkerspot ferments
a class of sugar-eating microalgae called trebouxiophyceae
which swell with fat The company uses genetic engineering and
classical strain improvement to coax the algae to produce useful
triglycerides It is using this feedstock to create the foam used
in surfboards and is also working on creating water-repellent
coating for outdoor apparel
Another US company that is focusing on algae is oil giant Exxon
Mobil It is working with Synthetic Genomic to conduct a large
trial to engineer algae streams in outdoor settings to produce
biofuels In fact today most algae are grown outdoors in open
pods In contrast microalgae can be grown in lab with the help
of photobioreactors (a bioreactor that utilises a light source to
cultivate phototrophic microorganisms) and steel tanks
Yet environmental critics would question whether it was right
to genetically engineer these microorganisms for the good of
mankind Carr says ldquoUsing everything that we have already
learned in terms of containment researchers have designed
outdoor settings to ensure that they canrsquot produce the kinds of
negative environmental effects that some may fear You can do
that by engineering the organisms so that they canrsquot survive in
natural settingsrdquo
He says that algae producers in the US have been working with
the US Environmental Protection Agency to ensure that they are
designing systems that will not result in any kind of attack on the
broader eco system
In relation to the eco system waste wastewater treatment is
emerging as really important trend for algae Algae can be added
to wastewater or sewage to clean the water Carole Llewellyn
associate professor in applied aquatic bioscience at Swansea
University says algae can effectively capture and degrade
nitrogen and phosphorus in domestic wastewater and clear up
metals in mine wastewater streams
All of this looks promising However as Llewellyn says
ldquoHarvesting microalgae on a large scale and economically is a
challenge It is less of a challenge where the end product is of
high value but for low-value commodities low-cost harvesting
remains a challenge Some species are naturally self-flocculating
We probably need to understand this process a bit betterrdquo
Yet with only around 12 algae species industrialised the next step will
be to map the algae genome according to Carr It really does seem
like the world needs to prepare itself for a blue-green revolution n
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 11
ldquoWBM was very valuable to me since it brought all actors along the value chain of the bio-based economy around several tables in panel discussions I hardly know any other conference with so many different industry players presentrdquoRaul Pires VP New Technologies Covestro
MEET THE PRODUCERS AND BRANDS INVESTING IN BIO-BASED SOLUTIONS
Visit wwwWorldBioMarketscom Follow us Bio_BasedWorld WBM19
1-3 April 2019 Passenger Terminal Amsterdam Amsterdam
14th Annual
Produced by
US-based chemical engineer Frances Arnold
(pictured) is one of three scientists who have this
month been awarded the 2018 Nobel Prize in
Chemistry She has won the prize for her work on
the ldquodirected evolution of enzymesrdquo which is a bioengineering
method for creating new and better enzymes in the laboratory
using the principles of evolution Enzymes produced through
directed evolution are used to manufacture everything from
biofuels to pharmaceuticals
Directed evolution works in the same way that breeders mate
cats or dogs to bring out desired traits To perform the method
scientists begin by inducing mutations to the DNA or gene that
encodes a particular enzyme
An assortment of thousands of mutated enzymes is produced
and then tested for a desired trait The top-performing enzymes
are selected and the process is repeated to further enhance the
enzymesrsquo performances For instance in 2009 Arnold and her
team based at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
engineered enzymes that break down cellulose the main
component of plant cell walls creating better catalysts for turning
agricultural wastes into fuels and chemicals
A number of additional enzymes produced through directed
evolution are now used for a host of products including biofuels
agricultural chemicals paper products and pharmaceuticals
Arnold and her colleagues have also used directed evolution
to persuade bacteria to make chemicals not found in nature
including molecules containing silicon-carbon or boron-
carbon bonds or bicyclobutanes which contain energy-
packed carbon rings
By using bacteria researchers can potentially make these
chemical compounds in ldquogreenerrdquo ways that are more
economical and produce less toxic waste
Arnold ( francesarnold ) was born on 25 July 1956 in Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania and arrived at Caltech as a visiting associate in 1986
and was named assistant professor in 1987 associate professor in
1992 and professor in 1996
Speaking about her Nobel prize Arnold said she was ldquoabsolutely
flooredrdquo to receive the award adding ldquoI have to wrap my head
around this Itrsquos not something I was expectingrdquo
ldquoMy entire career I have been concerned about the damage we
are doing to the planet and each otherrdquo Arnold said ldquoScience
and technology can play a major role in mitigating our negative
influences on the environment
Changing behaviour is even more important However I feel
that change is easier when there are good economically-viable
alternatives to harmful habitsrdquo n
NOBEL NOD FOR THE GREEN PIONEER BEHIND lsquoDIRECTED
EVOLUTION ENZYMESrsquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 13
FEATURE
BRANDS A PRAGMATIC APPROACH TO BIO-BASED CHEMICALSCHRISTOPHE SCHILLING CEO GENOMATICA
The brands I speak with have well-crafted
plans for advancing the sustainability of their
products These address choosing materials
for recyclability considering end-of-life
reuse energy consumption during
production packaging and community-related issues
consistent with the United Nationsrsquo Sustainable
Development Goals
I was particularly energized by my conversations at the
VERGE18 conference where I was asked to be a discussion
leader at the Circular Plastics Summit co-led by the Ellen
MacArthur Foundation (I encourage you to read their New
Plastics Economy and Make Fashion Circular reports)
Increasingly brands are seeing the opportunity to improve
sustainability through increased use of renewably-sourced
materials This approach is part of a broader set of initiatives
to increase circularity in a range of global material flows
Although these approaches offer compelling benefits
making them happen can be challenging In this article Irsquod
like to share some ideas for tangible near-term actions that
emerged from my recent discussions as they apply to bio-
based chemicals
ONE KEY LEARNING CLOSER IS BETTER
Wersquove found that brands are more energized to act when
key chemicals are ldquocloserrdquo to their end products in the
sense of making up a substantial portion of the end
product A great example is nylon where the key chemical
caprolactam is only one step away from conversion to
nylon Genomatica is developing technology for bio-based
caprolactam which is then made into 100 bio-based
nylon-6 for apparel and carpet we announced Aquafil as
a partner in early 2018 Brands appreciate that moving to
100 bio-based nylon could allow them to have a major
impact on the sustainability of their products and on their
market differentiation
To make that happen only one chemical needs to be made
renewably This announcement was followed by Project
EFFECTIVE which aims to commercialize better fibers and
plastics and includes four major brands ndash HampM Vaude Carvico
and Balsan EFFECTIVE supported by the EUrsquos Horizon2020
program will use Genomaticarsquos caprolactam technology as
well as technology for the first bio-based chemical delivered
by Genomatica for 14-butanediol (BDO) to enable higher
renewable content in polyesters and polyurethanes
Two more examples are instructive First Genomatica has
also commercialized its Brontidetrade bio-based butylene glycol
Itrsquos certainly close to the customer as itrsquos used directly in
personal care and cosmetics products As a result
Brontide has resonated with major brands that
emphasize naturalness and purity Second is
Genomaticarsquos aforementioned BDO At
first glance BDO is a few conversion
ldquoWHEN BRANDS ARE LOOKING FOR NEAR-TERM IMPACT THEY NEED A BIO-BASED TECHNOLOGY THAT REALLY WORKSrdquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM14
FEATURE
steps away from most products But brands that look deeper have
realized they can quickly improve the sustainability of polymers
used in common urethane foams (for example) by replacing just
the BDO part with a bio-based version That wonrsquot take the product
to 100 but it allows for a fast improvement through better
understanding of where a productrsquos ingredients come from
ANOTHER IT HAS TO WORK
When brands are looking for near-term impact they need a bio-
based technology that really works That means it can be produced
at commercial scale today with competitive economics Tangible
examples like bio-based BDO and Brontide deliver immediate
opportunities and build confidence that the technology side of
our industry can deliver further innovations A recent example is
Novamontrsquos production of compostable biodegradable plastics
in Italy using bio-based BDO Their plant with a 30000 ton per
year capacity has helped revitalize the local economy providing
a market for farmersrsquo products plus the refurbishing of an older
industrial facility creating many jobs Novamont has secured
multiple well-known brands as customers including UK retailer
Co-op which will replace 180 million bags As brands see
biotechnology deliver at scale many want to learn whatrsquos next
WHAT BRANDS CAN DO NOW
To see how bio-based chemicals can fit your sustainability
strategy we recommend the following
bull Increase internal awareness and understanding This starts
with a deeper understanding of where your key production
inputs come from and how they are made When coupled
with greater exposure to what biotechnology can do it helps
prioritize what parts of your supply chain can be improved
Leverage outside expertise ndash invite biotech firms to share
what they know and do
bull Involve your upstream chemical and material suppliers
Give them updated requirements tied to your sustainability
objectives Encourage them to have direct discussions with
the biotechnology firms and biochemical producers that
expand their options and fit your needs
bull Be clear about your shopping list and priorities This allows
biotechnology firms and chemicalmaterial producers to
provide feedback and look for areas of overlap
bull Send tangible market signals If suppliers know yoursquore serious
about moving to more sustainable ingredients and process
technologies theyrsquoll pay attention This can tie directly to your
Corporate Sustainability Reporting and objectives
bull Publicise and celebrate your choices Let your customers
know about your process for improving and milestones along
the way Press releases speaking at conferences blogs and
tweets can all be effective
bull Get ldquoinside the tentrdquo with preferred partners Some of your
technology or supply chain partners can share more insights
or have a greater impact on your results Invest in ideation and
exploration if needed Close partnerships can help you influence
their priorities or gain early access to advantaged ingredients n
Irsquoll be a speaker at World Bio Markets in April Contact
me directly at cschillinggenomaticacom if yoursquod like
to discuss your companyrsquos vision and needs sooner
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 15
Yes thatrsquos us down there Yes you know us as a prime tourist destination and a business service hub But did you know that in the port of Amsterdam we have one of Europersquos largest biorefinery clustersThe port also has reliable infrastructure logistics providers and terminals utilities feedstock and markets literally at spitting distance Schiphol Airport is as you know just around the corner We reserved space for your business to grow Biopark Amsterdam So consider Amsterdam you are more than welcome to join us Discover our success stories on portofamsterdamcom
The greatest port you never thought of
Considered Amsterdam
In our industry where explaining the benefits of a
product can sometimes be a challenge a good
boost was received this week A familiar name to
most of our readers the Brazilian chemicals
company Braskem producers of Irsquom green ndash a
bio-based polyethylene made from sugarcane ndash has had its
negative carbon footprint credentials strengthened thanks to an
independent review The assessment was carried out by the
Carbon Trust an international organisation that helps businesses
governments and the public sector to accelerate the move to a
more sustainable low carbon economy And the result is that
Braskemrsquos bio-based plastic as used by LEGO (pictured above)
among others is effectively carbon-negative
In a new report comparing Irsquom green with fossil-based equivalents
the Carbon Trust has endorsed the methodology used by Braskem
to support claims that for every tonne of Irsquom green produced the
equivalent of around 3 tonnes of CO2 are locked away by the
sugarcane which provides the main raw material for its manufacture
Capturing CO2 during its lifecycle Irsquom green avoids emissions
related to the production of fossil fuel feedstock thereby
providing a net saving of the equivalent of around 5 tonnes of
CO2sup1 by the end of the plastic manufacturing process
Irsquom green is 100 recyclable plastic currently being used in a
range of applications from food packaging to personal care
products as well as more durable goods such as chairs and vases
Brand owners are increasingly responding to climate change
by reducing their carbon footprint which requires investment
in more efficient processes and using innovative renewable
materials Braskemrsquos Irsquom green is made from a renewable
feedstock and can make a significant contribution to reduce
carbon emissions
John Newton Associated Director at the Carbon Trust said ldquoTo
address climate change we will need innovative materials that
are radically lower in emissions compared to what is commonly
used today Products like Irsquom green which help lock away carbon
emissions in their production can be a real part of the solutionrdquo
Marco Jansen Commercial Director Renewable Chemicals at
Braskem said ldquoWersquore delighted that credible association Carbon
Trust further validates our calculations of Irsquom greenrsquos carbon
footprint Our customers know Irsquom green polyethylene is a smart
and sustainable way to reduce a productrsquos carbon footprint and we
hope more brands will use it as a renewable solution in the futurerdquo
This news will no doubt have been welcomed by LEGO too as
Braskem will supply the LEGO Group with Irsquom green as it makes
it switch to bio-based bricks Already in 2018 Green Plastic has
been used in the lsquobotanicalrsquo elements range such as trees bushes
and leaves that sold quickly once released
The LCA Summary is available here A one-page statement is
available here n
ITrsquoS OFFICIAL BRASKEMrsquoS CARBON-NEGATIVE
CLAIMS FOR ITS BIO-BASED PLASTIC ARE APPROVED
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 17
ldquo IT IS THE WAY TO STEP FORWARD TO AN EARTH-FRIENDLY SOLUTION REDUCING PETROLEUM BASED MATERIALSrdquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM18
FEATURE
BIO-BASED A POSSIBLE SOLUTION
TO MASTERCARDrsquoS SEARCH FOR MORE
SUSTAINABLE BANK CARDS
For many years the idea of going green with your
credit or debit card payments was limited to
buying sustainable products donating to
charities or paying for carbon offsets But now a
new alliance is aiming to green the card itself as
part of a wider array of actions a broader part of the payments
industry Global payment giants Mastercard and card
manufacturers Gemalto Giesecke+Devrient and IDEMIA have
this month launched the Greener Payments Partnership to
establish environmental best practices and reduce first-use PVC
plastic in card manufacturing Roughly six billion plastic payment
cards are made each year according to The Nilson Report
While Mastercard analysis shows that this is less than 0015
percent of the volume of plastic manufactured each year there
is room to improve that through the use of alternative materials
ldquoConsumers are increasingly moving from cash to card as they
look for greater security and sustainabilityrdquo commented Ajay
Bhalla president cyber and intelligence solutions Mastercard
( MastercardNews ) ldquoThis partnership will help us and our
industry reduce first-use plastic in cards Together we can
build on recent research and tests and drive adoption of
environmentally-friendly materials on a larger scalerdquo
Research and analysis into recyclable bio-sourced and bio-
degradable materials is already underway and now included in
this remit The partnership commits to accelerating that research
with the goal of delivering globally available solutions to reduce
first-use PVC plastic in card manufacturing in a matter of years
ldquoResponsible use of natural resources and protection of our
climate and environment are core elements of G+Drsquos Corporate
Responsibility policy We are committed to ensuring that our
entire value chain is sustainable and to continuously reducing
our ecological footprint As a participant of the Greener Payment
Partnership we work on the standardization of bio-sourced
materials in payment cards It is the way to step forward to an
earth-friendly solution reducing petroleum based materialsrdquo
says Gabrielle Bugat Head of the Financial Services Division at
Giesecke+Devrient Mobile Security
The group will also ensure best practices around how materials
are evaluated including environmental impact benefits and the
ability to meet increasing consumer concerns around the impact
of plastic globally
ldquoItrsquos no secret that we all need to change the way we live and
consume to reduce the impact wersquore having on our planet For
IDEMIA itrsquos essential as an industrial leader to effect change
for the better and play our part to reduce for instance our
reliance on plasticrdquo said Pierre Barrial executive vice president
for financial institutions activities at IDEMIA ( IdemiaGroup )
ldquoWersquore delighted to partner with Mastercard to deliver viable
environmentally friendly alternatives that bring positive change
to the industry as a wholerdquo
ldquoEnvironmental-friendly products are now a priority for all
stakeholders in the payment eco-systemrdquo says Sylvie Gibert
senior vice president of payment cards Gemalto ldquoWe are
committed to supporting this partnership formed by Mastercard
and we have already adopted sustainable practices in our
banking card business This initiative comes at a time where we
see a growing interest from the banks for greener cardsrdquo
This is no the first foray into bio-materials for Mastercard in
2016 they partnered with the Finnish Bank of Aringland WWF
Finland KPMG and Gemalto to create a credit card made of
renewable and biodegradable materials n
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 19
We regularly feature stories emerging from Canada
whether itrsquos about a new way to harness the
nations huge amounts of harvestable biomass
the commercialization of an innovation emerging
from one of their many illustrious university
laboratories or the growth in popularity of a bio-based product
for an increasingly environmentally aware population
So in order to learn more about one of the worldrsquos most vibrant
bio-economies our editor Luke Upton recently sat down with
Sandy Marshall the Executive Director of Bioindustrial Innovation
Canada a not-for-profit organisation focussed on catalysing the
further commercialisation of the bio-economy In a wide ranging
discussion they looked at how agriculture can better connect
with the bio-economy advice on starting a business and what
makes Canada so strong in this area
Luke Upton (LU) Thanks for the time today so as an
introduction ndash whatrsquos been your personal path to becoming
executive director of Bioindustrial Innovation Canada
Sandy Marshall (SM) I was raised on a farm near Blyth
Ontario Canada before graduating with Bachelor of Applied
Science Degree (BASc) and Masters of Applied Science Degree
(MASc) in Chemical Engineering from the University of Waterloo
I started my professional career in 1984 with Polysar Inc a
Canadian rubber manufacturer Over my 30 year career in
the chemical and polymers industry I worked in research and
process product development and market development before
moving into Operations and General Management I had two
international assignment one with Bayer AG in Germany and a
second with Lanxess in Cincinnati USA I finished my corporate
career as President and Managing Director responsible for
Canadian Operations of Lanxess Canada I have been recognized
as a leader committed to Corporate Social Responsibility and
environmental sustainability in Canada
I am very interested in sustainable chemistry and have been an
active Board member for Bioindustrial Innovation Canada (BIC)
from its inception in 2008 After I left Lanxess in 2013 I began
consulting in this space At that time I also took over the role of
Chairman of the BIC Board and worked very closely with Murray
McLaughlin Executive Director BIC In 2016 Murray McLaughlin
chose to step back as Executive Director and I was hired as his
replacement It is exciting to be back in a leadership role for an
organization with an inspiring vision and mission
LU For our readers who are unfamiliar with BIC could you
explain a little about the organisation and its aims
SM BIC is a nationally focused not-for-profit organization
based in Sarnia Ontario BICrsquos vision is to create jobs and
economic value sustainably for Canada BICrsquos mission is to
provide critical strategic investment advice and services to
THE LAST WORD WITHhellip SANDY MARSHALL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BIOINDUSTRIAL INNOVATION CANADA
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM20
FEATURE
business developers of clean green and sustainable technologies
Our expertise in commercialization builds a stronger Canada BIC
is focused on enabling Ontario and Canada to become globally
recognized leaders in converting renewable resources such as
agricultural and forestry by-products and residues into value-
added bioenergy biofuel biochemical and biomaterials for use
in a wide range of commercial applications along the chemistry
value chain to advanced manufacturing
LU BIC has worked with a number of companies is there a
particular project of which you are most proud
SM In 2012 BIC together with community leaders in Agriculture
embarked on a project to identify whether the Sarnia-Lambton
region could develop a source of cellulosic sugars using a biomass
supply chain based on agricultural residues BIC lead this project
with the support of numerous companies and government agencies
which lead to the formation of the Cellulosic Sugar Producers
Cooperative and identified Comet Bio as a viable technology
provider Currently these companies are partnering to establish the
worldrsquos first commercial cellulosic glucose sugar supply chain
LU What makes Canada a good home for a bio-based innovation
SM Canada is a vast country which is blessed with enormous
quantities of sustainably harvestable biomass both from forestry
and agriculture The access to raw materials is critical for the
success of any business venture Furthermore Canada is known
for its strong innovation capacity and its collaborative work
culture Together these attributes make Canada an ideal home of
the bio-based economy
LU What can agriculture do to better connect with bio-based
chemical and bio-based product manufactures
SM Agriculture needs to take a leadership role in the bio-
economy There has been a good start here in Canada It is
critical that the question about the availability of sustainably
harvestable biomass is answered through good science to allow
the industry to grow and leverage Canadarsquos great potential
Producers can also promote the bio-economy as an
opportunity to diversify their business models Generating
revenue through feedstock sales to bio-based chemical and
product producers or through participation as business partners
and investors in these ventures can be very beneficial in
reducing risk for all participants in the bio-economy
Government can support these entrepreneurial activities
through support of applied research and development of the
science to assure society that the bio-economy based on
agricultural feedstocks is both sustainable and critical to the
fight against climate change
LU What advice would you give someone looking to start a
bio-based business
SM Start with a solid business plan that clearly identified the
value proposition and can show profitability without relying on
long term government incentives I think that government has
an important role to de-risk early stage commercialization but
businesses must be able to show a path to successful commercial
independence
LU And finallyhellip whatrsquos your favourite sustainable bio-based
product
SM I do not have a favourite The petrochemical industry
succeeded based on leveraging all of the products in the barrel of
oil I see the bio-economy in the same way We need to valorize
all of the products in the truckload of biomass It is only through
leveraging sugars lignin renewable natural gas and the bio-
products produced from them that we can successfully build a
vibrant bio-economy n
ldquoTHE PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRY SUCCEEDED BASED ON LEVERAGING ALL OF THE PRODUCTS IN THE BARREL OF OIL I SEE THE BIO-ECONOMY IN THE SAME WAYrdquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 21
Multinational food-products giant Danone have
announced a series of initiatives to make its
packaging 100 circular and to accelerate
towards this being a standard for the industry
This includes initiatives to improve product design
and develop alternative delivery and reuse models investments to
develop effective efficient and inclusive systems for increased
collection and recycling to boost recycling and actions to
preserve natural resources by reintegrating recycled materials
into our packaging and developing use of renewable materials
Emmanuel Faber Chairman and CEO of Danone said ldquoWe
believe the time is now to step up and accelerate embrace our
responsibility and work with others to engage a radical shift that
will help free the world from packaging waste We will be acting
both at global and local level to ensure circularity of packaging
becomes the new norm Today we are announcing a series
of investments and commitments that - I believe - will have a
concrete impact These will be amplified as we collaborate with
industry-peers governments NGOs start-ups and the finance
sector harness new technologies and invest in new solutionsrdquo
Danone will accelerate transition towards circular economy of
packaging in three ways
1 PACKAGING DESIGNED FOR CIRCULARITY
Danone ( Danone ) commits to ensure that all its packaging
is designed to be 100 recyclable reusable or compostable by
2025 Moreover the company will develop alternative delivery
models or new reuse models where relevant and take action to
eliminate problematic or unnecessary plastic packaging
Already 86 of our packaging is recyclable reusable or
compostable and 50 of our water volumes are sold in reusable
jugs Their evian bottles are already 100 recyclable and Danone
have also piloted an innovation to eliminate non-recyclable
shrink film for multi-packs using specially designed adhesive
and tape handles Along with many other brands they are also
assessing alternatives to plastic straws through a pilot program to
be launched in 2019 with their AQUA brand in Indonesia
2 REUSED RECYCLED AND COMPOSTED IN PRACTICE
Danone recognizes that design wonrsquot be enough to make
its packaging fully circular Effective collection and recycling
systems are essential to ensuring packaging is recycled reused or
composted in practice
To help meet or go beyond
the collection targets set by
regulators such as the minimum
90 collection target for beverage
bottles expected to be set in
the EU for 2025 Danone will
support the most effective publicly
organized collection and recycling
systems including Extended
Producer Responsibility and
Deposit Return Scheme systems
when relevant
They will also invest in private initiatives that strengthen circular
infrastructure especially in countries where formal systems are
absent or in development or where there is a high risk of leakage
into the environment By 2025 Danone are aiming to have
initiated or supported collection and recycling initiatives in every
one of our top 20 markets (representing around 90 of sales)
3 PRESERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES
Danone use 14 of recycled PET on average in their water and
other beverage bottles by 2025 we will increase this amount to
50 The evian brand already contains 30 recycled plastic (rPET)
on average and intends to reach 100 by 2025 Their first 100
recycled PET bottle with the Lanjaron Red natural mineral water
brand in Spain and additional 100 recycled PET bottles reaching
all major water markets by 2021
In addition to these three tenets Danone are pushing the
message that collaboration is the cornerstone of success when
it comes to circular economy as we detailed in September They
have joined a global commitment led by the Ellen MacArthur
Foundation in collaboration with UN Environment Program
other businesses NGOs and governments to address plastic
waste and pollution
Dame Ellen MacArthur founder of the Ellen MacArthur
Foundation (circulareconomy) declared ldquoBy looking at the
whole system from product design to developing new reuse
models and collaborating with others these commitments
set Danone up to take important steps towards circularity
Commitments like those announced today can help drive the
global momentum needed to create a circular economy for
plastics that stops them from becoming waste and pollution
Now is the time to make it happenrdquo n
RECYCLED REUSED OR COMPOSTED - DANONE ANNOUNCE TRIO OF ACTIONS TO BE FULLY CIRCULAR BY 2025
FEATURE
6 BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM
l ightmyf i re com
Shakethe habit
BRING YOUR OWN
F O O D F R I E N D LYA N D B PA F R E E
M A D E I NS W E D E N
Disposable plastic bags disposable flatware disposable cups disposable wellalmost anything Things that can only be used once donacutet belong in a sustainableworld Shake the habit ndash bring your own
ReKitTM ndash Bring-along-friendly reusablekit for sips bites and drinks on the go
Now one project SWEETWOODS made up of
nine European companies all of whom have
wondered more about trees and their potential
is to begin producing wood-based biomaterials
for the first time on an industrial scale
This unique euro43 million bio-economy project funded by
the Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI JU) is now
underway with its key aim of developing a first-of-its-kind
bio-fractionation flagship plant in Estonia to turn sustainable
hardwood residues into high purity intermediate building blocks
of cellulosic sugars and high-quality lignin
To learn more about this project that has such huge potential
Bio-Based World Newsrsquo Luke Upton spoke exclusively to two
members of the consortium Matti Heikkilauml CTO of Finlandrsquos
pioneering enzyme technology company MetGen and Peep Pitk
RampD Manager of Europersquos largest pellet producer Graanul Invest
that is building up the wood fractionation flagship plant in Estonia
Matti tells more about the origins of the project ldquoThe concept
began around five years ago We knew about the potential of
wood that much more could be done with it and that a concept
of biorefining could transform hardwood into higher added value
products Most of the solutions and technologies to make this
happen were ready to be commercialised but we just needed to
match up the skills and partners to make the concept a realityrdquo
For Peep the opportunities of the partnership are clear ldquoThis
project really is a gamechangerrdquo He explains that it is outdated
understanding that the only way to valorise technological wood
is via highly resource demanding chemical pulping processes
The wood fractionation concept that we are working on can offer
PROJECT FOCUS CREATING HIGH PURITY LIGNIN AND AFFORDABLE PLATFORM CHEMICALS FROM WOOD-BASED SUGARSTHE AUTHOR AND POET RALPH WALDO EMERSON NO STRANGER TO THE BEAUTY OF THE NATURAL WORLD FAMOUSLY SAID THAT ldquoTHE WONDER IS THAT WE CAN SEE THESE TREES AND NOT WONDER MORErdquo SO MUCH OF OUR WORLD HAS ITS ROOTS IN OUR TREES FROM CLOTHES AND FURNITURE TO FOOD AND PAPER
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM8
FEATURE
so much more by converting over 90 of wood into useful high
value products with small ecological footprint
What is clear through the conversation with Matti and Peep is the
clarity of the SWEETWOODS vision Unlike some other projects
that pass through the bio-economy the goal and commercial
potential of the offering has been clear from the outset The
consortium powering the project connects all the links in the
value chain and covers the entire material process
By fractionating the wood into pure sugars and lignin it becomes
possible to further refine the material into high added value
products that can be used to replace oil-based chemicals and
plastics New bio-based consumer products including sports
mats insulation panels and replacements for plastics are just
some of the items mentioned in our discussion
Alongside MetGen and AS Graanul Invest the seven other
members of the European wide consortium are Tecnaro
Gesellschaft zur industriellen Anwendung Nachwachsender
Rohstoffe MBH (Germany) Ultima GMBH (Germany) Recticel
NV (Belgium) Global Bioenergies (France) 2B Srl (Italy) Vertech
Group (France) and Spinverse OY (Finland)
There has been a ldquospirit of collaborationrdquo among the partners
from the very start states Peep but the project has also
been greatly supported by the Bio-based Industries Joint
Undertaking (BBI JU) a public-private partnership between
the EU and the Bio-Based Industries Consortium (BIC) focused
on developing the European bio-based economy ldquoItrsquos been
very important to have had BBI-JU in supporting us They
have gathered industry expertees and offer a long-term
experienced view of what is required to build a successful bio-
economy consortium that can deliver a commercial successrdquo
says Matti ldquoWithout them it would have been far harder to
forge this alliancerdquo added Peep
The next steps for the project are to build the flagship plant
in Estonia to demonstrate its viability at industrial scale But
obviously there are still opportunities to take advantage of this
innovative projectrsquos outcomes ldquoWe are very much open for
discussions and open for business And by partnering now you
could still become an early adopter of the novel biomaterials in
diversity of end-use cases We believe this project will change the
way the wood industry is perceivedrdquo Matti concludes
To read more about the SWEETWOODS Project click here For
industrially representative lignin and sugars samples contact Peep Pitk
PeepPitkgraanulinvestcom For technology licensing opportunities
and modified lignin samples contact Mattimetgencom n
ldquoWE ARE VERY MUCH OPEN FOR DISCUSSIONS AND OPEN FOR BUSINESS AND BY PARTNERING NOW YOU COULD STILL BECOME AN EARLY ADOPTER OF THE NOVEL BIOMATERIALS IN DIVERSITY OF END-USE CASESrdquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 9
THE GREEN REVOLUTION WILL BE BLUE HARVESTING ALGAE FOR THE BIO-ECONOMY
When you think of algae what do you think of For
most people the thought of algae conjures up
images of a murky-looking pond However algae
are one of the largest unexploited resources on our
planet In fact the worldrsquos ocean could harbour up
to 1 million species depending on who you believe But we have just
barely begun to harvest and cultivate algae for mankindrsquos benefit
Algae are not just green stuff in the sea they are complex aquatic
organisms that have the ability to conduct photosynthesis
Algae have been used by human beings for a long time However
the number of companies developing algae-based biofuels
swelled in the 2000s as oil prices rose and supportive policies
were established for next-generation biofuels Yet when the
oil price dropped to record low levels in 2014 to under $35 per
barrel a lot of companies went bust backed away or shifted their
interests towards higher value markets such as health foods
beauty and personal care products and animal feed The use
of algae for applications in the nutraceutical chemicals and
cosmetic markets is growing in a world where companies are
increasingly seeking alternatives to fossil fuel-based products As
a result of this algae have come under the spotlight once again
However the industry has only industrialised a dozen or so of the
many variety of algae species so the opportunities are endless
HIGHLY-VALUED RESOURCE
So what opportunities exist By far the largest market for algae
commercialisation is the nutraceutical and animal feed sector
Today algae nutraceuticals generate around $05bn in revenue
annually according to Bloomberg In fact the most valuable
products made from algae today are human nutraceuticals such
as Omega 3 oils They can be sold in capsules in health stores or
added to food and drink products to enhance their offering
Algae-based food is big business In Asia macroalgae - also
known as seaweed is a highly valued resource with more
than 30 million tonnes farmed annually making it one of the
largest biomasses harvested from the oceans according to Jon
Funderud CEO at Norway-based Seaweed Energy Solutions
He says that more than half of this volume goes directly to human
consumption as healthy ldquosea vegetablesrdquo while the remainder
has various industrial uses such as for bioplastics animal feed or
fertilisers In Europe seaweeds are virtually unexploited but have
in recent years received a surge in interest both as a new super
food and for their potential as a bioenergy crop
However there has been no serious industrial efforts at large-
scale macroalgae farming because there has been no ldquooff the
shelfrdquo farming technology available Funderud says He says
the vast majority of seaweed farms in Asia are based on very
labour-intensive and low tech means with no real potential
for technology transfer to ldquohigh-cost countriesrdquo In Europe
the seaweed farming industry is still at pilot scale where the
production cost is still really expensive
Seaweed farming is not the only way to address feeding the
worldrsquos growing population Microalgae small microscopic aquatic
photosynthetic plants that require the aid of a microscope to be
seen can also do the job Ingmar Hoslashgoslashy chairman of Norway-
based microalgae technology company AlgaePro says that
microalgae can also provide food security and provide an alternative
to dairy and meat-based foods Matt Carr executive director of US
Algae Biomass Organisation concurs with Hoslashgoslashy and says that
algae used for nutraceutical sector and animal feed will drive growth
for the sector which in turn will help to produce more large-scale
production facilities and a variety of different production methods
BY LIZ GYEKYE
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM10
FEATURE
Unique production methods are already being utilised Scotland-
based biotechnology company ScotBio is just one firm doing just
this and has been successful in commercialising its natural blue
food colourant that is suitable for sweets ice cream and drinks
It was founded in 2007 and is based on the findings of PhD
student Chelsea Brain who found that a specific type of red light
increased the production of phycocyanin (natural blue pigment)
in microalgae spirulina
CEO DC Van Alstyne says the research that is happening in the UK
is ground-breaking on many fronts but many companies in the UK
have difficulty commercialising their innovations compared to the
US because the US academics tend to get more financial support
NOT JUST FOOD
In the US one company that is making waves in the algae-based
material space is California-based biotechnology company
Checkerspot The company is engineering microalgae to bring
high-performance materials to the market Checkerspot ferments
a class of sugar-eating microalgae called trebouxiophyceae
which swell with fat The company uses genetic engineering and
classical strain improvement to coax the algae to produce useful
triglycerides It is using this feedstock to create the foam used
in surfboards and is also working on creating water-repellent
coating for outdoor apparel
Another US company that is focusing on algae is oil giant Exxon
Mobil It is working with Synthetic Genomic to conduct a large
trial to engineer algae streams in outdoor settings to produce
biofuels In fact today most algae are grown outdoors in open
pods In contrast microalgae can be grown in lab with the help
of photobioreactors (a bioreactor that utilises a light source to
cultivate phototrophic microorganisms) and steel tanks
Yet environmental critics would question whether it was right
to genetically engineer these microorganisms for the good of
mankind Carr says ldquoUsing everything that we have already
learned in terms of containment researchers have designed
outdoor settings to ensure that they canrsquot produce the kinds of
negative environmental effects that some may fear You can do
that by engineering the organisms so that they canrsquot survive in
natural settingsrdquo
He says that algae producers in the US have been working with
the US Environmental Protection Agency to ensure that they are
designing systems that will not result in any kind of attack on the
broader eco system
In relation to the eco system waste wastewater treatment is
emerging as really important trend for algae Algae can be added
to wastewater or sewage to clean the water Carole Llewellyn
associate professor in applied aquatic bioscience at Swansea
University says algae can effectively capture and degrade
nitrogen and phosphorus in domestic wastewater and clear up
metals in mine wastewater streams
All of this looks promising However as Llewellyn says
ldquoHarvesting microalgae on a large scale and economically is a
challenge It is less of a challenge where the end product is of
high value but for low-value commodities low-cost harvesting
remains a challenge Some species are naturally self-flocculating
We probably need to understand this process a bit betterrdquo
Yet with only around 12 algae species industrialised the next step will
be to map the algae genome according to Carr It really does seem
like the world needs to prepare itself for a blue-green revolution n
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 11
ldquoWBM was very valuable to me since it brought all actors along the value chain of the bio-based economy around several tables in panel discussions I hardly know any other conference with so many different industry players presentrdquoRaul Pires VP New Technologies Covestro
MEET THE PRODUCERS AND BRANDS INVESTING IN BIO-BASED SOLUTIONS
Visit wwwWorldBioMarketscom Follow us Bio_BasedWorld WBM19
1-3 April 2019 Passenger Terminal Amsterdam Amsterdam
14th Annual
Produced by
US-based chemical engineer Frances Arnold
(pictured) is one of three scientists who have this
month been awarded the 2018 Nobel Prize in
Chemistry She has won the prize for her work on
the ldquodirected evolution of enzymesrdquo which is a bioengineering
method for creating new and better enzymes in the laboratory
using the principles of evolution Enzymes produced through
directed evolution are used to manufacture everything from
biofuels to pharmaceuticals
Directed evolution works in the same way that breeders mate
cats or dogs to bring out desired traits To perform the method
scientists begin by inducing mutations to the DNA or gene that
encodes a particular enzyme
An assortment of thousands of mutated enzymes is produced
and then tested for a desired trait The top-performing enzymes
are selected and the process is repeated to further enhance the
enzymesrsquo performances For instance in 2009 Arnold and her
team based at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
engineered enzymes that break down cellulose the main
component of plant cell walls creating better catalysts for turning
agricultural wastes into fuels and chemicals
A number of additional enzymes produced through directed
evolution are now used for a host of products including biofuels
agricultural chemicals paper products and pharmaceuticals
Arnold and her colleagues have also used directed evolution
to persuade bacteria to make chemicals not found in nature
including molecules containing silicon-carbon or boron-
carbon bonds or bicyclobutanes which contain energy-
packed carbon rings
By using bacteria researchers can potentially make these
chemical compounds in ldquogreenerrdquo ways that are more
economical and produce less toxic waste
Arnold ( francesarnold ) was born on 25 July 1956 in Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania and arrived at Caltech as a visiting associate in 1986
and was named assistant professor in 1987 associate professor in
1992 and professor in 1996
Speaking about her Nobel prize Arnold said she was ldquoabsolutely
flooredrdquo to receive the award adding ldquoI have to wrap my head
around this Itrsquos not something I was expectingrdquo
ldquoMy entire career I have been concerned about the damage we
are doing to the planet and each otherrdquo Arnold said ldquoScience
and technology can play a major role in mitigating our negative
influences on the environment
Changing behaviour is even more important However I feel
that change is easier when there are good economically-viable
alternatives to harmful habitsrdquo n
NOBEL NOD FOR THE GREEN PIONEER BEHIND lsquoDIRECTED
EVOLUTION ENZYMESrsquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 13
FEATURE
BRANDS A PRAGMATIC APPROACH TO BIO-BASED CHEMICALSCHRISTOPHE SCHILLING CEO GENOMATICA
The brands I speak with have well-crafted
plans for advancing the sustainability of their
products These address choosing materials
for recyclability considering end-of-life
reuse energy consumption during
production packaging and community-related issues
consistent with the United Nationsrsquo Sustainable
Development Goals
I was particularly energized by my conversations at the
VERGE18 conference where I was asked to be a discussion
leader at the Circular Plastics Summit co-led by the Ellen
MacArthur Foundation (I encourage you to read their New
Plastics Economy and Make Fashion Circular reports)
Increasingly brands are seeing the opportunity to improve
sustainability through increased use of renewably-sourced
materials This approach is part of a broader set of initiatives
to increase circularity in a range of global material flows
Although these approaches offer compelling benefits
making them happen can be challenging In this article Irsquod
like to share some ideas for tangible near-term actions that
emerged from my recent discussions as they apply to bio-
based chemicals
ONE KEY LEARNING CLOSER IS BETTER
Wersquove found that brands are more energized to act when
key chemicals are ldquocloserrdquo to their end products in the
sense of making up a substantial portion of the end
product A great example is nylon where the key chemical
caprolactam is only one step away from conversion to
nylon Genomatica is developing technology for bio-based
caprolactam which is then made into 100 bio-based
nylon-6 for apparel and carpet we announced Aquafil as
a partner in early 2018 Brands appreciate that moving to
100 bio-based nylon could allow them to have a major
impact on the sustainability of their products and on their
market differentiation
To make that happen only one chemical needs to be made
renewably This announcement was followed by Project
EFFECTIVE which aims to commercialize better fibers and
plastics and includes four major brands ndash HampM Vaude Carvico
and Balsan EFFECTIVE supported by the EUrsquos Horizon2020
program will use Genomaticarsquos caprolactam technology as
well as technology for the first bio-based chemical delivered
by Genomatica for 14-butanediol (BDO) to enable higher
renewable content in polyesters and polyurethanes
Two more examples are instructive First Genomatica has
also commercialized its Brontidetrade bio-based butylene glycol
Itrsquos certainly close to the customer as itrsquos used directly in
personal care and cosmetics products As a result
Brontide has resonated with major brands that
emphasize naturalness and purity Second is
Genomaticarsquos aforementioned BDO At
first glance BDO is a few conversion
ldquoWHEN BRANDS ARE LOOKING FOR NEAR-TERM IMPACT THEY NEED A BIO-BASED TECHNOLOGY THAT REALLY WORKSrdquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM14
FEATURE
steps away from most products But brands that look deeper have
realized they can quickly improve the sustainability of polymers
used in common urethane foams (for example) by replacing just
the BDO part with a bio-based version That wonrsquot take the product
to 100 but it allows for a fast improvement through better
understanding of where a productrsquos ingredients come from
ANOTHER IT HAS TO WORK
When brands are looking for near-term impact they need a bio-
based technology that really works That means it can be produced
at commercial scale today with competitive economics Tangible
examples like bio-based BDO and Brontide deliver immediate
opportunities and build confidence that the technology side of
our industry can deliver further innovations A recent example is
Novamontrsquos production of compostable biodegradable plastics
in Italy using bio-based BDO Their plant with a 30000 ton per
year capacity has helped revitalize the local economy providing
a market for farmersrsquo products plus the refurbishing of an older
industrial facility creating many jobs Novamont has secured
multiple well-known brands as customers including UK retailer
Co-op which will replace 180 million bags As brands see
biotechnology deliver at scale many want to learn whatrsquos next
WHAT BRANDS CAN DO NOW
To see how bio-based chemicals can fit your sustainability
strategy we recommend the following
bull Increase internal awareness and understanding This starts
with a deeper understanding of where your key production
inputs come from and how they are made When coupled
with greater exposure to what biotechnology can do it helps
prioritize what parts of your supply chain can be improved
Leverage outside expertise ndash invite biotech firms to share
what they know and do
bull Involve your upstream chemical and material suppliers
Give them updated requirements tied to your sustainability
objectives Encourage them to have direct discussions with
the biotechnology firms and biochemical producers that
expand their options and fit your needs
bull Be clear about your shopping list and priorities This allows
biotechnology firms and chemicalmaterial producers to
provide feedback and look for areas of overlap
bull Send tangible market signals If suppliers know yoursquore serious
about moving to more sustainable ingredients and process
technologies theyrsquoll pay attention This can tie directly to your
Corporate Sustainability Reporting and objectives
bull Publicise and celebrate your choices Let your customers
know about your process for improving and milestones along
the way Press releases speaking at conferences blogs and
tweets can all be effective
bull Get ldquoinside the tentrdquo with preferred partners Some of your
technology or supply chain partners can share more insights
or have a greater impact on your results Invest in ideation and
exploration if needed Close partnerships can help you influence
their priorities or gain early access to advantaged ingredients n
Irsquoll be a speaker at World Bio Markets in April Contact
me directly at cschillinggenomaticacom if yoursquod like
to discuss your companyrsquos vision and needs sooner
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 15
Yes thatrsquos us down there Yes you know us as a prime tourist destination and a business service hub But did you know that in the port of Amsterdam we have one of Europersquos largest biorefinery clustersThe port also has reliable infrastructure logistics providers and terminals utilities feedstock and markets literally at spitting distance Schiphol Airport is as you know just around the corner We reserved space for your business to grow Biopark Amsterdam So consider Amsterdam you are more than welcome to join us Discover our success stories on portofamsterdamcom
The greatest port you never thought of
Considered Amsterdam
In our industry where explaining the benefits of a
product can sometimes be a challenge a good
boost was received this week A familiar name to
most of our readers the Brazilian chemicals
company Braskem producers of Irsquom green ndash a
bio-based polyethylene made from sugarcane ndash has had its
negative carbon footprint credentials strengthened thanks to an
independent review The assessment was carried out by the
Carbon Trust an international organisation that helps businesses
governments and the public sector to accelerate the move to a
more sustainable low carbon economy And the result is that
Braskemrsquos bio-based plastic as used by LEGO (pictured above)
among others is effectively carbon-negative
In a new report comparing Irsquom green with fossil-based equivalents
the Carbon Trust has endorsed the methodology used by Braskem
to support claims that for every tonne of Irsquom green produced the
equivalent of around 3 tonnes of CO2 are locked away by the
sugarcane which provides the main raw material for its manufacture
Capturing CO2 during its lifecycle Irsquom green avoids emissions
related to the production of fossil fuel feedstock thereby
providing a net saving of the equivalent of around 5 tonnes of
CO2sup1 by the end of the plastic manufacturing process
Irsquom green is 100 recyclable plastic currently being used in a
range of applications from food packaging to personal care
products as well as more durable goods such as chairs and vases
Brand owners are increasingly responding to climate change
by reducing their carbon footprint which requires investment
in more efficient processes and using innovative renewable
materials Braskemrsquos Irsquom green is made from a renewable
feedstock and can make a significant contribution to reduce
carbon emissions
John Newton Associated Director at the Carbon Trust said ldquoTo
address climate change we will need innovative materials that
are radically lower in emissions compared to what is commonly
used today Products like Irsquom green which help lock away carbon
emissions in their production can be a real part of the solutionrdquo
Marco Jansen Commercial Director Renewable Chemicals at
Braskem said ldquoWersquore delighted that credible association Carbon
Trust further validates our calculations of Irsquom greenrsquos carbon
footprint Our customers know Irsquom green polyethylene is a smart
and sustainable way to reduce a productrsquos carbon footprint and we
hope more brands will use it as a renewable solution in the futurerdquo
This news will no doubt have been welcomed by LEGO too as
Braskem will supply the LEGO Group with Irsquom green as it makes
it switch to bio-based bricks Already in 2018 Green Plastic has
been used in the lsquobotanicalrsquo elements range such as trees bushes
and leaves that sold quickly once released
The LCA Summary is available here A one-page statement is
available here n
ITrsquoS OFFICIAL BRASKEMrsquoS CARBON-NEGATIVE
CLAIMS FOR ITS BIO-BASED PLASTIC ARE APPROVED
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 17
ldquo IT IS THE WAY TO STEP FORWARD TO AN EARTH-FRIENDLY SOLUTION REDUCING PETROLEUM BASED MATERIALSrdquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM18
FEATURE
BIO-BASED A POSSIBLE SOLUTION
TO MASTERCARDrsquoS SEARCH FOR MORE
SUSTAINABLE BANK CARDS
For many years the idea of going green with your
credit or debit card payments was limited to
buying sustainable products donating to
charities or paying for carbon offsets But now a
new alliance is aiming to green the card itself as
part of a wider array of actions a broader part of the payments
industry Global payment giants Mastercard and card
manufacturers Gemalto Giesecke+Devrient and IDEMIA have
this month launched the Greener Payments Partnership to
establish environmental best practices and reduce first-use PVC
plastic in card manufacturing Roughly six billion plastic payment
cards are made each year according to The Nilson Report
While Mastercard analysis shows that this is less than 0015
percent of the volume of plastic manufactured each year there
is room to improve that through the use of alternative materials
ldquoConsumers are increasingly moving from cash to card as they
look for greater security and sustainabilityrdquo commented Ajay
Bhalla president cyber and intelligence solutions Mastercard
( MastercardNews ) ldquoThis partnership will help us and our
industry reduce first-use plastic in cards Together we can
build on recent research and tests and drive adoption of
environmentally-friendly materials on a larger scalerdquo
Research and analysis into recyclable bio-sourced and bio-
degradable materials is already underway and now included in
this remit The partnership commits to accelerating that research
with the goal of delivering globally available solutions to reduce
first-use PVC plastic in card manufacturing in a matter of years
ldquoResponsible use of natural resources and protection of our
climate and environment are core elements of G+Drsquos Corporate
Responsibility policy We are committed to ensuring that our
entire value chain is sustainable and to continuously reducing
our ecological footprint As a participant of the Greener Payment
Partnership we work on the standardization of bio-sourced
materials in payment cards It is the way to step forward to an
earth-friendly solution reducing petroleum based materialsrdquo
says Gabrielle Bugat Head of the Financial Services Division at
Giesecke+Devrient Mobile Security
The group will also ensure best practices around how materials
are evaluated including environmental impact benefits and the
ability to meet increasing consumer concerns around the impact
of plastic globally
ldquoItrsquos no secret that we all need to change the way we live and
consume to reduce the impact wersquore having on our planet For
IDEMIA itrsquos essential as an industrial leader to effect change
for the better and play our part to reduce for instance our
reliance on plasticrdquo said Pierre Barrial executive vice president
for financial institutions activities at IDEMIA ( IdemiaGroup )
ldquoWersquore delighted to partner with Mastercard to deliver viable
environmentally friendly alternatives that bring positive change
to the industry as a wholerdquo
ldquoEnvironmental-friendly products are now a priority for all
stakeholders in the payment eco-systemrdquo says Sylvie Gibert
senior vice president of payment cards Gemalto ldquoWe are
committed to supporting this partnership formed by Mastercard
and we have already adopted sustainable practices in our
banking card business This initiative comes at a time where we
see a growing interest from the banks for greener cardsrdquo
This is no the first foray into bio-materials for Mastercard in
2016 they partnered with the Finnish Bank of Aringland WWF
Finland KPMG and Gemalto to create a credit card made of
renewable and biodegradable materials n
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 19
We regularly feature stories emerging from Canada
whether itrsquos about a new way to harness the
nations huge amounts of harvestable biomass
the commercialization of an innovation emerging
from one of their many illustrious university
laboratories or the growth in popularity of a bio-based product
for an increasingly environmentally aware population
So in order to learn more about one of the worldrsquos most vibrant
bio-economies our editor Luke Upton recently sat down with
Sandy Marshall the Executive Director of Bioindustrial Innovation
Canada a not-for-profit organisation focussed on catalysing the
further commercialisation of the bio-economy In a wide ranging
discussion they looked at how agriculture can better connect
with the bio-economy advice on starting a business and what
makes Canada so strong in this area
Luke Upton (LU) Thanks for the time today so as an
introduction ndash whatrsquos been your personal path to becoming
executive director of Bioindustrial Innovation Canada
Sandy Marshall (SM) I was raised on a farm near Blyth
Ontario Canada before graduating with Bachelor of Applied
Science Degree (BASc) and Masters of Applied Science Degree
(MASc) in Chemical Engineering from the University of Waterloo
I started my professional career in 1984 with Polysar Inc a
Canadian rubber manufacturer Over my 30 year career in
the chemical and polymers industry I worked in research and
process product development and market development before
moving into Operations and General Management I had two
international assignment one with Bayer AG in Germany and a
second with Lanxess in Cincinnati USA I finished my corporate
career as President and Managing Director responsible for
Canadian Operations of Lanxess Canada I have been recognized
as a leader committed to Corporate Social Responsibility and
environmental sustainability in Canada
I am very interested in sustainable chemistry and have been an
active Board member for Bioindustrial Innovation Canada (BIC)
from its inception in 2008 After I left Lanxess in 2013 I began
consulting in this space At that time I also took over the role of
Chairman of the BIC Board and worked very closely with Murray
McLaughlin Executive Director BIC In 2016 Murray McLaughlin
chose to step back as Executive Director and I was hired as his
replacement It is exciting to be back in a leadership role for an
organization with an inspiring vision and mission
LU For our readers who are unfamiliar with BIC could you
explain a little about the organisation and its aims
SM BIC is a nationally focused not-for-profit organization
based in Sarnia Ontario BICrsquos vision is to create jobs and
economic value sustainably for Canada BICrsquos mission is to
provide critical strategic investment advice and services to
THE LAST WORD WITHhellip SANDY MARSHALL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BIOINDUSTRIAL INNOVATION CANADA
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM20
FEATURE
business developers of clean green and sustainable technologies
Our expertise in commercialization builds a stronger Canada BIC
is focused on enabling Ontario and Canada to become globally
recognized leaders in converting renewable resources such as
agricultural and forestry by-products and residues into value-
added bioenergy biofuel biochemical and biomaterials for use
in a wide range of commercial applications along the chemistry
value chain to advanced manufacturing
LU BIC has worked with a number of companies is there a
particular project of which you are most proud
SM In 2012 BIC together with community leaders in Agriculture
embarked on a project to identify whether the Sarnia-Lambton
region could develop a source of cellulosic sugars using a biomass
supply chain based on agricultural residues BIC lead this project
with the support of numerous companies and government agencies
which lead to the formation of the Cellulosic Sugar Producers
Cooperative and identified Comet Bio as a viable technology
provider Currently these companies are partnering to establish the
worldrsquos first commercial cellulosic glucose sugar supply chain
LU What makes Canada a good home for a bio-based innovation
SM Canada is a vast country which is blessed with enormous
quantities of sustainably harvestable biomass both from forestry
and agriculture The access to raw materials is critical for the
success of any business venture Furthermore Canada is known
for its strong innovation capacity and its collaborative work
culture Together these attributes make Canada an ideal home of
the bio-based economy
LU What can agriculture do to better connect with bio-based
chemical and bio-based product manufactures
SM Agriculture needs to take a leadership role in the bio-
economy There has been a good start here in Canada It is
critical that the question about the availability of sustainably
harvestable biomass is answered through good science to allow
the industry to grow and leverage Canadarsquos great potential
Producers can also promote the bio-economy as an
opportunity to diversify their business models Generating
revenue through feedstock sales to bio-based chemical and
product producers or through participation as business partners
and investors in these ventures can be very beneficial in
reducing risk for all participants in the bio-economy
Government can support these entrepreneurial activities
through support of applied research and development of the
science to assure society that the bio-economy based on
agricultural feedstocks is both sustainable and critical to the
fight against climate change
LU What advice would you give someone looking to start a
bio-based business
SM Start with a solid business plan that clearly identified the
value proposition and can show profitability without relying on
long term government incentives I think that government has
an important role to de-risk early stage commercialization but
businesses must be able to show a path to successful commercial
independence
LU And finallyhellip whatrsquos your favourite sustainable bio-based
product
SM I do not have a favourite The petrochemical industry
succeeded based on leveraging all of the products in the barrel of
oil I see the bio-economy in the same way We need to valorize
all of the products in the truckload of biomass It is only through
leveraging sugars lignin renewable natural gas and the bio-
products produced from them that we can successfully build a
vibrant bio-economy n
ldquoTHE PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRY SUCCEEDED BASED ON LEVERAGING ALL OF THE PRODUCTS IN THE BARREL OF OIL I SEE THE BIO-ECONOMY IN THE SAME WAYrdquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 21
l ightmyf i re com
Shakethe habit
BRING YOUR OWN
F O O D F R I E N D LYA N D B PA F R E E
M A D E I NS W E D E N
Disposable plastic bags disposable flatware disposable cups disposable wellalmost anything Things that can only be used once donacutet belong in a sustainableworld Shake the habit ndash bring your own
ReKitTM ndash Bring-along-friendly reusablekit for sips bites and drinks on the go
Now one project SWEETWOODS made up of
nine European companies all of whom have
wondered more about trees and their potential
is to begin producing wood-based biomaterials
for the first time on an industrial scale
This unique euro43 million bio-economy project funded by
the Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI JU) is now
underway with its key aim of developing a first-of-its-kind
bio-fractionation flagship plant in Estonia to turn sustainable
hardwood residues into high purity intermediate building blocks
of cellulosic sugars and high-quality lignin
To learn more about this project that has such huge potential
Bio-Based World Newsrsquo Luke Upton spoke exclusively to two
members of the consortium Matti Heikkilauml CTO of Finlandrsquos
pioneering enzyme technology company MetGen and Peep Pitk
RampD Manager of Europersquos largest pellet producer Graanul Invest
that is building up the wood fractionation flagship plant in Estonia
Matti tells more about the origins of the project ldquoThe concept
began around five years ago We knew about the potential of
wood that much more could be done with it and that a concept
of biorefining could transform hardwood into higher added value
products Most of the solutions and technologies to make this
happen were ready to be commercialised but we just needed to
match up the skills and partners to make the concept a realityrdquo
For Peep the opportunities of the partnership are clear ldquoThis
project really is a gamechangerrdquo He explains that it is outdated
understanding that the only way to valorise technological wood
is via highly resource demanding chemical pulping processes
The wood fractionation concept that we are working on can offer
PROJECT FOCUS CREATING HIGH PURITY LIGNIN AND AFFORDABLE PLATFORM CHEMICALS FROM WOOD-BASED SUGARSTHE AUTHOR AND POET RALPH WALDO EMERSON NO STRANGER TO THE BEAUTY OF THE NATURAL WORLD FAMOUSLY SAID THAT ldquoTHE WONDER IS THAT WE CAN SEE THESE TREES AND NOT WONDER MORErdquo SO MUCH OF OUR WORLD HAS ITS ROOTS IN OUR TREES FROM CLOTHES AND FURNITURE TO FOOD AND PAPER
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM8
FEATURE
so much more by converting over 90 of wood into useful high
value products with small ecological footprint
What is clear through the conversation with Matti and Peep is the
clarity of the SWEETWOODS vision Unlike some other projects
that pass through the bio-economy the goal and commercial
potential of the offering has been clear from the outset The
consortium powering the project connects all the links in the
value chain and covers the entire material process
By fractionating the wood into pure sugars and lignin it becomes
possible to further refine the material into high added value
products that can be used to replace oil-based chemicals and
plastics New bio-based consumer products including sports
mats insulation panels and replacements for plastics are just
some of the items mentioned in our discussion
Alongside MetGen and AS Graanul Invest the seven other
members of the European wide consortium are Tecnaro
Gesellschaft zur industriellen Anwendung Nachwachsender
Rohstoffe MBH (Germany) Ultima GMBH (Germany) Recticel
NV (Belgium) Global Bioenergies (France) 2B Srl (Italy) Vertech
Group (France) and Spinverse OY (Finland)
There has been a ldquospirit of collaborationrdquo among the partners
from the very start states Peep but the project has also
been greatly supported by the Bio-based Industries Joint
Undertaking (BBI JU) a public-private partnership between
the EU and the Bio-Based Industries Consortium (BIC) focused
on developing the European bio-based economy ldquoItrsquos been
very important to have had BBI-JU in supporting us They
have gathered industry expertees and offer a long-term
experienced view of what is required to build a successful bio-
economy consortium that can deliver a commercial successrdquo
says Matti ldquoWithout them it would have been far harder to
forge this alliancerdquo added Peep
The next steps for the project are to build the flagship plant
in Estonia to demonstrate its viability at industrial scale But
obviously there are still opportunities to take advantage of this
innovative projectrsquos outcomes ldquoWe are very much open for
discussions and open for business And by partnering now you
could still become an early adopter of the novel biomaterials in
diversity of end-use cases We believe this project will change the
way the wood industry is perceivedrdquo Matti concludes
To read more about the SWEETWOODS Project click here For
industrially representative lignin and sugars samples contact Peep Pitk
PeepPitkgraanulinvestcom For technology licensing opportunities
and modified lignin samples contact Mattimetgencom n
ldquoWE ARE VERY MUCH OPEN FOR DISCUSSIONS AND OPEN FOR BUSINESS AND BY PARTNERING NOW YOU COULD STILL BECOME AN EARLY ADOPTER OF THE NOVEL BIOMATERIALS IN DIVERSITY OF END-USE CASESrdquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 9
THE GREEN REVOLUTION WILL BE BLUE HARVESTING ALGAE FOR THE BIO-ECONOMY
When you think of algae what do you think of For
most people the thought of algae conjures up
images of a murky-looking pond However algae
are one of the largest unexploited resources on our
planet In fact the worldrsquos ocean could harbour up
to 1 million species depending on who you believe But we have just
barely begun to harvest and cultivate algae for mankindrsquos benefit
Algae are not just green stuff in the sea they are complex aquatic
organisms that have the ability to conduct photosynthesis
Algae have been used by human beings for a long time However
the number of companies developing algae-based biofuels
swelled in the 2000s as oil prices rose and supportive policies
were established for next-generation biofuels Yet when the
oil price dropped to record low levels in 2014 to under $35 per
barrel a lot of companies went bust backed away or shifted their
interests towards higher value markets such as health foods
beauty and personal care products and animal feed The use
of algae for applications in the nutraceutical chemicals and
cosmetic markets is growing in a world where companies are
increasingly seeking alternatives to fossil fuel-based products As
a result of this algae have come under the spotlight once again
However the industry has only industrialised a dozen or so of the
many variety of algae species so the opportunities are endless
HIGHLY-VALUED RESOURCE
So what opportunities exist By far the largest market for algae
commercialisation is the nutraceutical and animal feed sector
Today algae nutraceuticals generate around $05bn in revenue
annually according to Bloomberg In fact the most valuable
products made from algae today are human nutraceuticals such
as Omega 3 oils They can be sold in capsules in health stores or
added to food and drink products to enhance their offering
Algae-based food is big business In Asia macroalgae - also
known as seaweed is a highly valued resource with more
than 30 million tonnes farmed annually making it one of the
largest biomasses harvested from the oceans according to Jon
Funderud CEO at Norway-based Seaweed Energy Solutions
He says that more than half of this volume goes directly to human
consumption as healthy ldquosea vegetablesrdquo while the remainder
has various industrial uses such as for bioplastics animal feed or
fertilisers In Europe seaweeds are virtually unexploited but have
in recent years received a surge in interest both as a new super
food and for their potential as a bioenergy crop
However there has been no serious industrial efforts at large-
scale macroalgae farming because there has been no ldquooff the
shelfrdquo farming technology available Funderud says He says
the vast majority of seaweed farms in Asia are based on very
labour-intensive and low tech means with no real potential
for technology transfer to ldquohigh-cost countriesrdquo In Europe
the seaweed farming industry is still at pilot scale where the
production cost is still really expensive
Seaweed farming is not the only way to address feeding the
worldrsquos growing population Microalgae small microscopic aquatic
photosynthetic plants that require the aid of a microscope to be
seen can also do the job Ingmar Hoslashgoslashy chairman of Norway-
based microalgae technology company AlgaePro says that
microalgae can also provide food security and provide an alternative
to dairy and meat-based foods Matt Carr executive director of US
Algae Biomass Organisation concurs with Hoslashgoslashy and says that
algae used for nutraceutical sector and animal feed will drive growth
for the sector which in turn will help to produce more large-scale
production facilities and a variety of different production methods
BY LIZ GYEKYE
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM10
FEATURE
Unique production methods are already being utilised Scotland-
based biotechnology company ScotBio is just one firm doing just
this and has been successful in commercialising its natural blue
food colourant that is suitable for sweets ice cream and drinks
It was founded in 2007 and is based on the findings of PhD
student Chelsea Brain who found that a specific type of red light
increased the production of phycocyanin (natural blue pigment)
in microalgae spirulina
CEO DC Van Alstyne says the research that is happening in the UK
is ground-breaking on many fronts but many companies in the UK
have difficulty commercialising their innovations compared to the
US because the US academics tend to get more financial support
NOT JUST FOOD
In the US one company that is making waves in the algae-based
material space is California-based biotechnology company
Checkerspot The company is engineering microalgae to bring
high-performance materials to the market Checkerspot ferments
a class of sugar-eating microalgae called trebouxiophyceae
which swell with fat The company uses genetic engineering and
classical strain improvement to coax the algae to produce useful
triglycerides It is using this feedstock to create the foam used
in surfboards and is also working on creating water-repellent
coating for outdoor apparel
Another US company that is focusing on algae is oil giant Exxon
Mobil It is working with Synthetic Genomic to conduct a large
trial to engineer algae streams in outdoor settings to produce
biofuels In fact today most algae are grown outdoors in open
pods In contrast microalgae can be grown in lab with the help
of photobioreactors (a bioreactor that utilises a light source to
cultivate phototrophic microorganisms) and steel tanks
Yet environmental critics would question whether it was right
to genetically engineer these microorganisms for the good of
mankind Carr says ldquoUsing everything that we have already
learned in terms of containment researchers have designed
outdoor settings to ensure that they canrsquot produce the kinds of
negative environmental effects that some may fear You can do
that by engineering the organisms so that they canrsquot survive in
natural settingsrdquo
He says that algae producers in the US have been working with
the US Environmental Protection Agency to ensure that they are
designing systems that will not result in any kind of attack on the
broader eco system
In relation to the eco system waste wastewater treatment is
emerging as really important trend for algae Algae can be added
to wastewater or sewage to clean the water Carole Llewellyn
associate professor in applied aquatic bioscience at Swansea
University says algae can effectively capture and degrade
nitrogen and phosphorus in domestic wastewater and clear up
metals in mine wastewater streams
All of this looks promising However as Llewellyn says
ldquoHarvesting microalgae on a large scale and economically is a
challenge It is less of a challenge where the end product is of
high value but for low-value commodities low-cost harvesting
remains a challenge Some species are naturally self-flocculating
We probably need to understand this process a bit betterrdquo
Yet with only around 12 algae species industrialised the next step will
be to map the algae genome according to Carr It really does seem
like the world needs to prepare itself for a blue-green revolution n
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 11
ldquoWBM was very valuable to me since it brought all actors along the value chain of the bio-based economy around several tables in panel discussions I hardly know any other conference with so many different industry players presentrdquoRaul Pires VP New Technologies Covestro
MEET THE PRODUCERS AND BRANDS INVESTING IN BIO-BASED SOLUTIONS
Visit wwwWorldBioMarketscom Follow us Bio_BasedWorld WBM19
1-3 April 2019 Passenger Terminal Amsterdam Amsterdam
14th Annual
Produced by
US-based chemical engineer Frances Arnold
(pictured) is one of three scientists who have this
month been awarded the 2018 Nobel Prize in
Chemistry She has won the prize for her work on
the ldquodirected evolution of enzymesrdquo which is a bioengineering
method for creating new and better enzymes in the laboratory
using the principles of evolution Enzymes produced through
directed evolution are used to manufacture everything from
biofuels to pharmaceuticals
Directed evolution works in the same way that breeders mate
cats or dogs to bring out desired traits To perform the method
scientists begin by inducing mutations to the DNA or gene that
encodes a particular enzyme
An assortment of thousands of mutated enzymes is produced
and then tested for a desired trait The top-performing enzymes
are selected and the process is repeated to further enhance the
enzymesrsquo performances For instance in 2009 Arnold and her
team based at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
engineered enzymes that break down cellulose the main
component of plant cell walls creating better catalysts for turning
agricultural wastes into fuels and chemicals
A number of additional enzymes produced through directed
evolution are now used for a host of products including biofuels
agricultural chemicals paper products and pharmaceuticals
Arnold and her colleagues have also used directed evolution
to persuade bacteria to make chemicals not found in nature
including molecules containing silicon-carbon or boron-
carbon bonds or bicyclobutanes which contain energy-
packed carbon rings
By using bacteria researchers can potentially make these
chemical compounds in ldquogreenerrdquo ways that are more
economical and produce less toxic waste
Arnold ( francesarnold ) was born on 25 July 1956 in Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania and arrived at Caltech as a visiting associate in 1986
and was named assistant professor in 1987 associate professor in
1992 and professor in 1996
Speaking about her Nobel prize Arnold said she was ldquoabsolutely
flooredrdquo to receive the award adding ldquoI have to wrap my head
around this Itrsquos not something I was expectingrdquo
ldquoMy entire career I have been concerned about the damage we
are doing to the planet and each otherrdquo Arnold said ldquoScience
and technology can play a major role in mitigating our negative
influences on the environment
Changing behaviour is even more important However I feel
that change is easier when there are good economically-viable
alternatives to harmful habitsrdquo n
NOBEL NOD FOR THE GREEN PIONEER BEHIND lsquoDIRECTED
EVOLUTION ENZYMESrsquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 13
FEATURE
BRANDS A PRAGMATIC APPROACH TO BIO-BASED CHEMICALSCHRISTOPHE SCHILLING CEO GENOMATICA
The brands I speak with have well-crafted
plans for advancing the sustainability of their
products These address choosing materials
for recyclability considering end-of-life
reuse energy consumption during
production packaging and community-related issues
consistent with the United Nationsrsquo Sustainable
Development Goals
I was particularly energized by my conversations at the
VERGE18 conference where I was asked to be a discussion
leader at the Circular Plastics Summit co-led by the Ellen
MacArthur Foundation (I encourage you to read their New
Plastics Economy and Make Fashion Circular reports)
Increasingly brands are seeing the opportunity to improve
sustainability through increased use of renewably-sourced
materials This approach is part of a broader set of initiatives
to increase circularity in a range of global material flows
Although these approaches offer compelling benefits
making them happen can be challenging In this article Irsquod
like to share some ideas for tangible near-term actions that
emerged from my recent discussions as they apply to bio-
based chemicals
ONE KEY LEARNING CLOSER IS BETTER
Wersquove found that brands are more energized to act when
key chemicals are ldquocloserrdquo to their end products in the
sense of making up a substantial portion of the end
product A great example is nylon where the key chemical
caprolactam is only one step away from conversion to
nylon Genomatica is developing technology for bio-based
caprolactam which is then made into 100 bio-based
nylon-6 for apparel and carpet we announced Aquafil as
a partner in early 2018 Brands appreciate that moving to
100 bio-based nylon could allow them to have a major
impact on the sustainability of their products and on their
market differentiation
To make that happen only one chemical needs to be made
renewably This announcement was followed by Project
EFFECTIVE which aims to commercialize better fibers and
plastics and includes four major brands ndash HampM Vaude Carvico
and Balsan EFFECTIVE supported by the EUrsquos Horizon2020
program will use Genomaticarsquos caprolactam technology as
well as technology for the first bio-based chemical delivered
by Genomatica for 14-butanediol (BDO) to enable higher
renewable content in polyesters and polyurethanes
Two more examples are instructive First Genomatica has
also commercialized its Brontidetrade bio-based butylene glycol
Itrsquos certainly close to the customer as itrsquos used directly in
personal care and cosmetics products As a result
Brontide has resonated with major brands that
emphasize naturalness and purity Second is
Genomaticarsquos aforementioned BDO At
first glance BDO is a few conversion
ldquoWHEN BRANDS ARE LOOKING FOR NEAR-TERM IMPACT THEY NEED A BIO-BASED TECHNOLOGY THAT REALLY WORKSrdquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM14
FEATURE
steps away from most products But brands that look deeper have
realized they can quickly improve the sustainability of polymers
used in common urethane foams (for example) by replacing just
the BDO part with a bio-based version That wonrsquot take the product
to 100 but it allows for a fast improvement through better
understanding of where a productrsquos ingredients come from
ANOTHER IT HAS TO WORK
When brands are looking for near-term impact they need a bio-
based technology that really works That means it can be produced
at commercial scale today with competitive economics Tangible
examples like bio-based BDO and Brontide deliver immediate
opportunities and build confidence that the technology side of
our industry can deliver further innovations A recent example is
Novamontrsquos production of compostable biodegradable plastics
in Italy using bio-based BDO Their plant with a 30000 ton per
year capacity has helped revitalize the local economy providing
a market for farmersrsquo products plus the refurbishing of an older
industrial facility creating many jobs Novamont has secured
multiple well-known brands as customers including UK retailer
Co-op which will replace 180 million bags As brands see
biotechnology deliver at scale many want to learn whatrsquos next
WHAT BRANDS CAN DO NOW
To see how bio-based chemicals can fit your sustainability
strategy we recommend the following
bull Increase internal awareness and understanding This starts
with a deeper understanding of where your key production
inputs come from and how they are made When coupled
with greater exposure to what biotechnology can do it helps
prioritize what parts of your supply chain can be improved
Leverage outside expertise ndash invite biotech firms to share
what they know and do
bull Involve your upstream chemical and material suppliers
Give them updated requirements tied to your sustainability
objectives Encourage them to have direct discussions with
the biotechnology firms and biochemical producers that
expand their options and fit your needs
bull Be clear about your shopping list and priorities This allows
biotechnology firms and chemicalmaterial producers to
provide feedback and look for areas of overlap
bull Send tangible market signals If suppliers know yoursquore serious
about moving to more sustainable ingredients and process
technologies theyrsquoll pay attention This can tie directly to your
Corporate Sustainability Reporting and objectives
bull Publicise and celebrate your choices Let your customers
know about your process for improving and milestones along
the way Press releases speaking at conferences blogs and
tweets can all be effective
bull Get ldquoinside the tentrdquo with preferred partners Some of your
technology or supply chain partners can share more insights
or have a greater impact on your results Invest in ideation and
exploration if needed Close partnerships can help you influence
their priorities or gain early access to advantaged ingredients n
Irsquoll be a speaker at World Bio Markets in April Contact
me directly at cschillinggenomaticacom if yoursquod like
to discuss your companyrsquos vision and needs sooner
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 15
Yes thatrsquos us down there Yes you know us as a prime tourist destination and a business service hub But did you know that in the port of Amsterdam we have one of Europersquos largest biorefinery clustersThe port also has reliable infrastructure logistics providers and terminals utilities feedstock and markets literally at spitting distance Schiphol Airport is as you know just around the corner We reserved space for your business to grow Biopark Amsterdam So consider Amsterdam you are more than welcome to join us Discover our success stories on portofamsterdamcom
The greatest port you never thought of
Considered Amsterdam
In our industry where explaining the benefits of a
product can sometimes be a challenge a good
boost was received this week A familiar name to
most of our readers the Brazilian chemicals
company Braskem producers of Irsquom green ndash a
bio-based polyethylene made from sugarcane ndash has had its
negative carbon footprint credentials strengthened thanks to an
independent review The assessment was carried out by the
Carbon Trust an international organisation that helps businesses
governments and the public sector to accelerate the move to a
more sustainable low carbon economy And the result is that
Braskemrsquos bio-based plastic as used by LEGO (pictured above)
among others is effectively carbon-negative
In a new report comparing Irsquom green with fossil-based equivalents
the Carbon Trust has endorsed the methodology used by Braskem
to support claims that for every tonne of Irsquom green produced the
equivalent of around 3 tonnes of CO2 are locked away by the
sugarcane which provides the main raw material for its manufacture
Capturing CO2 during its lifecycle Irsquom green avoids emissions
related to the production of fossil fuel feedstock thereby
providing a net saving of the equivalent of around 5 tonnes of
CO2sup1 by the end of the plastic manufacturing process
Irsquom green is 100 recyclable plastic currently being used in a
range of applications from food packaging to personal care
products as well as more durable goods such as chairs and vases
Brand owners are increasingly responding to climate change
by reducing their carbon footprint which requires investment
in more efficient processes and using innovative renewable
materials Braskemrsquos Irsquom green is made from a renewable
feedstock and can make a significant contribution to reduce
carbon emissions
John Newton Associated Director at the Carbon Trust said ldquoTo
address climate change we will need innovative materials that
are radically lower in emissions compared to what is commonly
used today Products like Irsquom green which help lock away carbon
emissions in their production can be a real part of the solutionrdquo
Marco Jansen Commercial Director Renewable Chemicals at
Braskem said ldquoWersquore delighted that credible association Carbon
Trust further validates our calculations of Irsquom greenrsquos carbon
footprint Our customers know Irsquom green polyethylene is a smart
and sustainable way to reduce a productrsquos carbon footprint and we
hope more brands will use it as a renewable solution in the futurerdquo
This news will no doubt have been welcomed by LEGO too as
Braskem will supply the LEGO Group with Irsquom green as it makes
it switch to bio-based bricks Already in 2018 Green Plastic has
been used in the lsquobotanicalrsquo elements range such as trees bushes
and leaves that sold quickly once released
The LCA Summary is available here A one-page statement is
available here n
ITrsquoS OFFICIAL BRASKEMrsquoS CARBON-NEGATIVE
CLAIMS FOR ITS BIO-BASED PLASTIC ARE APPROVED
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 17
ldquo IT IS THE WAY TO STEP FORWARD TO AN EARTH-FRIENDLY SOLUTION REDUCING PETROLEUM BASED MATERIALSrdquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM18
FEATURE
BIO-BASED A POSSIBLE SOLUTION
TO MASTERCARDrsquoS SEARCH FOR MORE
SUSTAINABLE BANK CARDS
For many years the idea of going green with your
credit or debit card payments was limited to
buying sustainable products donating to
charities or paying for carbon offsets But now a
new alliance is aiming to green the card itself as
part of a wider array of actions a broader part of the payments
industry Global payment giants Mastercard and card
manufacturers Gemalto Giesecke+Devrient and IDEMIA have
this month launched the Greener Payments Partnership to
establish environmental best practices and reduce first-use PVC
plastic in card manufacturing Roughly six billion plastic payment
cards are made each year according to The Nilson Report
While Mastercard analysis shows that this is less than 0015
percent of the volume of plastic manufactured each year there
is room to improve that through the use of alternative materials
ldquoConsumers are increasingly moving from cash to card as they
look for greater security and sustainabilityrdquo commented Ajay
Bhalla president cyber and intelligence solutions Mastercard
( MastercardNews ) ldquoThis partnership will help us and our
industry reduce first-use plastic in cards Together we can
build on recent research and tests and drive adoption of
environmentally-friendly materials on a larger scalerdquo
Research and analysis into recyclable bio-sourced and bio-
degradable materials is already underway and now included in
this remit The partnership commits to accelerating that research
with the goal of delivering globally available solutions to reduce
first-use PVC plastic in card manufacturing in a matter of years
ldquoResponsible use of natural resources and protection of our
climate and environment are core elements of G+Drsquos Corporate
Responsibility policy We are committed to ensuring that our
entire value chain is sustainable and to continuously reducing
our ecological footprint As a participant of the Greener Payment
Partnership we work on the standardization of bio-sourced
materials in payment cards It is the way to step forward to an
earth-friendly solution reducing petroleum based materialsrdquo
says Gabrielle Bugat Head of the Financial Services Division at
Giesecke+Devrient Mobile Security
The group will also ensure best practices around how materials
are evaluated including environmental impact benefits and the
ability to meet increasing consumer concerns around the impact
of plastic globally
ldquoItrsquos no secret that we all need to change the way we live and
consume to reduce the impact wersquore having on our planet For
IDEMIA itrsquos essential as an industrial leader to effect change
for the better and play our part to reduce for instance our
reliance on plasticrdquo said Pierre Barrial executive vice president
for financial institutions activities at IDEMIA ( IdemiaGroup )
ldquoWersquore delighted to partner with Mastercard to deliver viable
environmentally friendly alternatives that bring positive change
to the industry as a wholerdquo
ldquoEnvironmental-friendly products are now a priority for all
stakeholders in the payment eco-systemrdquo says Sylvie Gibert
senior vice president of payment cards Gemalto ldquoWe are
committed to supporting this partnership formed by Mastercard
and we have already adopted sustainable practices in our
banking card business This initiative comes at a time where we
see a growing interest from the banks for greener cardsrdquo
This is no the first foray into bio-materials for Mastercard in
2016 they partnered with the Finnish Bank of Aringland WWF
Finland KPMG and Gemalto to create a credit card made of
renewable and biodegradable materials n
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 19
We regularly feature stories emerging from Canada
whether itrsquos about a new way to harness the
nations huge amounts of harvestable biomass
the commercialization of an innovation emerging
from one of their many illustrious university
laboratories or the growth in popularity of a bio-based product
for an increasingly environmentally aware population
So in order to learn more about one of the worldrsquos most vibrant
bio-economies our editor Luke Upton recently sat down with
Sandy Marshall the Executive Director of Bioindustrial Innovation
Canada a not-for-profit organisation focussed on catalysing the
further commercialisation of the bio-economy In a wide ranging
discussion they looked at how agriculture can better connect
with the bio-economy advice on starting a business and what
makes Canada so strong in this area
Luke Upton (LU) Thanks for the time today so as an
introduction ndash whatrsquos been your personal path to becoming
executive director of Bioindustrial Innovation Canada
Sandy Marshall (SM) I was raised on a farm near Blyth
Ontario Canada before graduating with Bachelor of Applied
Science Degree (BASc) and Masters of Applied Science Degree
(MASc) in Chemical Engineering from the University of Waterloo
I started my professional career in 1984 with Polysar Inc a
Canadian rubber manufacturer Over my 30 year career in
the chemical and polymers industry I worked in research and
process product development and market development before
moving into Operations and General Management I had two
international assignment one with Bayer AG in Germany and a
second with Lanxess in Cincinnati USA I finished my corporate
career as President and Managing Director responsible for
Canadian Operations of Lanxess Canada I have been recognized
as a leader committed to Corporate Social Responsibility and
environmental sustainability in Canada
I am very interested in sustainable chemistry and have been an
active Board member for Bioindustrial Innovation Canada (BIC)
from its inception in 2008 After I left Lanxess in 2013 I began
consulting in this space At that time I also took over the role of
Chairman of the BIC Board and worked very closely with Murray
McLaughlin Executive Director BIC In 2016 Murray McLaughlin
chose to step back as Executive Director and I was hired as his
replacement It is exciting to be back in a leadership role for an
organization with an inspiring vision and mission
LU For our readers who are unfamiliar with BIC could you
explain a little about the organisation and its aims
SM BIC is a nationally focused not-for-profit organization
based in Sarnia Ontario BICrsquos vision is to create jobs and
economic value sustainably for Canada BICrsquos mission is to
provide critical strategic investment advice and services to
THE LAST WORD WITHhellip SANDY MARSHALL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BIOINDUSTRIAL INNOVATION CANADA
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM20
FEATURE
business developers of clean green and sustainable technologies
Our expertise in commercialization builds a stronger Canada BIC
is focused on enabling Ontario and Canada to become globally
recognized leaders in converting renewable resources such as
agricultural and forestry by-products and residues into value-
added bioenergy biofuel biochemical and biomaterials for use
in a wide range of commercial applications along the chemistry
value chain to advanced manufacturing
LU BIC has worked with a number of companies is there a
particular project of which you are most proud
SM In 2012 BIC together with community leaders in Agriculture
embarked on a project to identify whether the Sarnia-Lambton
region could develop a source of cellulosic sugars using a biomass
supply chain based on agricultural residues BIC lead this project
with the support of numerous companies and government agencies
which lead to the formation of the Cellulosic Sugar Producers
Cooperative and identified Comet Bio as a viable technology
provider Currently these companies are partnering to establish the
worldrsquos first commercial cellulosic glucose sugar supply chain
LU What makes Canada a good home for a bio-based innovation
SM Canada is a vast country which is blessed with enormous
quantities of sustainably harvestable biomass both from forestry
and agriculture The access to raw materials is critical for the
success of any business venture Furthermore Canada is known
for its strong innovation capacity and its collaborative work
culture Together these attributes make Canada an ideal home of
the bio-based economy
LU What can agriculture do to better connect with bio-based
chemical and bio-based product manufactures
SM Agriculture needs to take a leadership role in the bio-
economy There has been a good start here in Canada It is
critical that the question about the availability of sustainably
harvestable biomass is answered through good science to allow
the industry to grow and leverage Canadarsquos great potential
Producers can also promote the bio-economy as an
opportunity to diversify their business models Generating
revenue through feedstock sales to bio-based chemical and
product producers or through participation as business partners
and investors in these ventures can be very beneficial in
reducing risk for all participants in the bio-economy
Government can support these entrepreneurial activities
through support of applied research and development of the
science to assure society that the bio-economy based on
agricultural feedstocks is both sustainable and critical to the
fight against climate change
LU What advice would you give someone looking to start a
bio-based business
SM Start with a solid business plan that clearly identified the
value proposition and can show profitability without relying on
long term government incentives I think that government has
an important role to de-risk early stage commercialization but
businesses must be able to show a path to successful commercial
independence
LU And finallyhellip whatrsquos your favourite sustainable bio-based
product
SM I do not have a favourite The petrochemical industry
succeeded based on leveraging all of the products in the barrel of
oil I see the bio-economy in the same way We need to valorize
all of the products in the truckload of biomass It is only through
leveraging sugars lignin renewable natural gas and the bio-
products produced from them that we can successfully build a
vibrant bio-economy n
ldquoTHE PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRY SUCCEEDED BASED ON LEVERAGING ALL OF THE PRODUCTS IN THE BARREL OF OIL I SEE THE BIO-ECONOMY IN THE SAME WAYrdquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 21
Now one project SWEETWOODS made up of
nine European companies all of whom have
wondered more about trees and their potential
is to begin producing wood-based biomaterials
for the first time on an industrial scale
This unique euro43 million bio-economy project funded by
the Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI JU) is now
underway with its key aim of developing a first-of-its-kind
bio-fractionation flagship plant in Estonia to turn sustainable
hardwood residues into high purity intermediate building blocks
of cellulosic sugars and high-quality lignin
To learn more about this project that has such huge potential
Bio-Based World Newsrsquo Luke Upton spoke exclusively to two
members of the consortium Matti Heikkilauml CTO of Finlandrsquos
pioneering enzyme technology company MetGen and Peep Pitk
RampD Manager of Europersquos largest pellet producer Graanul Invest
that is building up the wood fractionation flagship plant in Estonia
Matti tells more about the origins of the project ldquoThe concept
began around five years ago We knew about the potential of
wood that much more could be done with it and that a concept
of biorefining could transform hardwood into higher added value
products Most of the solutions and technologies to make this
happen were ready to be commercialised but we just needed to
match up the skills and partners to make the concept a realityrdquo
For Peep the opportunities of the partnership are clear ldquoThis
project really is a gamechangerrdquo He explains that it is outdated
understanding that the only way to valorise technological wood
is via highly resource demanding chemical pulping processes
The wood fractionation concept that we are working on can offer
PROJECT FOCUS CREATING HIGH PURITY LIGNIN AND AFFORDABLE PLATFORM CHEMICALS FROM WOOD-BASED SUGARSTHE AUTHOR AND POET RALPH WALDO EMERSON NO STRANGER TO THE BEAUTY OF THE NATURAL WORLD FAMOUSLY SAID THAT ldquoTHE WONDER IS THAT WE CAN SEE THESE TREES AND NOT WONDER MORErdquo SO MUCH OF OUR WORLD HAS ITS ROOTS IN OUR TREES FROM CLOTHES AND FURNITURE TO FOOD AND PAPER
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM8
FEATURE
so much more by converting over 90 of wood into useful high
value products with small ecological footprint
What is clear through the conversation with Matti and Peep is the
clarity of the SWEETWOODS vision Unlike some other projects
that pass through the bio-economy the goal and commercial
potential of the offering has been clear from the outset The
consortium powering the project connects all the links in the
value chain and covers the entire material process
By fractionating the wood into pure sugars and lignin it becomes
possible to further refine the material into high added value
products that can be used to replace oil-based chemicals and
plastics New bio-based consumer products including sports
mats insulation panels and replacements for plastics are just
some of the items mentioned in our discussion
Alongside MetGen and AS Graanul Invest the seven other
members of the European wide consortium are Tecnaro
Gesellschaft zur industriellen Anwendung Nachwachsender
Rohstoffe MBH (Germany) Ultima GMBH (Germany) Recticel
NV (Belgium) Global Bioenergies (France) 2B Srl (Italy) Vertech
Group (France) and Spinverse OY (Finland)
There has been a ldquospirit of collaborationrdquo among the partners
from the very start states Peep but the project has also
been greatly supported by the Bio-based Industries Joint
Undertaking (BBI JU) a public-private partnership between
the EU and the Bio-Based Industries Consortium (BIC) focused
on developing the European bio-based economy ldquoItrsquos been
very important to have had BBI-JU in supporting us They
have gathered industry expertees and offer a long-term
experienced view of what is required to build a successful bio-
economy consortium that can deliver a commercial successrdquo
says Matti ldquoWithout them it would have been far harder to
forge this alliancerdquo added Peep
The next steps for the project are to build the flagship plant
in Estonia to demonstrate its viability at industrial scale But
obviously there are still opportunities to take advantage of this
innovative projectrsquos outcomes ldquoWe are very much open for
discussions and open for business And by partnering now you
could still become an early adopter of the novel biomaterials in
diversity of end-use cases We believe this project will change the
way the wood industry is perceivedrdquo Matti concludes
To read more about the SWEETWOODS Project click here For
industrially representative lignin and sugars samples contact Peep Pitk
PeepPitkgraanulinvestcom For technology licensing opportunities
and modified lignin samples contact Mattimetgencom n
ldquoWE ARE VERY MUCH OPEN FOR DISCUSSIONS AND OPEN FOR BUSINESS AND BY PARTNERING NOW YOU COULD STILL BECOME AN EARLY ADOPTER OF THE NOVEL BIOMATERIALS IN DIVERSITY OF END-USE CASESrdquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 9
THE GREEN REVOLUTION WILL BE BLUE HARVESTING ALGAE FOR THE BIO-ECONOMY
When you think of algae what do you think of For
most people the thought of algae conjures up
images of a murky-looking pond However algae
are one of the largest unexploited resources on our
planet In fact the worldrsquos ocean could harbour up
to 1 million species depending on who you believe But we have just
barely begun to harvest and cultivate algae for mankindrsquos benefit
Algae are not just green stuff in the sea they are complex aquatic
organisms that have the ability to conduct photosynthesis
Algae have been used by human beings for a long time However
the number of companies developing algae-based biofuels
swelled in the 2000s as oil prices rose and supportive policies
were established for next-generation biofuels Yet when the
oil price dropped to record low levels in 2014 to under $35 per
barrel a lot of companies went bust backed away or shifted their
interests towards higher value markets such as health foods
beauty and personal care products and animal feed The use
of algae for applications in the nutraceutical chemicals and
cosmetic markets is growing in a world where companies are
increasingly seeking alternatives to fossil fuel-based products As
a result of this algae have come under the spotlight once again
However the industry has only industrialised a dozen or so of the
many variety of algae species so the opportunities are endless
HIGHLY-VALUED RESOURCE
So what opportunities exist By far the largest market for algae
commercialisation is the nutraceutical and animal feed sector
Today algae nutraceuticals generate around $05bn in revenue
annually according to Bloomberg In fact the most valuable
products made from algae today are human nutraceuticals such
as Omega 3 oils They can be sold in capsules in health stores or
added to food and drink products to enhance their offering
Algae-based food is big business In Asia macroalgae - also
known as seaweed is a highly valued resource with more
than 30 million tonnes farmed annually making it one of the
largest biomasses harvested from the oceans according to Jon
Funderud CEO at Norway-based Seaweed Energy Solutions
He says that more than half of this volume goes directly to human
consumption as healthy ldquosea vegetablesrdquo while the remainder
has various industrial uses such as for bioplastics animal feed or
fertilisers In Europe seaweeds are virtually unexploited but have
in recent years received a surge in interest both as a new super
food and for their potential as a bioenergy crop
However there has been no serious industrial efforts at large-
scale macroalgae farming because there has been no ldquooff the
shelfrdquo farming technology available Funderud says He says
the vast majority of seaweed farms in Asia are based on very
labour-intensive and low tech means with no real potential
for technology transfer to ldquohigh-cost countriesrdquo In Europe
the seaweed farming industry is still at pilot scale where the
production cost is still really expensive
Seaweed farming is not the only way to address feeding the
worldrsquos growing population Microalgae small microscopic aquatic
photosynthetic plants that require the aid of a microscope to be
seen can also do the job Ingmar Hoslashgoslashy chairman of Norway-
based microalgae technology company AlgaePro says that
microalgae can also provide food security and provide an alternative
to dairy and meat-based foods Matt Carr executive director of US
Algae Biomass Organisation concurs with Hoslashgoslashy and says that
algae used for nutraceutical sector and animal feed will drive growth
for the sector which in turn will help to produce more large-scale
production facilities and a variety of different production methods
BY LIZ GYEKYE
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM10
FEATURE
Unique production methods are already being utilised Scotland-
based biotechnology company ScotBio is just one firm doing just
this and has been successful in commercialising its natural blue
food colourant that is suitable for sweets ice cream and drinks
It was founded in 2007 and is based on the findings of PhD
student Chelsea Brain who found that a specific type of red light
increased the production of phycocyanin (natural blue pigment)
in microalgae spirulina
CEO DC Van Alstyne says the research that is happening in the UK
is ground-breaking on many fronts but many companies in the UK
have difficulty commercialising their innovations compared to the
US because the US academics tend to get more financial support
NOT JUST FOOD
In the US one company that is making waves in the algae-based
material space is California-based biotechnology company
Checkerspot The company is engineering microalgae to bring
high-performance materials to the market Checkerspot ferments
a class of sugar-eating microalgae called trebouxiophyceae
which swell with fat The company uses genetic engineering and
classical strain improvement to coax the algae to produce useful
triglycerides It is using this feedstock to create the foam used
in surfboards and is also working on creating water-repellent
coating for outdoor apparel
Another US company that is focusing on algae is oil giant Exxon
Mobil It is working with Synthetic Genomic to conduct a large
trial to engineer algae streams in outdoor settings to produce
biofuels In fact today most algae are grown outdoors in open
pods In contrast microalgae can be grown in lab with the help
of photobioreactors (a bioreactor that utilises a light source to
cultivate phototrophic microorganisms) and steel tanks
Yet environmental critics would question whether it was right
to genetically engineer these microorganisms for the good of
mankind Carr says ldquoUsing everything that we have already
learned in terms of containment researchers have designed
outdoor settings to ensure that they canrsquot produce the kinds of
negative environmental effects that some may fear You can do
that by engineering the organisms so that they canrsquot survive in
natural settingsrdquo
He says that algae producers in the US have been working with
the US Environmental Protection Agency to ensure that they are
designing systems that will not result in any kind of attack on the
broader eco system
In relation to the eco system waste wastewater treatment is
emerging as really important trend for algae Algae can be added
to wastewater or sewage to clean the water Carole Llewellyn
associate professor in applied aquatic bioscience at Swansea
University says algae can effectively capture and degrade
nitrogen and phosphorus in domestic wastewater and clear up
metals in mine wastewater streams
All of this looks promising However as Llewellyn says
ldquoHarvesting microalgae on a large scale and economically is a
challenge It is less of a challenge where the end product is of
high value but for low-value commodities low-cost harvesting
remains a challenge Some species are naturally self-flocculating
We probably need to understand this process a bit betterrdquo
Yet with only around 12 algae species industrialised the next step will
be to map the algae genome according to Carr It really does seem
like the world needs to prepare itself for a blue-green revolution n
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 11
ldquoWBM was very valuable to me since it brought all actors along the value chain of the bio-based economy around several tables in panel discussions I hardly know any other conference with so many different industry players presentrdquoRaul Pires VP New Technologies Covestro
MEET THE PRODUCERS AND BRANDS INVESTING IN BIO-BASED SOLUTIONS
Visit wwwWorldBioMarketscom Follow us Bio_BasedWorld WBM19
1-3 April 2019 Passenger Terminal Amsterdam Amsterdam
14th Annual
Produced by
US-based chemical engineer Frances Arnold
(pictured) is one of three scientists who have this
month been awarded the 2018 Nobel Prize in
Chemistry She has won the prize for her work on
the ldquodirected evolution of enzymesrdquo which is a bioengineering
method for creating new and better enzymes in the laboratory
using the principles of evolution Enzymes produced through
directed evolution are used to manufacture everything from
biofuels to pharmaceuticals
Directed evolution works in the same way that breeders mate
cats or dogs to bring out desired traits To perform the method
scientists begin by inducing mutations to the DNA or gene that
encodes a particular enzyme
An assortment of thousands of mutated enzymes is produced
and then tested for a desired trait The top-performing enzymes
are selected and the process is repeated to further enhance the
enzymesrsquo performances For instance in 2009 Arnold and her
team based at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
engineered enzymes that break down cellulose the main
component of plant cell walls creating better catalysts for turning
agricultural wastes into fuels and chemicals
A number of additional enzymes produced through directed
evolution are now used for a host of products including biofuels
agricultural chemicals paper products and pharmaceuticals
Arnold and her colleagues have also used directed evolution
to persuade bacteria to make chemicals not found in nature
including molecules containing silicon-carbon or boron-
carbon bonds or bicyclobutanes which contain energy-
packed carbon rings
By using bacteria researchers can potentially make these
chemical compounds in ldquogreenerrdquo ways that are more
economical and produce less toxic waste
Arnold ( francesarnold ) was born on 25 July 1956 in Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania and arrived at Caltech as a visiting associate in 1986
and was named assistant professor in 1987 associate professor in
1992 and professor in 1996
Speaking about her Nobel prize Arnold said she was ldquoabsolutely
flooredrdquo to receive the award adding ldquoI have to wrap my head
around this Itrsquos not something I was expectingrdquo
ldquoMy entire career I have been concerned about the damage we
are doing to the planet and each otherrdquo Arnold said ldquoScience
and technology can play a major role in mitigating our negative
influences on the environment
Changing behaviour is even more important However I feel
that change is easier when there are good economically-viable
alternatives to harmful habitsrdquo n
NOBEL NOD FOR THE GREEN PIONEER BEHIND lsquoDIRECTED
EVOLUTION ENZYMESrsquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 13
FEATURE
BRANDS A PRAGMATIC APPROACH TO BIO-BASED CHEMICALSCHRISTOPHE SCHILLING CEO GENOMATICA
The brands I speak with have well-crafted
plans for advancing the sustainability of their
products These address choosing materials
for recyclability considering end-of-life
reuse energy consumption during
production packaging and community-related issues
consistent with the United Nationsrsquo Sustainable
Development Goals
I was particularly energized by my conversations at the
VERGE18 conference where I was asked to be a discussion
leader at the Circular Plastics Summit co-led by the Ellen
MacArthur Foundation (I encourage you to read their New
Plastics Economy and Make Fashion Circular reports)
Increasingly brands are seeing the opportunity to improve
sustainability through increased use of renewably-sourced
materials This approach is part of a broader set of initiatives
to increase circularity in a range of global material flows
Although these approaches offer compelling benefits
making them happen can be challenging In this article Irsquod
like to share some ideas for tangible near-term actions that
emerged from my recent discussions as they apply to bio-
based chemicals
ONE KEY LEARNING CLOSER IS BETTER
Wersquove found that brands are more energized to act when
key chemicals are ldquocloserrdquo to their end products in the
sense of making up a substantial portion of the end
product A great example is nylon where the key chemical
caprolactam is only one step away from conversion to
nylon Genomatica is developing technology for bio-based
caprolactam which is then made into 100 bio-based
nylon-6 for apparel and carpet we announced Aquafil as
a partner in early 2018 Brands appreciate that moving to
100 bio-based nylon could allow them to have a major
impact on the sustainability of their products and on their
market differentiation
To make that happen only one chemical needs to be made
renewably This announcement was followed by Project
EFFECTIVE which aims to commercialize better fibers and
plastics and includes four major brands ndash HampM Vaude Carvico
and Balsan EFFECTIVE supported by the EUrsquos Horizon2020
program will use Genomaticarsquos caprolactam technology as
well as technology for the first bio-based chemical delivered
by Genomatica for 14-butanediol (BDO) to enable higher
renewable content in polyesters and polyurethanes
Two more examples are instructive First Genomatica has
also commercialized its Brontidetrade bio-based butylene glycol
Itrsquos certainly close to the customer as itrsquos used directly in
personal care and cosmetics products As a result
Brontide has resonated with major brands that
emphasize naturalness and purity Second is
Genomaticarsquos aforementioned BDO At
first glance BDO is a few conversion
ldquoWHEN BRANDS ARE LOOKING FOR NEAR-TERM IMPACT THEY NEED A BIO-BASED TECHNOLOGY THAT REALLY WORKSrdquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM14
FEATURE
steps away from most products But brands that look deeper have
realized they can quickly improve the sustainability of polymers
used in common urethane foams (for example) by replacing just
the BDO part with a bio-based version That wonrsquot take the product
to 100 but it allows for a fast improvement through better
understanding of where a productrsquos ingredients come from
ANOTHER IT HAS TO WORK
When brands are looking for near-term impact they need a bio-
based technology that really works That means it can be produced
at commercial scale today with competitive economics Tangible
examples like bio-based BDO and Brontide deliver immediate
opportunities and build confidence that the technology side of
our industry can deliver further innovations A recent example is
Novamontrsquos production of compostable biodegradable plastics
in Italy using bio-based BDO Their plant with a 30000 ton per
year capacity has helped revitalize the local economy providing
a market for farmersrsquo products plus the refurbishing of an older
industrial facility creating many jobs Novamont has secured
multiple well-known brands as customers including UK retailer
Co-op which will replace 180 million bags As brands see
biotechnology deliver at scale many want to learn whatrsquos next
WHAT BRANDS CAN DO NOW
To see how bio-based chemicals can fit your sustainability
strategy we recommend the following
bull Increase internal awareness and understanding This starts
with a deeper understanding of where your key production
inputs come from and how they are made When coupled
with greater exposure to what biotechnology can do it helps
prioritize what parts of your supply chain can be improved
Leverage outside expertise ndash invite biotech firms to share
what they know and do
bull Involve your upstream chemical and material suppliers
Give them updated requirements tied to your sustainability
objectives Encourage them to have direct discussions with
the biotechnology firms and biochemical producers that
expand their options and fit your needs
bull Be clear about your shopping list and priorities This allows
biotechnology firms and chemicalmaterial producers to
provide feedback and look for areas of overlap
bull Send tangible market signals If suppliers know yoursquore serious
about moving to more sustainable ingredients and process
technologies theyrsquoll pay attention This can tie directly to your
Corporate Sustainability Reporting and objectives
bull Publicise and celebrate your choices Let your customers
know about your process for improving and milestones along
the way Press releases speaking at conferences blogs and
tweets can all be effective
bull Get ldquoinside the tentrdquo with preferred partners Some of your
technology or supply chain partners can share more insights
or have a greater impact on your results Invest in ideation and
exploration if needed Close partnerships can help you influence
their priorities or gain early access to advantaged ingredients n
Irsquoll be a speaker at World Bio Markets in April Contact
me directly at cschillinggenomaticacom if yoursquod like
to discuss your companyrsquos vision and needs sooner
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 15
Yes thatrsquos us down there Yes you know us as a prime tourist destination and a business service hub But did you know that in the port of Amsterdam we have one of Europersquos largest biorefinery clustersThe port also has reliable infrastructure logistics providers and terminals utilities feedstock and markets literally at spitting distance Schiphol Airport is as you know just around the corner We reserved space for your business to grow Biopark Amsterdam So consider Amsterdam you are more than welcome to join us Discover our success stories on portofamsterdamcom
The greatest port you never thought of
Considered Amsterdam
In our industry where explaining the benefits of a
product can sometimes be a challenge a good
boost was received this week A familiar name to
most of our readers the Brazilian chemicals
company Braskem producers of Irsquom green ndash a
bio-based polyethylene made from sugarcane ndash has had its
negative carbon footprint credentials strengthened thanks to an
independent review The assessment was carried out by the
Carbon Trust an international organisation that helps businesses
governments and the public sector to accelerate the move to a
more sustainable low carbon economy And the result is that
Braskemrsquos bio-based plastic as used by LEGO (pictured above)
among others is effectively carbon-negative
In a new report comparing Irsquom green with fossil-based equivalents
the Carbon Trust has endorsed the methodology used by Braskem
to support claims that for every tonne of Irsquom green produced the
equivalent of around 3 tonnes of CO2 are locked away by the
sugarcane which provides the main raw material for its manufacture
Capturing CO2 during its lifecycle Irsquom green avoids emissions
related to the production of fossil fuel feedstock thereby
providing a net saving of the equivalent of around 5 tonnes of
CO2sup1 by the end of the plastic manufacturing process
Irsquom green is 100 recyclable plastic currently being used in a
range of applications from food packaging to personal care
products as well as more durable goods such as chairs and vases
Brand owners are increasingly responding to climate change
by reducing their carbon footprint which requires investment
in more efficient processes and using innovative renewable
materials Braskemrsquos Irsquom green is made from a renewable
feedstock and can make a significant contribution to reduce
carbon emissions
John Newton Associated Director at the Carbon Trust said ldquoTo
address climate change we will need innovative materials that
are radically lower in emissions compared to what is commonly
used today Products like Irsquom green which help lock away carbon
emissions in their production can be a real part of the solutionrdquo
Marco Jansen Commercial Director Renewable Chemicals at
Braskem said ldquoWersquore delighted that credible association Carbon
Trust further validates our calculations of Irsquom greenrsquos carbon
footprint Our customers know Irsquom green polyethylene is a smart
and sustainable way to reduce a productrsquos carbon footprint and we
hope more brands will use it as a renewable solution in the futurerdquo
This news will no doubt have been welcomed by LEGO too as
Braskem will supply the LEGO Group with Irsquom green as it makes
it switch to bio-based bricks Already in 2018 Green Plastic has
been used in the lsquobotanicalrsquo elements range such as trees bushes
and leaves that sold quickly once released
The LCA Summary is available here A one-page statement is
available here n
ITrsquoS OFFICIAL BRASKEMrsquoS CARBON-NEGATIVE
CLAIMS FOR ITS BIO-BASED PLASTIC ARE APPROVED
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 17
ldquo IT IS THE WAY TO STEP FORWARD TO AN EARTH-FRIENDLY SOLUTION REDUCING PETROLEUM BASED MATERIALSrdquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM18
FEATURE
BIO-BASED A POSSIBLE SOLUTION
TO MASTERCARDrsquoS SEARCH FOR MORE
SUSTAINABLE BANK CARDS
For many years the idea of going green with your
credit or debit card payments was limited to
buying sustainable products donating to
charities or paying for carbon offsets But now a
new alliance is aiming to green the card itself as
part of a wider array of actions a broader part of the payments
industry Global payment giants Mastercard and card
manufacturers Gemalto Giesecke+Devrient and IDEMIA have
this month launched the Greener Payments Partnership to
establish environmental best practices and reduce first-use PVC
plastic in card manufacturing Roughly six billion plastic payment
cards are made each year according to The Nilson Report
While Mastercard analysis shows that this is less than 0015
percent of the volume of plastic manufactured each year there
is room to improve that through the use of alternative materials
ldquoConsumers are increasingly moving from cash to card as they
look for greater security and sustainabilityrdquo commented Ajay
Bhalla president cyber and intelligence solutions Mastercard
( MastercardNews ) ldquoThis partnership will help us and our
industry reduce first-use plastic in cards Together we can
build on recent research and tests and drive adoption of
environmentally-friendly materials on a larger scalerdquo
Research and analysis into recyclable bio-sourced and bio-
degradable materials is already underway and now included in
this remit The partnership commits to accelerating that research
with the goal of delivering globally available solutions to reduce
first-use PVC plastic in card manufacturing in a matter of years
ldquoResponsible use of natural resources and protection of our
climate and environment are core elements of G+Drsquos Corporate
Responsibility policy We are committed to ensuring that our
entire value chain is sustainable and to continuously reducing
our ecological footprint As a participant of the Greener Payment
Partnership we work on the standardization of bio-sourced
materials in payment cards It is the way to step forward to an
earth-friendly solution reducing petroleum based materialsrdquo
says Gabrielle Bugat Head of the Financial Services Division at
Giesecke+Devrient Mobile Security
The group will also ensure best practices around how materials
are evaluated including environmental impact benefits and the
ability to meet increasing consumer concerns around the impact
of plastic globally
ldquoItrsquos no secret that we all need to change the way we live and
consume to reduce the impact wersquore having on our planet For
IDEMIA itrsquos essential as an industrial leader to effect change
for the better and play our part to reduce for instance our
reliance on plasticrdquo said Pierre Barrial executive vice president
for financial institutions activities at IDEMIA ( IdemiaGroup )
ldquoWersquore delighted to partner with Mastercard to deliver viable
environmentally friendly alternatives that bring positive change
to the industry as a wholerdquo
ldquoEnvironmental-friendly products are now a priority for all
stakeholders in the payment eco-systemrdquo says Sylvie Gibert
senior vice president of payment cards Gemalto ldquoWe are
committed to supporting this partnership formed by Mastercard
and we have already adopted sustainable practices in our
banking card business This initiative comes at a time where we
see a growing interest from the banks for greener cardsrdquo
This is no the first foray into bio-materials for Mastercard in
2016 they partnered with the Finnish Bank of Aringland WWF
Finland KPMG and Gemalto to create a credit card made of
renewable and biodegradable materials n
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 19
We regularly feature stories emerging from Canada
whether itrsquos about a new way to harness the
nations huge amounts of harvestable biomass
the commercialization of an innovation emerging
from one of their many illustrious university
laboratories or the growth in popularity of a bio-based product
for an increasingly environmentally aware population
So in order to learn more about one of the worldrsquos most vibrant
bio-economies our editor Luke Upton recently sat down with
Sandy Marshall the Executive Director of Bioindustrial Innovation
Canada a not-for-profit organisation focussed on catalysing the
further commercialisation of the bio-economy In a wide ranging
discussion they looked at how agriculture can better connect
with the bio-economy advice on starting a business and what
makes Canada so strong in this area
Luke Upton (LU) Thanks for the time today so as an
introduction ndash whatrsquos been your personal path to becoming
executive director of Bioindustrial Innovation Canada
Sandy Marshall (SM) I was raised on a farm near Blyth
Ontario Canada before graduating with Bachelor of Applied
Science Degree (BASc) and Masters of Applied Science Degree
(MASc) in Chemical Engineering from the University of Waterloo
I started my professional career in 1984 with Polysar Inc a
Canadian rubber manufacturer Over my 30 year career in
the chemical and polymers industry I worked in research and
process product development and market development before
moving into Operations and General Management I had two
international assignment one with Bayer AG in Germany and a
second with Lanxess in Cincinnati USA I finished my corporate
career as President and Managing Director responsible for
Canadian Operations of Lanxess Canada I have been recognized
as a leader committed to Corporate Social Responsibility and
environmental sustainability in Canada
I am very interested in sustainable chemistry and have been an
active Board member for Bioindustrial Innovation Canada (BIC)
from its inception in 2008 After I left Lanxess in 2013 I began
consulting in this space At that time I also took over the role of
Chairman of the BIC Board and worked very closely with Murray
McLaughlin Executive Director BIC In 2016 Murray McLaughlin
chose to step back as Executive Director and I was hired as his
replacement It is exciting to be back in a leadership role for an
organization with an inspiring vision and mission
LU For our readers who are unfamiliar with BIC could you
explain a little about the organisation and its aims
SM BIC is a nationally focused not-for-profit organization
based in Sarnia Ontario BICrsquos vision is to create jobs and
economic value sustainably for Canada BICrsquos mission is to
provide critical strategic investment advice and services to
THE LAST WORD WITHhellip SANDY MARSHALL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BIOINDUSTRIAL INNOVATION CANADA
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM20
FEATURE
business developers of clean green and sustainable technologies
Our expertise in commercialization builds a stronger Canada BIC
is focused on enabling Ontario and Canada to become globally
recognized leaders in converting renewable resources such as
agricultural and forestry by-products and residues into value-
added bioenergy biofuel biochemical and biomaterials for use
in a wide range of commercial applications along the chemistry
value chain to advanced manufacturing
LU BIC has worked with a number of companies is there a
particular project of which you are most proud
SM In 2012 BIC together with community leaders in Agriculture
embarked on a project to identify whether the Sarnia-Lambton
region could develop a source of cellulosic sugars using a biomass
supply chain based on agricultural residues BIC lead this project
with the support of numerous companies and government agencies
which lead to the formation of the Cellulosic Sugar Producers
Cooperative and identified Comet Bio as a viable technology
provider Currently these companies are partnering to establish the
worldrsquos first commercial cellulosic glucose sugar supply chain
LU What makes Canada a good home for a bio-based innovation
SM Canada is a vast country which is blessed with enormous
quantities of sustainably harvestable biomass both from forestry
and agriculture The access to raw materials is critical for the
success of any business venture Furthermore Canada is known
for its strong innovation capacity and its collaborative work
culture Together these attributes make Canada an ideal home of
the bio-based economy
LU What can agriculture do to better connect with bio-based
chemical and bio-based product manufactures
SM Agriculture needs to take a leadership role in the bio-
economy There has been a good start here in Canada It is
critical that the question about the availability of sustainably
harvestable biomass is answered through good science to allow
the industry to grow and leverage Canadarsquos great potential
Producers can also promote the bio-economy as an
opportunity to diversify their business models Generating
revenue through feedstock sales to bio-based chemical and
product producers or through participation as business partners
and investors in these ventures can be very beneficial in
reducing risk for all participants in the bio-economy
Government can support these entrepreneurial activities
through support of applied research and development of the
science to assure society that the bio-economy based on
agricultural feedstocks is both sustainable and critical to the
fight against climate change
LU What advice would you give someone looking to start a
bio-based business
SM Start with a solid business plan that clearly identified the
value proposition and can show profitability without relying on
long term government incentives I think that government has
an important role to de-risk early stage commercialization but
businesses must be able to show a path to successful commercial
independence
LU And finallyhellip whatrsquos your favourite sustainable bio-based
product
SM I do not have a favourite The petrochemical industry
succeeded based on leveraging all of the products in the barrel of
oil I see the bio-economy in the same way We need to valorize
all of the products in the truckload of biomass It is only through
leveraging sugars lignin renewable natural gas and the bio-
products produced from them that we can successfully build a
vibrant bio-economy n
ldquoTHE PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRY SUCCEEDED BASED ON LEVERAGING ALL OF THE PRODUCTS IN THE BARREL OF OIL I SEE THE BIO-ECONOMY IN THE SAME WAYrdquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 21
so much more by converting over 90 of wood into useful high
value products with small ecological footprint
What is clear through the conversation with Matti and Peep is the
clarity of the SWEETWOODS vision Unlike some other projects
that pass through the bio-economy the goal and commercial
potential of the offering has been clear from the outset The
consortium powering the project connects all the links in the
value chain and covers the entire material process
By fractionating the wood into pure sugars and lignin it becomes
possible to further refine the material into high added value
products that can be used to replace oil-based chemicals and
plastics New bio-based consumer products including sports
mats insulation panels and replacements for plastics are just
some of the items mentioned in our discussion
Alongside MetGen and AS Graanul Invest the seven other
members of the European wide consortium are Tecnaro
Gesellschaft zur industriellen Anwendung Nachwachsender
Rohstoffe MBH (Germany) Ultima GMBH (Germany) Recticel
NV (Belgium) Global Bioenergies (France) 2B Srl (Italy) Vertech
Group (France) and Spinverse OY (Finland)
There has been a ldquospirit of collaborationrdquo among the partners
from the very start states Peep but the project has also
been greatly supported by the Bio-based Industries Joint
Undertaking (BBI JU) a public-private partnership between
the EU and the Bio-Based Industries Consortium (BIC) focused
on developing the European bio-based economy ldquoItrsquos been
very important to have had BBI-JU in supporting us They
have gathered industry expertees and offer a long-term
experienced view of what is required to build a successful bio-
economy consortium that can deliver a commercial successrdquo
says Matti ldquoWithout them it would have been far harder to
forge this alliancerdquo added Peep
The next steps for the project are to build the flagship plant
in Estonia to demonstrate its viability at industrial scale But
obviously there are still opportunities to take advantage of this
innovative projectrsquos outcomes ldquoWe are very much open for
discussions and open for business And by partnering now you
could still become an early adopter of the novel biomaterials in
diversity of end-use cases We believe this project will change the
way the wood industry is perceivedrdquo Matti concludes
To read more about the SWEETWOODS Project click here For
industrially representative lignin and sugars samples contact Peep Pitk
PeepPitkgraanulinvestcom For technology licensing opportunities
and modified lignin samples contact Mattimetgencom n
ldquoWE ARE VERY MUCH OPEN FOR DISCUSSIONS AND OPEN FOR BUSINESS AND BY PARTNERING NOW YOU COULD STILL BECOME AN EARLY ADOPTER OF THE NOVEL BIOMATERIALS IN DIVERSITY OF END-USE CASESrdquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 9
THE GREEN REVOLUTION WILL BE BLUE HARVESTING ALGAE FOR THE BIO-ECONOMY
When you think of algae what do you think of For
most people the thought of algae conjures up
images of a murky-looking pond However algae
are one of the largest unexploited resources on our
planet In fact the worldrsquos ocean could harbour up
to 1 million species depending on who you believe But we have just
barely begun to harvest and cultivate algae for mankindrsquos benefit
Algae are not just green stuff in the sea they are complex aquatic
organisms that have the ability to conduct photosynthesis
Algae have been used by human beings for a long time However
the number of companies developing algae-based biofuels
swelled in the 2000s as oil prices rose and supportive policies
were established for next-generation biofuels Yet when the
oil price dropped to record low levels in 2014 to under $35 per
barrel a lot of companies went bust backed away or shifted their
interests towards higher value markets such as health foods
beauty and personal care products and animal feed The use
of algae for applications in the nutraceutical chemicals and
cosmetic markets is growing in a world where companies are
increasingly seeking alternatives to fossil fuel-based products As
a result of this algae have come under the spotlight once again
However the industry has only industrialised a dozen or so of the
many variety of algae species so the opportunities are endless
HIGHLY-VALUED RESOURCE
So what opportunities exist By far the largest market for algae
commercialisation is the nutraceutical and animal feed sector
Today algae nutraceuticals generate around $05bn in revenue
annually according to Bloomberg In fact the most valuable
products made from algae today are human nutraceuticals such
as Omega 3 oils They can be sold in capsules in health stores or
added to food and drink products to enhance their offering
Algae-based food is big business In Asia macroalgae - also
known as seaweed is a highly valued resource with more
than 30 million tonnes farmed annually making it one of the
largest biomasses harvested from the oceans according to Jon
Funderud CEO at Norway-based Seaweed Energy Solutions
He says that more than half of this volume goes directly to human
consumption as healthy ldquosea vegetablesrdquo while the remainder
has various industrial uses such as for bioplastics animal feed or
fertilisers In Europe seaweeds are virtually unexploited but have
in recent years received a surge in interest both as a new super
food and for their potential as a bioenergy crop
However there has been no serious industrial efforts at large-
scale macroalgae farming because there has been no ldquooff the
shelfrdquo farming technology available Funderud says He says
the vast majority of seaweed farms in Asia are based on very
labour-intensive and low tech means with no real potential
for technology transfer to ldquohigh-cost countriesrdquo In Europe
the seaweed farming industry is still at pilot scale where the
production cost is still really expensive
Seaweed farming is not the only way to address feeding the
worldrsquos growing population Microalgae small microscopic aquatic
photosynthetic plants that require the aid of a microscope to be
seen can also do the job Ingmar Hoslashgoslashy chairman of Norway-
based microalgae technology company AlgaePro says that
microalgae can also provide food security and provide an alternative
to dairy and meat-based foods Matt Carr executive director of US
Algae Biomass Organisation concurs with Hoslashgoslashy and says that
algae used for nutraceutical sector and animal feed will drive growth
for the sector which in turn will help to produce more large-scale
production facilities and a variety of different production methods
BY LIZ GYEKYE
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM10
FEATURE
Unique production methods are already being utilised Scotland-
based biotechnology company ScotBio is just one firm doing just
this and has been successful in commercialising its natural blue
food colourant that is suitable for sweets ice cream and drinks
It was founded in 2007 and is based on the findings of PhD
student Chelsea Brain who found that a specific type of red light
increased the production of phycocyanin (natural blue pigment)
in microalgae spirulina
CEO DC Van Alstyne says the research that is happening in the UK
is ground-breaking on many fronts but many companies in the UK
have difficulty commercialising their innovations compared to the
US because the US academics tend to get more financial support
NOT JUST FOOD
In the US one company that is making waves in the algae-based
material space is California-based biotechnology company
Checkerspot The company is engineering microalgae to bring
high-performance materials to the market Checkerspot ferments
a class of sugar-eating microalgae called trebouxiophyceae
which swell with fat The company uses genetic engineering and
classical strain improvement to coax the algae to produce useful
triglycerides It is using this feedstock to create the foam used
in surfboards and is also working on creating water-repellent
coating for outdoor apparel
Another US company that is focusing on algae is oil giant Exxon
Mobil It is working with Synthetic Genomic to conduct a large
trial to engineer algae streams in outdoor settings to produce
biofuels In fact today most algae are grown outdoors in open
pods In contrast microalgae can be grown in lab with the help
of photobioreactors (a bioreactor that utilises a light source to
cultivate phototrophic microorganisms) and steel tanks
Yet environmental critics would question whether it was right
to genetically engineer these microorganisms for the good of
mankind Carr says ldquoUsing everything that we have already
learned in terms of containment researchers have designed
outdoor settings to ensure that they canrsquot produce the kinds of
negative environmental effects that some may fear You can do
that by engineering the organisms so that they canrsquot survive in
natural settingsrdquo
He says that algae producers in the US have been working with
the US Environmental Protection Agency to ensure that they are
designing systems that will not result in any kind of attack on the
broader eco system
In relation to the eco system waste wastewater treatment is
emerging as really important trend for algae Algae can be added
to wastewater or sewage to clean the water Carole Llewellyn
associate professor in applied aquatic bioscience at Swansea
University says algae can effectively capture and degrade
nitrogen and phosphorus in domestic wastewater and clear up
metals in mine wastewater streams
All of this looks promising However as Llewellyn says
ldquoHarvesting microalgae on a large scale and economically is a
challenge It is less of a challenge where the end product is of
high value but for low-value commodities low-cost harvesting
remains a challenge Some species are naturally self-flocculating
We probably need to understand this process a bit betterrdquo
Yet with only around 12 algae species industrialised the next step will
be to map the algae genome according to Carr It really does seem
like the world needs to prepare itself for a blue-green revolution n
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 11
ldquoWBM was very valuable to me since it brought all actors along the value chain of the bio-based economy around several tables in panel discussions I hardly know any other conference with so many different industry players presentrdquoRaul Pires VP New Technologies Covestro
MEET THE PRODUCERS AND BRANDS INVESTING IN BIO-BASED SOLUTIONS
Visit wwwWorldBioMarketscom Follow us Bio_BasedWorld WBM19
1-3 April 2019 Passenger Terminal Amsterdam Amsterdam
14th Annual
Produced by
US-based chemical engineer Frances Arnold
(pictured) is one of three scientists who have this
month been awarded the 2018 Nobel Prize in
Chemistry She has won the prize for her work on
the ldquodirected evolution of enzymesrdquo which is a bioengineering
method for creating new and better enzymes in the laboratory
using the principles of evolution Enzymes produced through
directed evolution are used to manufacture everything from
biofuels to pharmaceuticals
Directed evolution works in the same way that breeders mate
cats or dogs to bring out desired traits To perform the method
scientists begin by inducing mutations to the DNA or gene that
encodes a particular enzyme
An assortment of thousands of mutated enzymes is produced
and then tested for a desired trait The top-performing enzymes
are selected and the process is repeated to further enhance the
enzymesrsquo performances For instance in 2009 Arnold and her
team based at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
engineered enzymes that break down cellulose the main
component of plant cell walls creating better catalysts for turning
agricultural wastes into fuels and chemicals
A number of additional enzymes produced through directed
evolution are now used for a host of products including biofuels
agricultural chemicals paper products and pharmaceuticals
Arnold and her colleagues have also used directed evolution
to persuade bacteria to make chemicals not found in nature
including molecules containing silicon-carbon or boron-
carbon bonds or bicyclobutanes which contain energy-
packed carbon rings
By using bacteria researchers can potentially make these
chemical compounds in ldquogreenerrdquo ways that are more
economical and produce less toxic waste
Arnold ( francesarnold ) was born on 25 July 1956 in Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania and arrived at Caltech as a visiting associate in 1986
and was named assistant professor in 1987 associate professor in
1992 and professor in 1996
Speaking about her Nobel prize Arnold said she was ldquoabsolutely
flooredrdquo to receive the award adding ldquoI have to wrap my head
around this Itrsquos not something I was expectingrdquo
ldquoMy entire career I have been concerned about the damage we
are doing to the planet and each otherrdquo Arnold said ldquoScience
and technology can play a major role in mitigating our negative
influences on the environment
Changing behaviour is even more important However I feel
that change is easier when there are good economically-viable
alternatives to harmful habitsrdquo n
NOBEL NOD FOR THE GREEN PIONEER BEHIND lsquoDIRECTED
EVOLUTION ENZYMESrsquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 13
FEATURE
BRANDS A PRAGMATIC APPROACH TO BIO-BASED CHEMICALSCHRISTOPHE SCHILLING CEO GENOMATICA
The brands I speak with have well-crafted
plans for advancing the sustainability of their
products These address choosing materials
for recyclability considering end-of-life
reuse energy consumption during
production packaging and community-related issues
consistent with the United Nationsrsquo Sustainable
Development Goals
I was particularly energized by my conversations at the
VERGE18 conference where I was asked to be a discussion
leader at the Circular Plastics Summit co-led by the Ellen
MacArthur Foundation (I encourage you to read their New
Plastics Economy and Make Fashion Circular reports)
Increasingly brands are seeing the opportunity to improve
sustainability through increased use of renewably-sourced
materials This approach is part of a broader set of initiatives
to increase circularity in a range of global material flows
Although these approaches offer compelling benefits
making them happen can be challenging In this article Irsquod
like to share some ideas for tangible near-term actions that
emerged from my recent discussions as they apply to bio-
based chemicals
ONE KEY LEARNING CLOSER IS BETTER
Wersquove found that brands are more energized to act when
key chemicals are ldquocloserrdquo to their end products in the
sense of making up a substantial portion of the end
product A great example is nylon where the key chemical
caprolactam is only one step away from conversion to
nylon Genomatica is developing technology for bio-based
caprolactam which is then made into 100 bio-based
nylon-6 for apparel and carpet we announced Aquafil as
a partner in early 2018 Brands appreciate that moving to
100 bio-based nylon could allow them to have a major
impact on the sustainability of their products and on their
market differentiation
To make that happen only one chemical needs to be made
renewably This announcement was followed by Project
EFFECTIVE which aims to commercialize better fibers and
plastics and includes four major brands ndash HampM Vaude Carvico
and Balsan EFFECTIVE supported by the EUrsquos Horizon2020
program will use Genomaticarsquos caprolactam technology as
well as technology for the first bio-based chemical delivered
by Genomatica for 14-butanediol (BDO) to enable higher
renewable content in polyesters and polyurethanes
Two more examples are instructive First Genomatica has
also commercialized its Brontidetrade bio-based butylene glycol
Itrsquos certainly close to the customer as itrsquos used directly in
personal care and cosmetics products As a result
Brontide has resonated with major brands that
emphasize naturalness and purity Second is
Genomaticarsquos aforementioned BDO At
first glance BDO is a few conversion
ldquoWHEN BRANDS ARE LOOKING FOR NEAR-TERM IMPACT THEY NEED A BIO-BASED TECHNOLOGY THAT REALLY WORKSrdquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM14
FEATURE
steps away from most products But brands that look deeper have
realized they can quickly improve the sustainability of polymers
used in common urethane foams (for example) by replacing just
the BDO part with a bio-based version That wonrsquot take the product
to 100 but it allows for a fast improvement through better
understanding of where a productrsquos ingredients come from
ANOTHER IT HAS TO WORK
When brands are looking for near-term impact they need a bio-
based technology that really works That means it can be produced
at commercial scale today with competitive economics Tangible
examples like bio-based BDO and Brontide deliver immediate
opportunities and build confidence that the technology side of
our industry can deliver further innovations A recent example is
Novamontrsquos production of compostable biodegradable plastics
in Italy using bio-based BDO Their plant with a 30000 ton per
year capacity has helped revitalize the local economy providing
a market for farmersrsquo products plus the refurbishing of an older
industrial facility creating many jobs Novamont has secured
multiple well-known brands as customers including UK retailer
Co-op which will replace 180 million bags As brands see
biotechnology deliver at scale many want to learn whatrsquos next
WHAT BRANDS CAN DO NOW
To see how bio-based chemicals can fit your sustainability
strategy we recommend the following
bull Increase internal awareness and understanding This starts
with a deeper understanding of where your key production
inputs come from and how they are made When coupled
with greater exposure to what biotechnology can do it helps
prioritize what parts of your supply chain can be improved
Leverage outside expertise ndash invite biotech firms to share
what they know and do
bull Involve your upstream chemical and material suppliers
Give them updated requirements tied to your sustainability
objectives Encourage them to have direct discussions with
the biotechnology firms and biochemical producers that
expand their options and fit your needs
bull Be clear about your shopping list and priorities This allows
biotechnology firms and chemicalmaterial producers to
provide feedback and look for areas of overlap
bull Send tangible market signals If suppliers know yoursquore serious
about moving to more sustainable ingredients and process
technologies theyrsquoll pay attention This can tie directly to your
Corporate Sustainability Reporting and objectives
bull Publicise and celebrate your choices Let your customers
know about your process for improving and milestones along
the way Press releases speaking at conferences blogs and
tweets can all be effective
bull Get ldquoinside the tentrdquo with preferred partners Some of your
technology or supply chain partners can share more insights
or have a greater impact on your results Invest in ideation and
exploration if needed Close partnerships can help you influence
their priorities or gain early access to advantaged ingredients n
Irsquoll be a speaker at World Bio Markets in April Contact
me directly at cschillinggenomaticacom if yoursquod like
to discuss your companyrsquos vision and needs sooner
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 15
Yes thatrsquos us down there Yes you know us as a prime tourist destination and a business service hub But did you know that in the port of Amsterdam we have one of Europersquos largest biorefinery clustersThe port also has reliable infrastructure logistics providers and terminals utilities feedstock and markets literally at spitting distance Schiphol Airport is as you know just around the corner We reserved space for your business to grow Biopark Amsterdam So consider Amsterdam you are more than welcome to join us Discover our success stories on portofamsterdamcom
The greatest port you never thought of
Considered Amsterdam
In our industry where explaining the benefits of a
product can sometimes be a challenge a good
boost was received this week A familiar name to
most of our readers the Brazilian chemicals
company Braskem producers of Irsquom green ndash a
bio-based polyethylene made from sugarcane ndash has had its
negative carbon footprint credentials strengthened thanks to an
independent review The assessment was carried out by the
Carbon Trust an international organisation that helps businesses
governments and the public sector to accelerate the move to a
more sustainable low carbon economy And the result is that
Braskemrsquos bio-based plastic as used by LEGO (pictured above)
among others is effectively carbon-negative
In a new report comparing Irsquom green with fossil-based equivalents
the Carbon Trust has endorsed the methodology used by Braskem
to support claims that for every tonne of Irsquom green produced the
equivalent of around 3 tonnes of CO2 are locked away by the
sugarcane which provides the main raw material for its manufacture
Capturing CO2 during its lifecycle Irsquom green avoids emissions
related to the production of fossil fuel feedstock thereby
providing a net saving of the equivalent of around 5 tonnes of
CO2sup1 by the end of the plastic manufacturing process
Irsquom green is 100 recyclable plastic currently being used in a
range of applications from food packaging to personal care
products as well as more durable goods such as chairs and vases
Brand owners are increasingly responding to climate change
by reducing their carbon footprint which requires investment
in more efficient processes and using innovative renewable
materials Braskemrsquos Irsquom green is made from a renewable
feedstock and can make a significant contribution to reduce
carbon emissions
John Newton Associated Director at the Carbon Trust said ldquoTo
address climate change we will need innovative materials that
are radically lower in emissions compared to what is commonly
used today Products like Irsquom green which help lock away carbon
emissions in their production can be a real part of the solutionrdquo
Marco Jansen Commercial Director Renewable Chemicals at
Braskem said ldquoWersquore delighted that credible association Carbon
Trust further validates our calculations of Irsquom greenrsquos carbon
footprint Our customers know Irsquom green polyethylene is a smart
and sustainable way to reduce a productrsquos carbon footprint and we
hope more brands will use it as a renewable solution in the futurerdquo
This news will no doubt have been welcomed by LEGO too as
Braskem will supply the LEGO Group with Irsquom green as it makes
it switch to bio-based bricks Already in 2018 Green Plastic has
been used in the lsquobotanicalrsquo elements range such as trees bushes
and leaves that sold quickly once released
The LCA Summary is available here A one-page statement is
available here n
ITrsquoS OFFICIAL BRASKEMrsquoS CARBON-NEGATIVE
CLAIMS FOR ITS BIO-BASED PLASTIC ARE APPROVED
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 17
ldquo IT IS THE WAY TO STEP FORWARD TO AN EARTH-FRIENDLY SOLUTION REDUCING PETROLEUM BASED MATERIALSrdquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM18
FEATURE
BIO-BASED A POSSIBLE SOLUTION
TO MASTERCARDrsquoS SEARCH FOR MORE
SUSTAINABLE BANK CARDS
For many years the idea of going green with your
credit or debit card payments was limited to
buying sustainable products donating to
charities or paying for carbon offsets But now a
new alliance is aiming to green the card itself as
part of a wider array of actions a broader part of the payments
industry Global payment giants Mastercard and card
manufacturers Gemalto Giesecke+Devrient and IDEMIA have
this month launched the Greener Payments Partnership to
establish environmental best practices and reduce first-use PVC
plastic in card manufacturing Roughly six billion plastic payment
cards are made each year according to The Nilson Report
While Mastercard analysis shows that this is less than 0015
percent of the volume of plastic manufactured each year there
is room to improve that through the use of alternative materials
ldquoConsumers are increasingly moving from cash to card as they
look for greater security and sustainabilityrdquo commented Ajay
Bhalla president cyber and intelligence solutions Mastercard
( MastercardNews ) ldquoThis partnership will help us and our
industry reduce first-use plastic in cards Together we can
build on recent research and tests and drive adoption of
environmentally-friendly materials on a larger scalerdquo
Research and analysis into recyclable bio-sourced and bio-
degradable materials is already underway and now included in
this remit The partnership commits to accelerating that research
with the goal of delivering globally available solutions to reduce
first-use PVC plastic in card manufacturing in a matter of years
ldquoResponsible use of natural resources and protection of our
climate and environment are core elements of G+Drsquos Corporate
Responsibility policy We are committed to ensuring that our
entire value chain is sustainable and to continuously reducing
our ecological footprint As a participant of the Greener Payment
Partnership we work on the standardization of bio-sourced
materials in payment cards It is the way to step forward to an
earth-friendly solution reducing petroleum based materialsrdquo
says Gabrielle Bugat Head of the Financial Services Division at
Giesecke+Devrient Mobile Security
The group will also ensure best practices around how materials
are evaluated including environmental impact benefits and the
ability to meet increasing consumer concerns around the impact
of plastic globally
ldquoItrsquos no secret that we all need to change the way we live and
consume to reduce the impact wersquore having on our planet For
IDEMIA itrsquos essential as an industrial leader to effect change
for the better and play our part to reduce for instance our
reliance on plasticrdquo said Pierre Barrial executive vice president
for financial institutions activities at IDEMIA ( IdemiaGroup )
ldquoWersquore delighted to partner with Mastercard to deliver viable
environmentally friendly alternatives that bring positive change
to the industry as a wholerdquo
ldquoEnvironmental-friendly products are now a priority for all
stakeholders in the payment eco-systemrdquo says Sylvie Gibert
senior vice president of payment cards Gemalto ldquoWe are
committed to supporting this partnership formed by Mastercard
and we have already adopted sustainable practices in our
banking card business This initiative comes at a time where we
see a growing interest from the banks for greener cardsrdquo
This is no the first foray into bio-materials for Mastercard in
2016 they partnered with the Finnish Bank of Aringland WWF
Finland KPMG and Gemalto to create a credit card made of
renewable and biodegradable materials n
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 19
We regularly feature stories emerging from Canada
whether itrsquos about a new way to harness the
nations huge amounts of harvestable biomass
the commercialization of an innovation emerging
from one of their many illustrious university
laboratories or the growth in popularity of a bio-based product
for an increasingly environmentally aware population
So in order to learn more about one of the worldrsquos most vibrant
bio-economies our editor Luke Upton recently sat down with
Sandy Marshall the Executive Director of Bioindustrial Innovation
Canada a not-for-profit organisation focussed on catalysing the
further commercialisation of the bio-economy In a wide ranging
discussion they looked at how agriculture can better connect
with the bio-economy advice on starting a business and what
makes Canada so strong in this area
Luke Upton (LU) Thanks for the time today so as an
introduction ndash whatrsquos been your personal path to becoming
executive director of Bioindustrial Innovation Canada
Sandy Marshall (SM) I was raised on a farm near Blyth
Ontario Canada before graduating with Bachelor of Applied
Science Degree (BASc) and Masters of Applied Science Degree
(MASc) in Chemical Engineering from the University of Waterloo
I started my professional career in 1984 with Polysar Inc a
Canadian rubber manufacturer Over my 30 year career in
the chemical and polymers industry I worked in research and
process product development and market development before
moving into Operations and General Management I had two
international assignment one with Bayer AG in Germany and a
second with Lanxess in Cincinnati USA I finished my corporate
career as President and Managing Director responsible for
Canadian Operations of Lanxess Canada I have been recognized
as a leader committed to Corporate Social Responsibility and
environmental sustainability in Canada
I am very interested in sustainable chemistry and have been an
active Board member for Bioindustrial Innovation Canada (BIC)
from its inception in 2008 After I left Lanxess in 2013 I began
consulting in this space At that time I also took over the role of
Chairman of the BIC Board and worked very closely with Murray
McLaughlin Executive Director BIC In 2016 Murray McLaughlin
chose to step back as Executive Director and I was hired as his
replacement It is exciting to be back in a leadership role for an
organization with an inspiring vision and mission
LU For our readers who are unfamiliar with BIC could you
explain a little about the organisation and its aims
SM BIC is a nationally focused not-for-profit organization
based in Sarnia Ontario BICrsquos vision is to create jobs and
economic value sustainably for Canada BICrsquos mission is to
provide critical strategic investment advice and services to
THE LAST WORD WITHhellip SANDY MARSHALL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BIOINDUSTRIAL INNOVATION CANADA
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM20
FEATURE
business developers of clean green and sustainable technologies
Our expertise in commercialization builds a stronger Canada BIC
is focused on enabling Ontario and Canada to become globally
recognized leaders in converting renewable resources such as
agricultural and forestry by-products and residues into value-
added bioenergy biofuel biochemical and biomaterials for use
in a wide range of commercial applications along the chemistry
value chain to advanced manufacturing
LU BIC has worked with a number of companies is there a
particular project of which you are most proud
SM In 2012 BIC together with community leaders in Agriculture
embarked on a project to identify whether the Sarnia-Lambton
region could develop a source of cellulosic sugars using a biomass
supply chain based on agricultural residues BIC lead this project
with the support of numerous companies and government agencies
which lead to the formation of the Cellulosic Sugar Producers
Cooperative and identified Comet Bio as a viable technology
provider Currently these companies are partnering to establish the
worldrsquos first commercial cellulosic glucose sugar supply chain
LU What makes Canada a good home for a bio-based innovation
SM Canada is a vast country which is blessed with enormous
quantities of sustainably harvestable biomass both from forestry
and agriculture The access to raw materials is critical for the
success of any business venture Furthermore Canada is known
for its strong innovation capacity and its collaborative work
culture Together these attributes make Canada an ideal home of
the bio-based economy
LU What can agriculture do to better connect with bio-based
chemical and bio-based product manufactures
SM Agriculture needs to take a leadership role in the bio-
economy There has been a good start here in Canada It is
critical that the question about the availability of sustainably
harvestable biomass is answered through good science to allow
the industry to grow and leverage Canadarsquos great potential
Producers can also promote the bio-economy as an
opportunity to diversify their business models Generating
revenue through feedstock sales to bio-based chemical and
product producers or through participation as business partners
and investors in these ventures can be very beneficial in
reducing risk for all participants in the bio-economy
Government can support these entrepreneurial activities
through support of applied research and development of the
science to assure society that the bio-economy based on
agricultural feedstocks is both sustainable and critical to the
fight against climate change
LU What advice would you give someone looking to start a
bio-based business
SM Start with a solid business plan that clearly identified the
value proposition and can show profitability without relying on
long term government incentives I think that government has
an important role to de-risk early stage commercialization but
businesses must be able to show a path to successful commercial
independence
LU And finallyhellip whatrsquos your favourite sustainable bio-based
product
SM I do not have a favourite The petrochemical industry
succeeded based on leveraging all of the products in the barrel of
oil I see the bio-economy in the same way We need to valorize
all of the products in the truckload of biomass It is only through
leveraging sugars lignin renewable natural gas and the bio-
products produced from them that we can successfully build a
vibrant bio-economy n
ldquoTHE PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRY SUCCEEDED BASED ON LEVERAGING ALL OF THE PRODUCTS IN THE BARREL OF OIL I SEE THE BIO-ECONOMY IN THE SAME WAYrdquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 21
THE GREEN REVOLUTION WILL BE BLUE HARVESTING ALGAE FOR THE BIO-ECONOMY
When you think of algae what do you think of For
most people the thought of algae conjures up
images of a murky-looking pond However algae
are one of the largest unexploited resources on our
planet In fact the worldrsquos ocean could harbour up
to 1 million species depending on who you believe But we have just
barely begun to harvest and cultivate algae for mankindrsquos benefit
Algae are not just green stuff in the sea they are complex aquatic
organisms that have the ability to conduct photosynthesis
Algae have been used by human beings for a long time However
the number of companies developing algae-based biofuels
swelled in the 2000s as oil prices rose and supportive policies
were established for next-generation biofuels Yet when the
oil price dropped to record low levels in 2014 to under $35 per
barrel a lot of companies went bust backed away or shifted their
interests towards higher value markets such as health foods
beauty and personal care products and animal feed The use
of algae for applications in the nutraceutical chemicals and
cosmetic markets is growing in a world where companies are
increasingly seeking alternatives to fossil fuel-based products As
a result of this algae have come under the spotlight once again
However the industry has only industrialised a dozen or so of the
many variety of algae species so the opportunities are endless
HIGHLY-VALUED RESOURCE
So what opportunities exist By far the largest market for algae
commercialisation is the nutraceutical and animal feed sector
Today algae nutraceuticals generate around $05bn in revenue
annually according to Bloomberg In fact the most valuable
products made from algae today are human nutraceuticals such
as Omega 3 oils They can be sold in capsules in health stores or
added to food and drink products to enhance their offering
Algae-based food is big business In Asia macroalgae - also
known as seaweed is a highly valued resource with more
than 30 million tonnes farmed annually making it one of the
largest biomasses harvested from the oceans according to Jon
Funderud CEO at Norway-based Seaweed Energy Solutions
He says that more than half of this volume goes directly to human
consumption as healthy ldquosea vegetablesrdquo while the remainder
has various industrial uses such as for bioplastics animal feed or
fertilisers In Europe seaweeds are virtually unexploited but have
in recent years received a surge in interest both as a new super
food and for their potential as a bioenergy crop
However there has been no serious industrial efforts at large-
scale macroalgae farming because there has been no ldquooff the
shelfrdquo farming technology available Funderud says He says
the vast majority of seaweed farms in Asia are based on very
labour-intensive and low tech means with no real potential
for technology transfer to ldquohigh-cost countriesrdquo In Europe
the seaweed farming industry is still at pilot scale where the
production cost is still really expensive
Seaweed farming is not the only way to address feeding the
worldrsquos growing population Microalgae small microscopic aquatic
photosynthetic plants that require the aid of a microscope to be
seen can also do the job Ingmar Hoslashgoslashy chairman of Norway-
based microalgae technology company AlgaePro says that
microalgae can also provide food security and provide an alternative
to dairy and meat-based foods Matt Carr executive director of US
Algae Biomass Organisation concurs with Hoslashgoslashy and says that
algae used for nutraceutical sector and animal feed will drive growth
for the sector which in turn will help to produce more large-scale
production facilities and a variety of different production methods
BY LIZ GYEKYE
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM10
FEATURE
Unique production methods are already being utilised Scotland-
based biotechnology company ScotBio is just one firm doing just
this and has been successful in commercialising its natural blue
food colourant that is suitable for sweets ice cream and drinks
It was founded in 2007 and is based on the findings of PhD
student Chelsea Brain who found that a specific type of red light
increased the production of phycocyanin (natural blue pigment)
in microalgae spirulina
CEO DC Van Alstyne says the research that is happening in the UK
is ground-breaking on many fronts but many companies in the UK
have difficulty commercialising their innovations compared to the
US because the US academics tend to get more financial support
NOT JUST FOOD
In the US one company that is making waves in the algae-based
material space is California-based biotechnology company
Checkerspot The company is engineering microalgae to bring
high-performance materials to the market Checkerspot ferments
a class of sugar-eating microalgae called trebouxiophyceae
which swell with fat The company uses genetic engineering and
classical strain improvement to coax the algae to produce useful
triglycerides It is using this feedstock to create the foam used
in surfboards and is also working on creating water-repellent
coating for outdoor apparel
Another US company that is focusing on algae is oil giant Exxon
Mobil It is working with Synthetic Genomic to conduct a large
trial to engineer algae streams in outdoor settings to produce
biofuels In fact today most algae are grown outdoors in open
pods In contrast microalgae can be grown in lab with the help
of photobioreactors (a bioreactor that utilises a light source to
cultivate phototrophic microorganisms) and steel tanks
Yet environmental critics would question whether it was right
to genetically engineer these microorganisms for the good of
mankind Carr says ldquoUsing everything that we have already
learned in terms of containment researchers have designed
outdoor settings to ensure that they canrsquot produce the kinds of
negative environmental effects that some may fear You can do
that by engineering the organisms so that they canrsquot survive in
natural settingsrdquo
He says that algae producers in the US have been working with
the US Environmental Protection Agency to ensure that they are
designing systems that will not result in any kind of attack on the
broader eco system
In relation to the eco system waste wastewater treatment is
emerging as really important trend for algae Algae can be added
to wastewater or sewage to clean the water Carole Llewellyn
associate professor in applied aquatic bioscience at Swansea
University says algae can effectively capture and degrade
nitrogen and phosphorus in domestic wastewater and clear up
metals in mine wastewater streams
All of this looks promising However as Llewellyn says
ldquoHarvesting microalgae on a large scale and economically is a
challenge It is less of a challenge where the end product is of
high value but for low-value commodities low-cost harvesting
remains a challenge Some species are naturally self-flocculating
We probably need to understand this process a bit betterrdquo
Yet with only around 12 algae species industrialised the next step will
be to map the algae genome according to Carr It really does seem
like the world needs to prepare itself for a blue-green revolution n
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 11
ldquoWBM was very valuable to me since it brought all actors along the value chain of the bio-based economy around several tables in panel discussions I hardly know any other conference with so many different industry players presentrdquoRaul Pires VP New Technologies Covestro
MEET THE PRODUCERS AND BRANDS INVESTING IN BIO-BASED SOLUTIONS
Visit wwwWorldBioMarketscom Follow us Bio_BasedWorld WBM19
1-3 April 2019 Passenger Terminal Amsterdam Amsterdam
14th Annual
Produced by
US-based chemical engineer Frances Arnold
(pictured) is one of three scientists who have this
month been awarded the 2018 Nobel Prize in
Chemistry She has won the prize for her work on
the ldquodirected evolution of enzymesrdquo which is a bioengineering
method for creating new and better enzymes in the laboratory
using the principles of evolution Enzymes produced through
directed evolution are used to manufacture everything from
biofuels to pharmaceuticals
Directed evolution works in the same way that breeders mate
cats or dogs to bring out desired traits To perform the method
scientists begin by inducing mutations to the DNA or gene that
encodes a particular enzyme
An assortment of thousands of mutated enzymes is produced
and then tested for a desired trait The top-performing enzymes
are selected and the process is repeated to further enhance the
enzymesrsquo performances For instance in 2009 Arnold and her
team based at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
engineered enzymes that break down cellulose the main
component of plant cell walls creating better catalysts for turning
agricultural wastes into fuels and chemicals
A number of additional enzymes produced through directed
evolution are now used for a host of products including biofuels
agricultural chemicals paper products and pharmaceuticals
Arnold and her colleagues have also used directed evolution
to persuade bacteria to make chemicals not found in nature
including molecules containing silicon-carbon or boron-
carbon bonds or bicyclobutanes which contain energy-
packed carbon rings
By using bacteria researchers can potentially make these
chemical compounds in ldquogreenerrdquo ways that are more
economical and produce less toxic waste
Arnold ( francesarnold ) was born on 25 July 1956 in Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania and arrived at Caltech as a visiting associate in 1986
and was named assistant professor in 1987 associate professor in
1992 and professor in 1996
Speaking about her Nobel prize Arnold said she was ldquoabsolutely
flooredrdquo to receive the award adding ldquoI have to wrap my head
around this Itrsquos not something I was expectingrdquo
ldquoMy entire career I have been concerned about the damage we
are doing to the planet and each otherrdquo Arnold said ldquoScience
and technology can play a major role in mitigating our negative
influences on the environment
Changing behaviour is even more important However I feel
that change is easier when there are good economically-viable
alternatives to harmful habitsrdquo n
NOBEL NOD FOR THE GREEN PIONEER BEHIND lsquoDIRECTED
EVOLUTION ENZYMESrsquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 13
FEATURE
BRANDS A PRAGMATIC APPROACH TO BIO-BASED CHEMICALSCHRISTOPHE SCHILLING CEO GENOMATICA
The brands I speak with have well-crafted
plans for advancing the sustainability of their
products These address choosing materials
for recyclability considering end-of-life
reuse energy consumption during
production packaging and community-related issues
consistent with the United Nationsrsquo Sustainable
Development Goals
I was particularly energized by my conversations at the
VERGE18 conference where I was asked to be a discussion
leader at the Circular Plastics Summit co-led by the Ellen
MacArthur Foundation (I encourage you to read their New
Plastics Economy and Make Fashion Circular reports)
Increasingly brands are seeing the opportunity to improve
sustainability through increased use of renewably-sourced
materials This approach is part of a broader set of initiatives
to increase circularity in a range of global material flows
Although these approaches offer compelling benefits
making them happen can be challenging In this article Irsquod
like to share some ideas for tangible near-term actions that
emerged from my recent discussions as they apply to bio-
based chemicals
ONE KEY LEARNING CLOSER IS BETTER
Wersquove found that brands are more energized to act when
key chemicals are ldquocloserrdquo to their end products in the
sense of making up a substantial portion of the end
product A great example is nylon where the key chemical
caprolactam is only one step away from conversion to
nylon Genomatica is developing technology for bio-based
caprolactam which is then made into 100 bio-based
nylon-6 for apparel and carpet we announced Aquafil as
a partner in early 2018 Brands appreciate that moving to
100 bio-based nylon could allow them to have a major
impact on the sustainability of their products and on their
market differentiation
To make that happen only one chemical needs to be made
renewably This announcement was followed by Project
EFFECTIVE which aims to commercialize better fibers and
plastics and includes four major brands ndash HampM Vaude Carvico
and Balsan EFFECTIVE supported by the EUrsquos Horizon2020
program will use Genomaticarsquos caprolactam technology as
well as technology for the first bio-based chemical delivered
by Genomatica for 14-butanediol (BDO) to enable higher
renewable content in polyesters and polyurethanes
Two more examples are instructive First Genomatica has
also commercialized its Brontidetrade bio-based butylene glycol
Itrsquos certainly close to the customer as itrsquos used directly in
personal care and cosmetics products As a result
Brontide has resonated with major brands that
emphasize naturalness and purity Second is
Genomaticarsquos aforementioned BDO At
first glance BDO is a few conversion
ldquoWHEN BRANDS ARE LOOKING FOR NEAR-TERM IMPACT THEY NEED A BIO-BASED TECHNOLOGY THAT REALLY WORKSrdquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM14
FEATURE
steps away from most products But brands that look deeper have
realized they can quickly improve the sustainability of polymers
used in common urethane foams (for example) by replacing just
the BDO part with a bio-based version That wonrsquot take the product
to 100 but it allows for a fast improvement through better
understanding of where a productrsquos ingredients come from
ANOTHER IT HAS TO WORK
When brands are looking for near-term impact they need a bio-
based technology that really works That means it can be produced
at commercial scale today with competitive economics Tangible
examples like bio-based BDO and Brontide deliver immediate
opportunities and build confidence that the technology side of
our industry can deliver further innovations A recent example is
Novamontrsquos production of compostable biodegradable plastics
in Italy using bio-based BDO Their plant with a 30000 ton per
year capacity has helped revitalize the local economy providing
a market for farmersrsquo products plus the refurbishing of an older
industrial facility creating many jobs Novamont has secured
multiple well-known brands as customers including UK retailer
Co-op which will replace 180 million bags As brands see
biotechnology deliver at scale many want to learn whatrsquos next
WHAT BRANDS CAN DO NOW
To see how bio-based chemicals can fit your sustainability
strategy we recommend the following
bull Increase internal awareness and understanding This starts
with a deeper understanding of where your key production
inputs come from and how they are made When coupled
with greater exposure to what biotechnology can do it helps
prioritize what parts of your supply chain can be improved
Leverage outside expertise ndash invite biotech firms to share
what they know and do
bull Involve your upstream chemical and material suppliers
Give them updated requirements tied to your sustainability
objectives Encourage them to have direct discussions with
the biotechnology firms and biochemical producers that
expand their options and fit your needs
bull Be clear about your shopping list and priorities This allows
biotechnology firms and chemicalmaterial producers to
provide feedback and look for areas of overlap
bull Send tangible market signals If suppliers know yoursquore serious
about moving to more sustainable ingredients and process
technologies theyrsquoll pay attention This can tie directly to your
Corporate Sustainability Reporting and objectives
bull Publicise and celebrate your choices Let your customers
know about your process for improving and milestones along
the way Press releases speaking at conferences blogs and
tweets can all be effective
bull Get ldquoinside the tentrdquo with preferred partners Some of your
technology or supply chain partners can share more insights
or have a greater impact on your results Invest in ideation and
exploration if needed Close partnerships can help you influence
their priorities or gain early access to advantaged ingredients n
Irsquoll be a speaker at World Bio Markets in April Contact
me directly at cschillinggenomaticacom if yoursquod like
to discuss your companyrsquos vision and needs sooner
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 15
Yes thatrsquos us down there Yes you know us as a prime tourist destination and a business service hub But did you know that in the port of Amsterdam we have one of Europersquos largest biorefinery clustersThe port also has reliable infrastructure logistics providers and terminals utilities feedstock and markets literally at spitting distance Schiphol Airport is as you know just around the corner We reserved space for your business to grow Biopark Amsterdam So consider Amsterdam you are more than welcome to join us Discover our success stories on portofamsterdamcom
The greatest port you never thought of
Considered Amsterdam
In our industry where explaining the benefits of a
product can sometimes be a challenge a good
boost was received this week A familiar name to
most of our readers the Brazilian chemicals
company Braskem producers of Irsquom green ndash a
bio-based polyethylene made from sugarcane ndash has had its
negative carbon footprint credentials strengthened thanks to an
independent review The assessment was carried out by the
Carbon Trust an international organisation that helps businesses
governments and the public sector to accelerate the move to a
more sustainable low carbon economy And the result is that
Braskemrsquos bio-based plastic as used by LEGO (pictured above)
among others is effectively carbon-negative
In a new report comparing Irsquom green with fossil-based equivalents
the Carbon Trust has endorsed the methodology used by Braskem
to support claims that for every tonne of Irsquom green produced the
equivalent of around 3 tonnes of CO2 are locked away by the
sugarcane which provides the main raw material for its manufacture
Capturing CO2 during its lifecycle Irsquom green avoids emissions
related to the production of fossil fuel feedstock thereby
providing a net saving of the equivalent of around 5 tonnes of
CO2sup1 by the end of the plastic manufacturing process
Irsquom green is 100 recyclable plastic currently being used in a
range of applications from food packaging to personal care
products as well as more durable goods such as chairs and vases
Brand owners are increasingly responding to climate change
by reducing their carbon footprint which requires investment
in more efficient processes and using innovative renewable
materials Braskemrsquos Irsquom green is made from a renewable
feedstock and can make a significant contribution to reduce
carbon emissions
John Newton Associated Director at the Carbon Trust said ldquoTo
address climate change we will need innovative materials that
are radically lower in emissions compared to what is commonly
used today Products like Irsquom green which help lock away carbon
emissions in their production can be a real part of the solutionrdquo
Marco Jansen Commercial Director Renewable Chemicals at
Braskem said ldquoWersquore delighted that credible association Carbon
Trust further validates our calculations of Irsquom greenrsquos carbon
footprint Our customers know Irsquom green polyethylene is a smart
and sustainable way to reduce a productrsquos carbon footprint and we
hope more brands will use it as a renewable solution in the futurerdquo
This news will no doubt have been welcomed by LEGO too as
Braskem will supply the LEGO Group with Irsquom green as it makes
it switch to bio-based bricks Already in 2018 Green Plastic has
been used in the lsquobotanicalrsquo elements range such as trees bushes
and leaves that sold quickly once released
The LCA Summary is available here A one-page statement is
available here n
ITrsquoS OFFICIAL BRASKEMrsquoS CARBON-NEGATIVE
CLAIMS FOR ITS BIO-BASED PLASTIC ARE APPROVED
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 17
ldquo IT IS THE WAY TO STEP FORWARD TO AN EARTH-FRIENDLY SOLUTION REDUCING PETROLEUM BASED MATERIALSrdquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM18
FEATURE
BIO-BASED A POSSIBLE SOLUTION
TO MASTERCARDrsquoS SEARCH FOR MORE
SUSTAINABLE BANK CARDS
For many years the idea of going green with your
credit or debit card payments was limited to
buying sustainable products donating to
charities or paying for carbon offsets But now a
new alliance is aiming to green the card itself as
part of a wider array of actions a broader part of the payments
industry Global payment giants Mastercard and card
manufacturers Gemalto Giesecke+Devrient and IDEMIA have
this month launched the Greener Payments Partnership to
establish environmental best practices and reduce first-use PVC
plastic in card manufacturing Roughly six billion plastic payment
cards are made each year according to The Nilson Report
While Mastercard analysis shows that this is less than 0015
percent of the volume of plastic manufactured each year there
is room to improve that through the use of alternative materials
ldquoConsumers are increasingly moving from cash to card as they
look for greater security and sustainabilityrdquo commented Ajay
Bhalla president cyber and intelligence solutions Mastercard
( MastercardNews ) ldquoThis partnership will help us and our
industry reduce first-use plastic in cards Together we can
build on recent research and tests and drive adoption of
environmentally-friendly materials on a larger scalerdquo
Research and analysis into recyclable bio-sourced and bio-
degradable materials is already underway and now included in
this remit The partnership commits to accelerating that research
with the goal of delivering globally available solutions to reduce
first-use PVC plastic in card manufacturing in a matter of years
ldquoResponsible use of natural resources and protection of our
climate and environment are core elements of G+Drsquos Corporate
Responsibility policy We are committed to ensuring that our
entire value chain is sustainable and to continuously reducing
our ecological footprint As a participant of the Greener Payment
Partnership we work on the standardization of bio-sourced
materials in payment cards It is the way to step forward to an
earth-friendly solution reducing petroleum based materialsrdquo
says Gabrielle Bugat Head of the Financial Services Division at
Giesecke+Devrient Mobile Security
The group will also ensure best practices around how materials
are evaluated including environmental impact benefits and the
ability to meet increasing consumer concerns around the impact
of plastic globally
ldquoItrsquos no secret that we all need to change the way we live and
consume to reduce the impact wersquore having on our planet For
IDEMIA itrsquos essential as an industrial leader to effect change
for the better and play our part to reduce for instance our
reliance on plasticrdquo said Pierre Barrial executive vice president
for financial institutions activities at IDEMIA ( IdemiaGroup )
ldquoWersquore delighted to partner with Mastercard to deliver viable
environmentally friendly alternatives that bring positive change
to the industry as a wholerdquo
ldquoEnvironmental-friendly products are now a priority for all
stakeholders in the payment eco-systemrdquo says Sylvie Gibert
senior vice president of payment cards Gemalto ldquoWe are
committed to supporting this partnership formed by Mastercard
and we have already adopted sustainable practices in our
banking card business This initiative comes at a time where we
see a growing interest from the banks for greener cardsrdquo
This is no the first foray into bio-materials for Mastercard in
2016 they partnered with the Finnish Bank of Aringland WWF
Finland KPMG and Gemalto to create a credit card made of
renewable and biodegradable materials n
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 19
We regularly feature stories emerging from Canada
whether itrsquos about a new way to harness the
nations huge amounts of harvestable biomass
the commercialization of an innovation emerging
from one of their many illustrious university
laboratories or the growth in popularity of a bio-based product
for an increasingly environmentally aware population
So in order to learn more about one of the worldrsquos most vibrant
bio-economies our editor Luke Upton recently sat down with
Sandy Marshall the Executive Director of Bioindustrial Innovation
Canada a not-for-profit organisation focussed on catalysing the
further commercialisation of the bio-economy In a wide ranging
discussion they looked at how agriculture can better connect
with the bio-economy advice on starting a business and what
makes Canada so strong in this area
Luke Upton (LU) Thanks for the time today so as an
introduction ndash whatrsquos been your personal path to becoming
executive director of Bioindustrial Innovation Canada
Sandy Marshall (SM) I was raised on a farm near Blyth
Ontario Canada before graduating with Bachelor of Applied
Science Degree (BASc) and Masters of Applied Science Degree
(MASc) in Chemical Engineering from the University of Waterloo
I started my professional career in 1984 with Polysar Inc a
Canadian rubber manufacturer Over my 30 year career in
the chemical and polymers industry I worked in research and
process product development and market development before
moving into Operations and General Management I had two
international assignment one with Bayer AG in Germany and a
second with Lanxess in Cincinnati USA I finished my corporate
career as President and Managing Director responsible for
Canadian Operations of Lanxess Canada I have been recognized
as a leader committed to Corporate Social Responsibility and
environmental sustainability in Canada
I am very interested in sustainable chemistry and have been an
active Board member for Bioindustrial Innovation Canada (BIC)
from its inception in 2008 After I left Lanxess in 2013 I began
consulting in this space At that time I also took over the role of
Chairman of the BIC Board and worked very closely with Murray
McLaughlin Executive Director BIC In 2016 Murray McLaughlin
chose to step back as Executive Director and I was hired as his
replacement It is exciting to be back in a leadership role for an
organization with an inspiring vision and mission
LU For our readers who are unfamiliar with BIC could you
explain a little about the organisation and its aims
SM BIC is a nationally focused not-for-profit organization
based in Sarnia Ontario BICrsquos vision is to create jobs and
economic value sustainably for Canada BICrsquos mission is to
provide critical strategic investment advice and services to
THE LAST WORD WITHhellip SANDY MARSHALL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BIOINDUSTRIAL INNOVATION CANADA
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM20
FEATURE
business developers of clean green and sustainable technologies
Our expertise in commercialization builds a stronger Canada BIC
is focused on enabling Ontario and Canada to become globally
recognized leaders in converting renewable resources such as
agricultural and forestry by-products and residues into value-
added bioenergy biofuel biochemical and biomaterials for use
in a wide range of commercial applications along the chemistry
value chain to advanced manufacturing
LU BIC has worked with a number of companies is there a
particular project of which you are most proud
SM In 2012 BIC together with community leaders in Agriculture
embarked on a project to identify whether the Sarnia-Lambton
region could develop a source of cellulosic sugars using a biomass
supply chain based on agricultural residues BIC lead this project
with the support of numerous companies and government agencies
which lead to the formation of the Cellulosic Sugar Producers
Cooperative and identified Comet Bio as a viable technology
provider Currently these companies are partnering to establish the
worldrsquos first commercial cellulosic glucose sugar supply chain
LU What makes Canada a good home for a bio-based innovation
SM Canada is a vast country which is blessed with enormous
quantities of sustainably harvestable biomass both from forestry
and agriculture The access to raw materials is critical for the
success of any business venture Furthermore Canada is known
for its strong innovation capacity and its collaborative work
culture Together these attributes make Canada an ideal home of
the bio-based economy
LU What can agriculture do to better connect with bio-based
chemical and bio-based product manufactures
SM Agriculture needs to take a leadership role in the bio-
economy There has been a good start here in Canada It is
critical that the question about the availability of sustainably
harvestable biomass is answered through good science to allow
the industry to grow and leverage Canadarsquos great potential
Producers can also promote the bio-economy as an
opportunity to diversify their business models Generating
revenue through feedstock sales to bio-based chemical and
product producers or through participation as business partners
and investors in these ventures can be very beneficial in
reducing risk for all participants in the bio-economy
Government can support these entrepreneurial activities
through support of applied research and development of the
science to assure society that the bio-economy based on
agricultural feedstocks is both sustainable and critical to the
fight against climate change
LU What advice would you give someone looking to start a
bio-based business
SM Start with a solid business plan that clearly identified the
value proposition and can show profitability without relying on
long term government incentives I think that government has
an important role to de-risk early stage commercialization but
businesses must be able to show a path to successful commercial
independence
LU And finallyhellip whatrsquos your favourite sustainable bio-based
product
SM I do not have a favourite The petrochemical industry
succeeded based on leveraging all of the products in the barrel of
oil I see the bio-economy in the same way We need to valorize
all of the products in the truckload of biomass It is only through
leveraging sugars lignin renewable natural gas and the bio-
products produced from them that we can successfully build a
vibrant bio-economy n
ldquoTHE PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRY SUCCEEDED BASED ON LEVERAGING ALL OF THE PRODUCTS IN THE BARREL OF OIL I SEE THE BIO-ECONOMY IN THE SAME WAYrdquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 21
Unique production methods are already being utilised Scotland-
based biotechnology company ScotBio is just one firm doing just
this and has been successful in commercialising its natural blue
food colourant that is suitable for sweets ice cream and drinks
It was founded in 2007 and is based on the findings of PhD
student Chelsea Brain who found that a specific type of red light
increased the production of phycocyanin (natural blue pigment)
in microalgae spirulina
CEO DC Van Alstyne says the research that is happening in the UK
is ground-breaking on many fronts but many companies in the UK
have difficulty commercialising their innovations compared to the
US because the US academics tend to get more financial support
NOT JUST FOOD
In the US one company that is making waves in the algae-based
material space is California-based biotechnology company
Checkerspot The company is engineering microalgae to bring
high-performance materials to the market Checkerspot ferments
a class of sugar-eating microalgae called trebouxiophyceae
which swell with fat The company uses genetic engineering and
classical strain improvement to coax the algae to produce useful
triglycerides It is using this feedstock to create the foam used
in surfboards and is also working on creating water-repellent
coating for outdoor apparel
Another US company that is focusing on algae is oil giant Exxon
Mobil It is working with Synthetic Genomic to conduct a large
trial to engineer algae streams in outdoor settings to produce
biofuels In fact today most algae are grown outdoors in open
pods In contrast microalgae can be grown in lab with the help
of photobioreactors (a bioreactor that utilises a light source to
cultivate phototrophic microorganisms) and steel tanks
Yet environmental critics would question whether it was right
to genetically engineer these microorganisms for the good of
mankind Carr says ldquoUsing everything that we have already
learned in terms of containment researchers have designed
outdoor settings to ensure that they canrsquot produce the kinds of
negative environmental effects that some may fear You can do
that by engineering the organisms so that they canrsquot survive in
natural settingsrdquo
He says that algae producers in the US have been working with
the US Environmental Protection Agency to ensure that they are
designing systems that will not result in any kind of attack on the
broader eco system
In relation to the eco system waste wastewater treatment is
emerging as really important trend for algae Algae can be added
to wastewater or sewage to clean the water Carole Llewellyn
associate professor in applied aquatic bioscience at Swansea
University says algae can effectively capture and degrade
nitrogen and phosphorus in domestic wastewater and clear up
metals in mine wastewater streams
All of this looks promising However as Llewellyn says
ldquoHarvesting microalgae on a large scale and economically is a
challenge It is less of a challenge where the end product is of
high value but for low-value commodities low-cost harvesting
remains a challenge Some species are naturally self-flocculating
We probably need to understand this process a bit betterrdquo
Yet with only around 12 algae species industrialised the next step will
be to map the algae genome according to Carr It really does seem
like the world needs to prepare itself for a blue-green revolution n
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 11
ldquoWBM was very valuable to me since it brought all actors along the value chain of the bio-based economy around several tables in panel discussions I hardly know any other conference with so many different industry players presentrdquoRaul Pires VP New Technologies Covestro
MEET THE PRODUCERS AND BRANDS INVESTING IN BIO-BASED SOLUTIONS
Visit wwwWorldBioMarketscom Follow us Bio_BasedWorld WBM19
1-3 April 2019 Passenger Terminal Amsterdam Amsterdam
14th Annual
Produced by
US-based chemical engineer Frances Arnold
(pictured) is one of three scientists who have this
month been awarded the 2018 Nobel Prize in
Chemistry She has won the prize for her work on
the ldquodirected evolution of enzymesrdquo which is a bioengineering
method for creating new and better enzymes in the laboratory
using the principles of evolution Enzymes produced through
directed evolution are used to manufacture everything from
biofuels to pharmaceuticals
Directed evolution works in the same way that breeders mate
cats or dogs to bring out desired traits To perform the method
scientists begin by inducing mutations to the DNA or gene that
encodes a particular enzyme
An assortment of thousands of mutated enzymes is produced
and then tested for a desired trait The top-performing enzymes
are selected and the process is repeated to further enhance the
enzymesrsquo performances For instance in 2009 Arnold and her
team based at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
engineered enzymes that break down cellulose the main
component of plant cell walls creating better catalysts for turning
agricultural wastes into fuels and chemicals
A number of additional enzymes produced through directed
evolution are now used for a host of products including biofuels
agricultural chemicals paper products and pharmaceuticals
Arnold and her colleagues have also used directed evolution
to persuade bacteria to make chemicals not found in nature
including molecules containing silicon-carbon or boron-
carbon bonds or bicyclobutanes which contain energy-
packed carbon rings
By using bacteria researchers can potentially make these
chemical compounds in ldquogreenerrdquo ways that are more
economical and produce less toxic waste
Arnold ( francesarnold ) was born on 25 July 1956 in Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania and arrived at Caltech as a visiting associate in 1986
and was named assistant professor in 1987 associate professor in
1992 and professor in 1996
Speaking about her Nobel prize Arnold said she was ldquoabsolutely
flooredrdquo to receive the award adding ldquoI have to wrap my head
around this Itrsquos not something I was expectingrdquo
ldquoMy entire career I have been concerned about the damage we
are doing to the planet and each otherrdquo Arnold said ldquoScience
and technology can play a major role in mitigating our negative
influences on the environment
Changing behaviour is even more important However I feel
that change is easier when there are good economically-viable
alternatives to harmful habitsrdquo n
NOBEL NOD FOR THE GREEN PIONEER BEHIND lsquoDIRECTED
EVOLUTION ENZYMESrsquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 13
FEATURE
BRANDS A PRAGMATIC APPROACH TO BIO-BASED CHEMICALSCHRISTOPHE SCHILLING CEO GENOMATICA
The brands I speak with have well-crafted
plans for advancing the sustainability of their
products These address choosing materials
for recyclability considering end-of-life
reuse energy consumption during
production packaging and community-related issues
consistent with the United Nationsrsquo Sustainable
Development Goals
I was particularly energized by my conversations at the
VERGE18 conference where I was asked to be a discussion
leader at the Circular Plastics Summit co-led by the Ellen
MacArthur Foundation (I encourage you to read their New
Plastics Economy and Make Fashion Circular reports)
Increasingly brands are seeing the opportunity to improve
sustainability through increased use of renewably-sourced
materials This approach is part of a broader set of initiatives
to increase circularity in a range of global material flows
Although these approaches offer compelling benefits
making them happen can be challenging In this article Irsquod
like to share some ideas for tangible near-term actions that
emerged from my recent discussions as they apply to bio-
based chemicals
ONE KEY LEARNING CLOSER IS BETTER
Wersquove found that brands are more energized to act when
key chemicals are ldquocloserrdquo to their end products in the
sense of making up a substantial portion of the end
product A great example is nylon where the key chemical
caprolactam is only one step away from conversion to
nylon Genomatica is developing technology for bio-based
caprolactam which is then made into 100 bio-based
nylon-6 for apparel and carpet we announced Aquafil as
a partner in early 2018 Brands appreciate that moving to
100 bio-based nylon could allow them to have a major
impact on the sustainability of their products and on their
market differentiation
To make that happen only one chemical needs to be made
renewably This announcement was followed by Project
EFFECTIVE which aims to commercialize better fibers and
plastics and includes four major brands ndash HampM Vaude Carvico
and Balsan EFFECTIVE supported by the EUrsquos Horizon2020
program will use Genomaticarsquos caprolactam technology as
well as technology for the first bio-based chemical delivered
by Genomatica for 14-butanediol (BDO) to enable higher
renewable content in polyesters and polyurethanes
Two more examples are instructive First Genomatica has
also commercialized its Brontidetrade bio-based butylene glycol
Itrsquos certainly close to the customer as itrsquos used directly in
personal care and cosmetics products As a result
Brontide has resonated with major brands that
emphasize naturalness and purity Second is
Genomaticarsquos aforementioned BDO At
first glance BDO is a few conversion
ldquoWHEN BRANDS ARE LOOKING FOR NEAR-TERM IMPACT THEY NEED A BIO-BASED TECHNOLOGY THAT REALLY WORKSrdquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM14
FEATURE
steps away from most products But brands that look deeper have
realized they can quickly improve the sustainability of polymers
used in common urethane foams (for example) by replacing just
the BDO part with a bio-based version That wonrsquot take the product
to 100 but it allows for a fast improvement through better
understanding of where a productrsquos ingredients come from
ANOTHER IT HAS TO WORK
When brands are looking for near-term impact they need a bio-
based technology that really works That means it can be produced
at commercial scale today with competitive economics Tangible
examples like bio-based BDO and Brontide deliver immediate
opportunities and build confidence that the technology side of
our industry can deliver further innovations A recent example is
Novamontrsquos production of compostable biodegradable plastics
in Italy using bio-based BDO Their plant with a 30000 ton per
year capacity has helped revitalize the local economy providing
a market for farmersrsquo products plus the refurbishing of an older
industrial facility creating many jobs Novamont has secured
multiple well-known brands as customers including UK retailer
Co-op which will replace 180 million bags As brands see
biotechnology deliver at scale many want to learn whatrsquos next
WHAT BRANDS CAN DO NOW
To see how bio-based chemicals can fit your sustainability
strategy we recommend the following
bull Increase internal awareness and understanding This starts
with a deeper understanding of where your key production
inputs come from and how they are made When coupled
with greater exposure to what biotechnology can do it helps
prioritize what parts of your supply chain can be improved
Leverage outside expertise ndash invite biotech firms to share
what they know and do
bull Involve your upstream chemical and material suppliers
Give them updated requirements tied to your sustainability
objectives Encourage them to have direct discussions with
the biotechnology firms and biochemical producers that
expand their options and fit your needs
bull Be clear about your shopping list and priorities This allows
biotechnology firms and chemicalmaterial producers to
provide feedback and look for areas of overlap
bull Send tangible market signals If suppliers know yoursquore serious
about moving to more sustainable ingredients and process
technologies theyrsquoll pay attention This can tie directly to your
Corporate Sustainability Reporting and objectives
bull Publicise and celebrate your choices Let your customers
know about your process for improving and milestones along
the way Press releases speaking at conferences blogs and
tweets can all be effective
bull Get ldquoinside the tentrdquo with preferred partners Some of your
technology or supply chain partners can share more insights
or have a greater impact on your results Invest in ideation and
exploration if needed Close partnerships can help you influence
their priorities or gain early access to advantaged ingredients n
Irsquoll be a speaker at World Bio Markets in April Contact
me directly at cschillinggenomaticacom if yoursquod like
to discuss your companyrsquos vision and needs sooner
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 15
Yes thatrsquos us down there Yes you know us as a prime tourist destination and a business service hub But did you know that in the port of Amsterdam we have one of Europersquos largest biorefinery clustersThe port also has reliable infrastructure logistics providers and terminals utilities feedstock and markets literally at spitting distance Schiphol Airport is as you know just around the corner We reserved space for your business to grow Biopark Amsterdam So consider Amsterdam you are more than welcome to join us Discover our success stories on portofamsterdamcom
The greatest port you never thought of
Considered Amsterdam
In our industry where explaining the benefits of a
product can sometimes be a challenge a good
boost was received this week A familiar name to
most of our readers the Brazilian chemicals
company Braskem producers of Irsquom green ndash a
bio-based polyethylene made from sugarcane ndash has had its
negative carbon footprint credentials strengthened thanks to an
independent review The assessment was carried out by the
Carbon Trust an international organisation that helps businesses
governments and the public sector to accelerate the move to a
more sustainable low carbon economy And the result is that
Braskemrsquos bio-based plastic as used by LEGO (pictured above)
among others is effectively carbon-negative
In a new report comparing Irsquom green with fossil-based equivalents
the Carbon Trust has endorsed the methodology used by Braskem
to support claims that for every tonne of Irsquom green produced the
equivalent of around 3 tonnes of CO2 are locked away by the
sugarcane which provides the main raw material for its manufacture
Capturing CO2 during its lifecycle Irsquom green avoids emissions
related to the production of fossil fuel feedstock thereby
providing a net saving of the equivalent of around 5 tonnes of
CO2sup1 by the end of the plastic manufacturing process
Irsquom green is 100 recyclable plastic currently being used in a
range of applications from food packaging to personal care
products as well as more durable goods such as chairs and vases
Brand owners are increasingly responding to climate change
by reducing their carbon footprint which requires investment
in more efficient processes and using innovative renewable
materials Braskemrsquos Irsquom green is made from a renewable
feedstock and can make a significant contribution to reduce
carbon emissions
John Newton Associated Director at the Carbon Trust said ldquoTo
address climate change we will need innovative materials that
are radically lower in emissions compared to what is commonly
used today Products like Irsquom green which help lock away carbon
emissions in their production can be a real part of the solutionrdquo
Marco Jansen Commercial Director Renewable Chemicals at
Braskem said ldquoWersquore delighted that credible association Carbon
Trust further validates our calculations of Irsquom greenrsquos carbon
footprint Our customers know Irsquom green polyethylene is a smart
and sustainable way to reduce a productrsquos carbon footprint and we
hope more brands will use it as a renewable solution in the futurerdquo
This news will no doubt have been welcomed by LEGO too as
Braskem will supply the LEGO Group with Irsquom green as it makes
it switch to bio-based bricks Already in 2018 Green Plastic has
been used in the lsquobotanicalrsquo elements range such as trees bushes
and leaves that sold quickly once released
The LCA Summary is available here A one-page statement is
available here n
ITrsquoS OFFICIAL BRASKEMrsquoS CARBON-NEGATIVE
CLAIMS FOR ITS BIO-BASED PLASTIC ARE APPROVED
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 17
ldquo IT IS THE WAY TO STEP FORWARD TO AN EARTH-FRIENDLY SOLUTION REDUCING PETROLEUM BASED MATERIALSrdquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM18
FEATURE
BIO-BASED A POSSIBLE SOLUTION
TO MASTERCARDrsquoS SEARCH FOR MORE
SUSTAINABLE BANK CARDS
For many years the idea of going green with your
credit or debit card payments was limited to
buying sustainable products donating to
charities or paying for carbon offsets But now a
new alliance is aiming to green the card itself as
part of a wider array of actions a broader part of the payments
industry Global payment giants Mastercard and card
manufacturers Gemalto Giesecke+Devrient and IDEMIA have
this month launched the Greener Payments Partnership to
establish environmental best practices and reduce first-use PVC
plastic in card manufacturing Roughly six billion plastic payment
cards are made each year according to The Nilson Report
While Mastercard analysis shows that this is less than 0015
percent of the volume of plastic manufactured each year there
is room to improve that through the use of alternative materials
ldquoConsumers are increasingly moving from cash to card as they
look for greater security and sustainabilityrdquo commented Ajay
Bhalla president cyber and intelligence solutions Mastercard
( MastercardNews ) ldquoThis partnership will help us and our
industry reduce first-use plastic in cards Together we can
build on recent research and tests and drive adoption of
environmentally-friendly materials on a larger scalerdquo
Research and analysis into recyclable bio-sourced and bio-
degradable materials is already underway and now included in
this remit The partnership commits to accelerating that research
with the goal of delivering globally available solutions to reduce
first-use PVC plastic in card manufacturing in a matter of years
ldquoResponsible use of natural resources and protection of our
climate and environment are core elements of G+Drsquos Corporate
Responsibility policy We are committed to ensuring that our
entire value chain is sustainable and to continuously reducing
our ecological footprint As a participant of the Greener Payment
Partnership we work on the standardization of bio-sourced
materials in payment cards It is the way to step forward to an
earth-friendly solution reducing petroleum based materialsrdquo
says Gabrielle Bugat Head of the Financial Services Division at
Giesecke+Devrient Mobile Security
The group will also ensure best practices around how materials
are evaluated including environmental impact benefits and the
ability to meet increasing consumer concerns around the impact
of plastic globally
ldquoItrsquos no secret that we all need to change the way we live and
consume to reduce the impact wersquore having on our planet For
IDEMIA itrsquos essential as an industrial leader to effect change
for the better and play our part to reduce for instance our
reliance on plasticrdquo said Pierre Barrial executive vice president
for financial institutions activities at IDEMIA ( IdemiaGroup )
ldquoWersquore delighted to partner with Mastercard to deliver viable
environmentally friendly alternatives that bring positive change
to the industry as a wholerdquo
ldquoEnvironmental-friendly products are now a priority for all
stakeholders in the payment eco-systemrdquo says Sylvie Gibert
senior vice president of payment cards Gemalto ldquoWe are
committed to supporting this partnership formed by Mastercard
and we have already adopted sustainable practices in our
banking card business This initiative comes at a time where we
see a growing interest from the banks for greener cardsrdquo
This is no the first foray into bio-materials for Mastercard in
2016 they partnered with the Finnish Bank of Aringland WWF
Finland KPMG and Gemalto to create a credit card made of
renewable and biodegradable materials n
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 19
We regularly feature stories emerging from Canada
whether itrsquos about a new way to harness the
nations huge amounts of harvestable biomass
the commercialization of an innovation emerging
from one of their many illustrious university
laboratories or the growth in popularity of a bio-based product
for an increasingly environmentally aware population
So in order to learn more about one of the worldrsquos most vibrant
bio-economies our editor Luke Upton recently sat down with
Sandy Marshall the Executive Director of Bioindustrial Innovation
Canada a not-for-profit organisation focussed on catalysing the
further commercialisation of the bio-economy In a wide ranging
discussion they looked at how agriculture can better connect
with the bio-economy advice on starting a business and what
makes Canada so strong in this area
Luke Upton (LU) Thanks for the time today so as an
introduction ndash whatrsquos been your personal path to becoming
executive director of Bioindustrial Innovation Canada
Sandy Marshall (SM) I was raised on a farm near Blyth
Ontario Canada before graduating with Bachelor of Applied
Science Degree (BASc) and Masters of Applied Science Degree
(MASc) in Chemical Engineering from the University of Waterloo
I started my professional career in 1984 with Polysar Inc a
Canadian rubber manufacturer Over my 30 year career in
the chemical and polymers industry I worked in research and
process product development and market development before
moving into Operations and General Management I had two
international assignment one with Bayer AG in Germany and a
second with Lanxess in Cincinnati USA I finished my corporate
career as President and Managing Director responsible for
Canadian Operations of Lanxess Canada I have been recognized
as a leader committed to Corporate Social Responsibility and
environmental sustainability in Canada
I am very interested in sustainable chemistry and have been an
active Board member for Bioindustrial Innovation Canada (BIC)
from its inception in 2008 After I left Lanxess in 2013 I began
consulting in this space At that time I also took over the role of
Chairman of the BIC Board and worked very closely with Murray
McLaughlin Executive Director BIC In 2016 Murray McLaughlin
chose to step back as Executive Director and I was hired as his
replacement It is exciting to be back in a leadership role for an
organization with an inspiring vision and mission
LU For our readers who are unfamiliar with BIC could you
explain a little about the organisation and its aims
SM BIC is a nationally focused not-for-profit organization
based in Sarnia Ontario BICrsquos vision is to create jobs and
economic value sustainably for Canada BICrsquos mission is to
provide critical strategic investment advice and services to
THE LAST WORD WITHhellip SANDY MARSHALL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BIOINDUSTRIAL INNOVATION CANADA
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM20
FEATURE
business developers of clean green and sustainable technologies
Our expertise in commercialization builds a stronger Canada BIC
is focused on enabling Ontario and Canada to become globally
recognized leaders in converting renewable resources such as
agricultural and forestry by-products and residues into value-
added bioenergy biofuel biochemical and biomaterials for use
in a wide range of commercial applications along the chemistry
value chain to advanced manufacturing
LU BIC has worked with a number of companies is there a
particular project of which you are most proud
SM In 2012 BIC together with community leaders in Agriculture
embarked on a project to identify whether the Sarnia-Lambton
region could develop a source of cellulosic sugars using a biomass
supply chain based on agricultural residues BIC lead this project
with the support of numerous companies and government agencies
which lead to the formation of the Cellulosic Sugar Producers
Cooperative and identified Comet Bio as a viable technology
provider Currently these companies are partnering to establish the
worldrsquos first commercial cellulosic glucose sugar supply chain
LU What makes Canada a good home for a bio-based innovation
SM Canada is a vast country which is blessed with enormous
quantities of sustainably harvestable biomass both from forestry
and agriculture The access to raw materials is critical for the
success of any business venture Furthermore Canada is known
for its strong innovation capacity and its collaborative work
culture Together these attributes make Canada an ideal home of
the bio-based economy
LU What can agriculture do to better connect with bio-based
chemical and bio-based product manufactures
SM Agriculture needs to take a leadership role in the bio-
economy There has been a good start here in Canada It is
critical that the question about the availability of sustainably
harvestable biomass is answered through good science to allow
the industry to grow and leverage Canadarsquos great potential
Producers can also promote the bio-economy as an
opportunity to diversify their business models Generating
revenue through feedstock sales to bio-based chemical and
product producers or through participation as business partners
and investors in these ventures can be very beneficial in
reducing risk for all participants in the bio-economy
Government can support these entrepreneurial activities
through support of applied research and development of the
science to assure society that the bio-economy based on
agricultural feedstocks is both sustainable and critical to the
fight against climate change
LU What advice would you give someone looking to start a
bio-based business
SM Start with a solid business plan that clearly identified the
value proposition and can show profitability without relying on
long term government incentives I think that government has
an important role to de-risk early stage commercialization but
businesses must be able to show a path to successful commercial
independence
LU And finallyhellip whatrsquos your favourite sustainable bio-based
product
SM I do not have a favourite The petrochemical industry
succeeded based on leveraging all of the products in the barrel of
oil I see the bio-economy in the same way We need to valorize
all of the products in the truckload of biomass It is only through
leveraging sugars lignin renewable natural gas and the bio-
products produced from them that we can successfully build a
vibrant bio-economy n
ldquoTHE PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRY SUCCEEDED BASED ON LEVERAGING ALL OF THE PRODUCTS IN THE BARREL OF OIL I SEE THE BIO-ECONOMY IN THE SAME WAYrdquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 21
ldquoWBM was very valuable to me since it brought all actors along the value chain of the bio-based economy around several tables in panel discussions I hardly know any other conference with so many different industry players presentrdquoRaul Pires VP New Technologies Covestro
MEET THE PRODUCERS AND BRANDS INVESTING IN BIO-BASED SOLUTIONS
Visit wwwWorldBioMarketscom Follow us Bio_BasedWorld WBM19
1-3 April 2019 Passenger Terminal Amsterdam Amsterdam
14th Annual
Produced by
US-based chemical engineer Frances Arnold
(pictured) is one of three scientists who have this
month been awarded the 2018 Nobel Prize in
Chemistry She has won the prize for her work on
the ldquodirected evolution of enzymesrdquo which is a bioengineering
method for creating new and better enzymes in the laboratory
using the principles of evolution Enzymes produced through
directed evolution are used to manufacture everything from
biofuels to pharmaceuticals
Directed evolution works in the same way that breeders mate
cats or dogs to bring out desired traits To perform the method
scientists begin by inducing mutations to the DNA or gene that
encodes a particular enzyme
An assortment of thousands of mutated enzymes is produced
and then tested for a desired trait The top-performing enzymes
are selected and the process is repeated to further enhance the
enzymesrsquo performances For instance in 2009 Arnold and her
team based at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
engineered enzymes that break down cellulose the main
component of plant cell walls creating better catalysts for turning
agricultural wastes into fuels and chemicals
A number of additional enzymes produced through directed
evolution are now used for a host of products including biofuels
agricultural chemicals paper products and pharmaceuticals
Arnold and her colleagues have also used directed evolution
to persuade bacteria to make chemicals not found in nature
including molecules containing silicon-carbon or boron-
carbon bonds or bicyclobutanes which contain energy-
packed carbon rings
By using bacteria researchers can potentially make these
chemical compounds in ldquogreenerrdquo ways that are more
economical and produce less toxic waste
Arnold ( francesarnold ) was born on 25 July 1956 in Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania and arrived at Caltech as a visiting associate in 1986
and was named assistant professor in 1987 associate professor in
1992 and professor in 1996
Speaking about her Nobel prize Arnold said she was ldquoabsolutely
flooredrdquo to receive the award adding ldquoI have to wrap my head
around this Itrsquos not something I was expectingrdquo
ldquoMy entire career I have been concerned about the damage we
are doing to the planet and each otherrdquo Arnold said ldquoScience
and technology can play a major role in mitigating our negative
influences on the environment
Changing behaviour is even more important However I feel
that change is easier when there are good economically-viable
alternatives to harmful habitsrdquo n
NOBEL NOD FOR THE GREEN PIONEER BEHIND lsquoDIRECTED
EVOLUTION ENZYMESrsquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 13
FEATURE
BRANDS A PRAGMATIC APPROACH TO BIO-BASED CHEMICALSCHRISTOPHE SCHILLING CEO GENOMATICA
The brands I speak with have well-crafted
plans for advancing the sustainability of their
products These address choosing materials
for recyclability considering end-of-life
reuse energy consumption during
production packaging and community-related issues
consistent with the United Nationsrsquo Sustainable
Development Goals
I was particularly energized by my conversations at the
VERGE18 conference where I was asked to be a discussion
leader at the Circular Plastics Summit co-led by the Ellen
MacArthur Foundation (I encourage you to read their New
Plastics Economy and Make Fashion Circular reports)
Increasingly brands are seeing the opportunity to improve
sustainability through increased use of renewably-sourced
materials This approach is part of a broader set of initiatives
to increase circularity in a range of global material flows
Although these approaches offer compelling benefits
making them happen can be challenging In this article Irsquod
like to share some ideas for tangible near-term actions that
emerged from my recent discussions as they apply to bio-
based chemicals
ONE KEY LEARNING CLOSER IS BETTER
Wersquove found that brands are more energized to act when
key chemicals are ldquocloserrdquo to their end products in the
sense of making up a substantial portion of the end
product A great example is nylon where the key chemical
caprolactam is only one step away from conversion to
nylon Genomatica is developing technology for bio-based
caprolactam which is then made into 100 bio-based
nylon-6 for apparel and carpet we announced Aquafil as
a partner in early 2018 Brands appreciate that moving to
100 bio-based nylon could allow them to have a major
impact on the sustainability of their products and on their
market differentiation
To make that happen only one chemical needs to be made
renewably This announcement was followed by Project
EFFECTIVE which aims to commercialize better fibers and
plastics and includes four major brands ndash HampM Vaude Carvico
and Balsan EFFECTIVE supported by the EUrsquos Horizon2020
program will use Genomaticarsquos caprolactam technology as
well as technology for the first bio-based chemical delivered
by Genomatica for 14-butanediol (BDO) to enable higher
renewable content in polyesters and polyurethanes
Two more examples are instructive First Genomatica has
also commercialized its Brontidetrade bio-based butylene glycol
Itrsquos certainly close to the customer as itrsquos used directly in
personal care and cosmetics products As a result
Brontide has resonated with major brands that
emphasize naturalness and purity Second is
Genomaticarsquos aforementioned BDO At
first glance BDO is a few conversion
ldquoWHEN BRANDS ARE LOOKING FOR NEAR-TERM IMPACT THEY NEED A BIO-BASED TECHNOLOGY THAT REALLY WORKSrdquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM14
FEATURE
steps away from most products But brands that look deeper have
realized they can quickly improve the sustainability of polymers
used in common urethane foams (for example) by replacing just
the BDO part with a bio-based version That wonrsquot take the product
to 100 but it allows for a fast improvement through better
understanding of where a productrsquos ingredients come from
ANOTHER IT HAS TO WORK
When brands are looking for near-term impact they need a bio-
based technology that really works That means it can be produced
at commercial scale today with competitive economics Tangible
examples like bio-based BDO and Brontide deliver immediate
opportunities and build confidence that the technology side of
our industry can deliver further innovations A recent example is
Novamontrsquos production of compostable biodegradable plastics
in Italy using bio-based BDO Their plant with a 30000 ton per
year capacity has helped revitalize the local economy providing
a market for farmersrsquo products plus the refurbishing of an older
industrial facility creating many jobs Novamont has secured
multiple well-known brands as customers including UK retailer
Co-op which will replace 180 million bags As brands see
biotechnology deliver at scale many want to learn whatrsquos next
WHAT BRANDS CAN DO NOW
To see how bio-based chemicals can fit your sustainability
strategy we recommend the following
bull Increase internal awareness and understanding This starts
with a deeper understanding of where your key production
inputs come from and how they are made When coupled
with greater exposure to what biotechnology can do it helps
prioritize what parts of your supply chain can be improved
Leverage outside expertise ndash invite biotech firms to share
what they know and do
bull Involve your upstream chemical and material suppliers
Give them updated requirements tied to your sustainability
objectives Encourage them to have direct discussions with
the biotechnology firms and biochemical producers that
expand their options and fit your needs
bull Be clear about your shopping list and priorities This allows
biotechnology firms and chemicalmaterial producers to
provide feedback and look for areas of overlap
bull Send tangible market signals If suppliers know yoursquore serious
about moving to more sustainable ingredients and process
technologies theyrsquoll pay attention This can tie directly to your
Corporate Sustainability Reporting and objectives
bull Publicise and celebrate your choices Let your customers
know about your process for improving and milestones along
the way Press releases speaking at conferences blogs and
tweets can all be effective
bull Get ldquoinside the tentrdquo with preferred partners Some of your
technology or supply chain partners can share more insights
or have a greater impact on your results Invest in ideation and
exploration if needed Close partnerships can help you influence
their priorities or gain early access to advantaged ingredients n
Irsquoll be a speaker at World Bio Markets in April Contact
me directly at cschillinggenomaticacom if yoursquod like
to discuss your companyrsquos vision and needs sooner
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 15
Yes thatrsquos us down there Yes you know us as a prime tourist destination and a business service hub But did you know that in the port of Amsterdam we have one of Europersquos largest biorefinery clustersThe port also has reliable infrastructure logistics providers and terminals utilities feedstock and markets literally at spitting distance Schiphol Airport is as you know just around the corner We reserved space for your business to grow Biopark Amsterdam So consider Amsterdam you are more than welcome to join us Discover our success stories on portofamsterdamcom
The greatest port you never thought of
Considered Amsterdam
In our industry where explaining the benefits of a
product can sometimes be a challenge a good
boost was received this week A familiar name to
most of our readers the Brazilian chemicals
company Braskem producers of Irsquom green ndash a
bio-based polyethylene made from sugarcane ndash has had its
negative carbon footprint credentials strengthened thanks to an
independent review The assessment was carried out by the
Carbon Trust an international organisation that helps businesses
governments and the public sector to accelerate the move to a
more sustainable low carbon economy And the result is that
Braskemrsquos bio-based plastic as used by LEGO (pictured above)
among others is effectively carbon-negative
In a new report comparing Irsquom green with fossil-based equivalents
the Carbon Trust has endorsed the methodology used by Braskem
to support claims that for every tonne of Irsquom green produced the
equivalent of around 3 tonnes of CO2 are locked away by the
sugarcane which provides the main raw material for its manufacture
Capturing CO2 during its lifecycle Irsquom green avoids emissions
related to the production of fossil fuel feedstock thereby
providing a net saving of the equivalent of around 5 tonnes of
CO2sup1 by the end of the plastic manufacturing process
Irsquom green is 100 recyclable plastic currently being used in a
range of applications from food packaging to personal care
products as well as more durable goods such as chairs and vases
Brand owners are increasingly responding to climate change
by reducing their carbon footprint which requires investment
in more efficient processes and using innovative renewable
materials Braskemrsquos Irsquom green is made from a renewable
feedstock and can make a significant contribution to reduce
carbon emissions
John Newton Associated Director at the Carbon Trust said ldquoTo
address climate change we will need innovative materials that
are radically lower in emissions compared to what is commonly
used today Products like Irsquom green which help lock away carbon
emissions in their production can be a real part of the solutionrdquo
Marco Jansen Commercial Director Renewable Chemicals at
Braskem said ldquoWersquore delighted that credible association Carbon
Trust further validates our calculations of Irsquom greenrsquos carbon
footprint Our customers know Irsquom green polyethylene is a smart
and sustainable way to reduce a productrsquos carbon footprint and we
hope more brands will use it as a renewable solution in the futurerdquo
This news will no doubt have been welcomed by LEGO too as
Braskem will supply the LEGO Group with Irsquom green as it makes
it switch to bio-based bricks Already in 2018 Green Plastic has
been used in the lsquobotanicalrsquo elements range such as trees bushes
and leaves that sold quickly once released
The LCA Summary is available here A one-page statement is
available here n
ITrsquoS OFFICIAL BRASKEMrsquoS CARBON-NEGATIVE
CLAIMS FOR ITS BIO-BASED PLASTIC ARE APPROVED
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 17
ldquo IT IS THE WAY TO STEP FORWARD TO AN EARTH-FRIENDLY SOLUTION REDUCING PETROLEUM BASED MATERIALSrdquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM18
FEATURE
BIO-BASED A POSSIBLE SOLUTION
TO MASTERCARDrsquoS SEARCH FOR MORE
SUSTAINABLE BANK CARDS
For many years the idea of going green with your
credit or debit card payments was limited to
buying sustainable products donating to
charities or paying for carbon offsets But now a
new alliance is aiming to green the card itself as
part of a wider array of actions a broader part of the payments
industry Global payment giants Mastercard and card
manufacturers Gemalto Giesecke+Devrient and IDEMIA have
this month launched the Greener Payments Partnership to
establish environmental best practices and reduce first-use PVC
plastic in card manufacturing Roughly six billion plastic payment
cards are made each year according to The Nilson Report
While Mastercard analysis shows that this is less than 0015
percent of the volume of plastic manufactured each year there
is room to improve that through the use of alternative materials
ldquoConsumers are increasingly moving from cash to card as they
look for greater security and sustainabilityrdquo commented Ajay
Bhalla president cyber and intelligence solutions Mastercard
( MastercardNews ) ldquoThis partnership will help us and our
industry reduce first-use plastic in cards Together we can
build on recent research and tests and drive adoption of
environmentally-friendly materials on a larger scalerdquo
Research and analysis into recyclable bio-sourced and bio-
degradable materials is already underway and now included in
this remit The partnership commits to accelerating that research
with the goal of delivering globally available solutions to reduce
first-use PVC plastic in card manufacturing in a matter of years
ldquoResponsible use of natural resources and protection of our
climate and environment are core elements of G+Drsquos Corporate
Responsibility policy We are committed to ensuring that our
entire value chain is sustainable and to continuously reducing
our ecological footprint As a participant of the Greener Payment
Partnership we work on the standardization of bio-sourced
materials in payment cards It is the way to step forward to an
earth-friendly solution reducing petroleum based materialsrdquo
says Gabrielle Bugat Head of the Financial Services Division at
Giesecke+Devrient Mobile Security
The group will also ensure best practices around how materials
are evaluated including environmental impact benefits and the
ability to meet increasing consumer concerns around the impact
of plastic globally
ldquoItrsquos no secret that we all need to change the way we live and
consume to reduce the impact wersquore having on our planet For
IDEMIA itrsquos essential as an industrial leader to effect change
for the better and play our part to reduce for instance our
reliance on plasticrdquo said Pierre Barrial executive vice president
for financial institutions activities at IDEMIA ( IdemiaGroup )
ldquoWersquore delighted to partner with Mastercard to deliver viable
environmentally friendly alternatives that bring positive change
to the industry as a wholerdquo
ldquoEnvironmental-friendly products are now a priority for all
stakeholders in the payment eco-systemrdquo says Sylvie Gibert
senior vice president of payment cards Gemalto ldquoWe are
committed to supporting this partnership formed by Mastercard
and we have already adopted sustainable practices in our
banking card business This initiative comes at a time where we
see a growing interest from the banks for greener cardsrdquo
This is no the first foray into bio-materials for Mastercard in
2016 they partnered with the Finnish Bank of Aringland WWF
Finland KPMG and Gemalto to create a credit card made of
renewable and biodegradable materials n
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 19
We regularly feature stories emerging from Canada
whether itrsquos about a new way to harness the
nations huge amounts of harvestable biomass
the commercialization of an innovation emerging
from one of their many illustrious university
laboratories or the growth in popularity of a bio-based product
for an increasingly environmentally aware population
So in order to learn more about one of the worldrsquos most vibrant
bio-economies our editor Luke Upton recently sat down with
Sandy Marshall the Executive Director of Bioindustrial Innovation
Canada a not-for-profit organisation focussed on catalysing the
further commercialisation of the bio-economy In a wide ranging
discussion they looked at how agriculture can better connect
with the bio-economy advice on starting a business and what
makes Canada so strong in this area
Luke Upton (LU) Thanks for the time today so as an
introduction ndash whatrsquos been your personal path to becoming
executive director of Bioindustrial Innovation Canada
Sandy Marshall (SM) I was raised on a farm near Blyth
Ontario Canada before graduating with Bachelor of Applied
Science Degree (BASc) and Masters of Applied Science Degree
(MASc) in Chemical Engineering from the University of Waterloo
I started my professional career in 1984 with Polysar Inc a
Canadian rubber manufacturer Over my 30 year career in
the chemical and polymers industry I worked in research and
process product development and market development before
moving into Operations and General Management I had two
international assignment one with Bayer AG in Germany and a
second with Lanxess in Cincinnati USA I finished my corporate
career as President and Managing Director responsible for
Canadian Operations of Lanxess Canada I have been recognized
as a leader committed to Corporate Social Responsibility and
environmental sustainability in Canada
I am very interested in sustainable chemistry and have been an
active Board member for Bioindustrial Innovation Canada (BIC)
from its inception in 2008 After I left Lanxess in 2013 I began
consulting in this space At that time I also took over the role of
Chairman of the BIC Board and worked very closely with Murray
McLaughlin Executive Director BIC In 2016 Murray McLaughlin
chose to step back as Executive Director and I was hired as his
replacement It is exciting to be back in a leadership role for an
organization with an inspiring vision and mission
LU For our readers who are unfamiliar with BIC could you
explain a little about the organisation and its aims
SM BIC is a nationally focused not-for-profit organization
based in Sarnia Ontario BICrsquos vision is to create jobs and
economic value sustainably for Canada BICrsquos mission is to
provide critical strategic investment advice and services to
THE LAST WORD WITHhellip SANDY MARSHALL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BIOINDUSTRIAL INNOVATION CANADA
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM20
FEATURE
business developers of clean green and sustainable technologies
Our expertise in commercialization builds a stronger Canada BIC
is focused on enabling Ontario and Canada to become globally
recognized leaders in converting renewable resources such as
agricultural and forestry by-products and residues into value-
added bioenergy biofuel biochemical and biomaterials for use
in a wide range of commercial applications along the chemistry
value chain to advanced manufacturing
LU BIC has worked with a number of companies is there a
particular project of which you are most proud
SM In 2012 BIC together with community leaders in Agriculture
embarked on a project to identify whether the Sarnia-Lambton
region could develop a source of cellulosic sugars using a biomass
supply chain based on agricultural residues BIC lead this project
with the support of numerous companies and government agencies
which lead to the formation of the Cellulosic Sugar Producers
Cooperative and identified Comet Bio as a viable technology
provider Currently these companies are partnering to establish the
worldrsquos first commercial cellulosic glucose sugar supply chain
LU What makes Canada a good home for a bio-based innovation
SM Canada is a vast country which is blessed with enormous
quantities of sustainably harvestable biomass both from forestry
and agriculture The access to raw materials is critical for the
success of any business venture Furthermore Canada is known
for its strong innovation capacity and its collaborative work
culture Together these attributes make Canada an ideal home of
the bio-based economy
LU What can agriculture do to better connect with bio-based
chemical and bio-based product manufactures
SM Agriculture needs to take a leadership role in the bio-
economy There has been a good start here in Canada It is
critical that the question about the availability of sustainably
harvestable biomass is answered through good science to allow
the industry to grow and leverage Canadarsquos great potential
Producers can also promote the bio-economy as an
opportunity to diversify their business models Generating
revenue through feedstock sales to bio-based chemical and
product producers or through participation as business partners
and investors in these ventures can be very beneficial in
reducing risk for all participants in the bio-economy
Government can support these entrepreneurial activities
through support of applied research and development of the
science to assure society that the bio-economy based on
agricultural feedstocks is both sustainable and critical to the
fight against climate change
LU What advice would you give someone looking to start a
bio-based business
SM Start with a solid business plan that clearly identified the
value proposition and can show profitability without relying on
long term government incentives I think that government has
an important role to de-risk early stage commercialization but
businesses must be able to show a path to successful commercial
independence
LU And finallyhellip whatrsquos your favourite sustainable bio-based
product
SM I do not have a favourite The petrochemical industry
succeeded based on leveraging all of the products in the barrel of
oil I see the bio-economy in the same way We need to valorize
all of the products in the truckload of biomass It is only through
leveraging sugars lignin renewable natural gas and the bio-
products produced from them that we can successfully build a
vibrant bio-economy n
ldquoTHE PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRY SUCCEEDED BASED ON LEVERAGING ALL OF THE PRODUCTS IN THE BARREL OF OIL I SEE THE BIO-ECONOMY IN THE SAME WAYrdquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 21
US-based chemical engineer Frances Arnold
(pictured) is one of three scientists who have this
month been awarded the 2018 Nobel Prize in
Chemistry She has won the prize for her work on
the ldquodirected evolution of enzymesrdquo which is a bioengineering
method for creating new and better enzymes in the laboratory
using the principles of evolution Enzymes produced through
directed evolution are used to manufacture everything from
biofuels to pharmaceuticals
Directed evolution works in the same way that breeders mate
cats or dogs to bring out desired traits To perform the method
scientists begin by inducing mutations to the DNA or gene that
encodes a particular enzyme
An assortment of thousands of mutated enzymes is produced
and then tested for a desired trait The top-performing enzymes
are selected and the process is repeated to further enhance the
enzymesrsquo performances For instance in 2009 Arnold and her
team based at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
engineered enzymes that break down cellulose the main
component of plant cell walls creating better catalysts for turning
agricultural wastes into fuels and chemicals
A number of additional enzymes produced through directed
evolution are now used for a host of products including biofuels
agricultural chemicals paper products and pharmaceuticals
Arnold and her colleagues have also used directed evolution
to persuade bacteria to make chemicals not found in nature
including molecules containing silicon-carbon or boron-
carbon bonds or bicyclobutanes which contain energy-
packed carbon rings
By using bacteria researchers can potentially make these
chemical compounds in ldquogreenerrdquo ways that are more
economical and produce less toxic waste
Arnold ( francesarnold ) was born on 25 July 1956 in Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania and arrived at Caltech as a visiting associate in 1986
and was named assistant professor in 1987 associate professor in
1992 and professor in 1996
Speaking about her Nobel prize Arnold said she was ldquoabsolutely
flooredrdquo to receive the award adding ldquoI have to wrap my head
around this Itrsquos not something I was expectingrdquo
ldquoMy entire career I have been concerned about the damage we
are doing to the planet and each otherrdquo Arnold said ldquoScience
and technology can play a major role in mitigating our negative
influences on the environment
Changing behaviour is even more important However I feel
that change is easier when there are good economically-viable
alternatives to harmful habitsrdquo n
NOBEL NOD FOR THE GREEN PIONEER BEHIND lsquoDIRECTED
EVOLUTION ENZYMESrsquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 13
FEATURE
BRANDS A PRAGMATIC APPROACH TO BIO-BASED CHEMICALSCHRISTOPHE SCHILLING CEO GENOMATICA
The brands I speak with have well-crafted
plans for advancing the sustainability of their
products These address choosing materials
for recyclability considering end-of-life
reuse energy consumption during
production packaging and community-related issues
consistent with the United Nationsrsquo Sustainable
Development Goals
I was particularly energized by my conversations at the
VERGE18 conference where I was asked to be a discussion
leader at the Circular Plastics Summit co-led by the Ellen
MacArthur Foundation (I encourage you to read their New
Plastics Economy and Make Fashion Circular reports)
Increasingly brands are seeing the opportunity to improve
sustainability through increased use of renewably-sourced
materials This approach is part of a broader set of initiatives
to increase circularity in a range of global material flows
Although these approaches offer compelling benefits
making them happen can be challenging In this article Irsquod
like to share some ideas for tangible near-term actions that
emerged from my recent discussions as they apply to bio-
based chemicals
ONE KEY LEARNING CLOSER IS BETTER
Wersquove found that brands are more energized to act when
key chemicals are ldquocloserrdquo to their end products in the
sense of making up a substantial portion of the end
product A great example is nylon where the key chemical
caprolactam is only one step away from conversion to
nylon Genomatica is developing technology for bio-based
caprolactam which is then made into 100 bio-based
nylon-6 for apparel and carpet we announced Aquafil as
a partner in early 2018 Brands appreciate that moving to
100 bio-based nylon could allow them to have a major
impact on the sustainability of their products and on their
market differentiation
To make that happen only one chemical needs to be made
renewably This announcement was followed by Project
EFFECTIVE which aims to commercialize better fibers and
plastics and includes four major brands ndash HampM Vaude Carvico
and Balsan EFFECTIVE supported by the EUrsquos Horizon2020
program will use Genomaticarsquos caprolactam technology as
well as technology for the first bio-based chemical delivered
by Genomatica for 14-butanediol (BDO) to enable higher
renewable content in polyesters and polyurethanes
Two more examples are instructive First Genomatica has
also commercialized its Brontidetrade bio-based butylene glycol
Itrsquos certainly close to the customer as itrsquos used directly in
personal care and cosmetics products As a result
Brontide has resonated with major brands that
emphasize naturalness and purity Second is
Genomaticarsquos aforementioned BDO At
first glance BDO is a few conversion
ldquoWHEN BRANDS ARE LOOKING FOR NEAR-TERM IMPACT THEY NEED A BIO-BASED TECHNOLOGY THAT REALLY WORKSrdquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM14
FEATURE
steps away from most products But brands that look deeper have
realized they can quickly improve the sustainability of polymers
used in common urethane foams (for example) by replacing just
the BDO part with a bio-based version That wonrsquot take the product
to 100 but it allows for a fast improvement through better
understanding of where a productrsquos ingredients come from
ANOTHER IT HAS TO WORK
When brands are looking for near-term impact they need a bio-
based technology that really works That means it can be produced
at commercial scale today with competitive economics Tangible
examples like bio-based BDO and Brontide deliver immediate
opportunities and build confidence that the technology side of
our industry can deliver further innovations A recent example is
Novamontrsquos production of compostable biodegradable plastics
in Italy using bio-based BDO Their plant with a 30000 ton per
year capacity has helped revitalize the local economy providing
a market for farmersrsquo products plus the refurbishing of an older
industrial facility creating many jobs Novamont has secured
multiple well-known brands as customers including UK retailer
Co-op which will replace 180 million bags As brands see
biotechnology deliver at scale many want to learn whatrsquos next
WHAT BRANDS CAN DO NOW
To see how bio-based chemicals can fit your sustainability
strategy we recommend the following
bull Increase internal awareness and understanding This starts
with a deeper understanding of where your key production
inputs come from and how they are made When coupled
with greater exposure to what biotechnology can do it helps
prioritize what parts of your supply chain can be improved
Leverage outside expertise ndash invite biotech firms to share
what they know and do
bull Involve your upstream chemical and material suppliers
Give them updated requirements tied to your sustainability
objectives Encourage them to have direct discussions with
the biotechnology firms and biochemical producers that
expand their options and fit your needs
bull Be clear about your shopping list and priorities This allows
biotechnology firms and chemicalmaterial producers to
provide feedback and look for areas of overlap
bull Send tangible market signals If suppliers know yoursquore serious
about moving to more sustainable ingredients and process
technologies theyrsquoll pay attention This can tie directly to your
Corporate Sustainability Reporting and objectives
bull Publicise and celebrate your choices Let your customers
know about your process for improving and milestones along
the way Press releases speaking at conferences blogs and
tweets can all be effective
bull Get ldquoinside the tentrdquo with preferred partners Some of your
technology or supply chain partners can share more insights
or have a greater impact on your results Invest in ideation and
exploration if needed Close partnerships can help you influence
their priorities or gain early access to advantaged ingredients n
Irsquoll be a speaker at World Bio Markets in April Contact
me directly at cschillinggenomaticacom if yoursquod like
to discuss your companyrsquos vision and needs sooner
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 15
Yes thatrsquos us down there Yes you know us as a prime tourist destination and a business service hub But did you know that in the port of Amsterdam we have one of Europersquos largest biorefinery clustersThe port also has reliable infrastructure logistics providers and terminals utilities feedstock and markets literally at spitting distance Schiphol Airport is as you know just around the corner We reserved space for your business to grow Biopark Amsterdam So consider Amsterdam you are more than welcome to join us Discover our success stories on portofamsterdamcom
The greatest port you never thought of
Considered Amsterdam
In our industry where explaining the benefits of a
product can sometimes be a challenge a good
boost was received this week A familiar name to
most of our readers the Brazilian chemicals
company Braskem producers of Irsquom green ndash a
bio-based polyethylene made from sugarcane ndash has had its
negative carbon footprint credentials strengthened thanks to an
independent review The assessment was carried out by the
Carbon Trust an international organisation that helps businesses
governments and the public sector to accelerate the move to a
more sustainable low carbon economy And the result is that
Braskemrsquos bio-based plastic as used by LEGO (pictured above)
among others is effectively carbon-negative
In a new report comparing Irsquom green with fossil-based equivalents
the Carbon Trust has endorsed the methodology used by Braskem
to support claims that for every tonne of Irsquom green produced the
equivalent of around 3 tonnes of CO2 are locked away by the
sugarcane which provides the main raw material for its manufacture
Capturing CO2 during its lifecycle Irsquom green avoids emissions
related to the production of fossil fuel feedstock thereby
providing a net saving of the equivalent of around 5 tonnes of
CO2sup1 by the end of the plastic manufacturing process
Irsquom green is 100 recyclable plastic currently being used in a
range of applications from food packaging to personal care
products as well as more durable goods such as chairs and vases
Brand owners are increasingly responding to climate change
by reducing their carbon footprint which requires investment
in more efficient processes and using innovative renewable
materials Braskemrsquos Irsquom green is made from a renewable
feedstock and can make a significant contribution to reduce
carbon emissions
John Newton Associated Director at the Carbon Trust said ldquoTo
address climate change we will need innovative materials that
are radically lower in emissions compared to what is commonly
used today Products like Irsquom green which help lock away carbon
emissions in their production can be a real part of the solutionrdquo
Marco Jansen Commercial Director Renewable Chemicals at
Braskem said ldquoWersquore delighted that credible association Carbon
Trust further validates our calculations of Irsquom greenrsquos carbon
footprint Our customers know Irsquom green polyethylene is a smart
and sustainable way to reduce a productrsquos carbon footprint and we
hope more brands will use it as a renewable solution in the futurerdquo
This news will no doubt have been welcomed by LEGO too as
Braskem will supply the LEGO Group with Irsquom green as it makes
it switch to bio-based bricks Already in 2018 Green Plastic has
been used in the lsquobotanicalrsquo elements range such as trees bushes
and leaves that sold quickly once released
The LCA Summary is available here A one-page statement is
available here n
ITrsquoS OFFICIAL BRASKEMrsquoS CARBON-NEGATIVE
CLAIMS FOR ITS BIO-BASED PLASTIC ARE APPROVED
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 17
ldquo IT IS THE WAY TO STEP FORWARD TO AN EARTH-FRIENDLY SOLUTION REDUCING PETROLEUM BASED MATERIALSrdquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM18
FEATURE
BIO-BASED A POSSIBLE SOLUTION
TO MASTERCARDrsquoS SEARCH FOR MORE
SUSTAINABLE BANK CARDS
For many years the idea of going green with your
credit or debit card payments was limited to
buying sustainable products donating to
charities or paying for carbon offsets But now a
new alliance is aiming to green the card itself as
part of a wider array of actions a broader part of the payments
industry Global payment giants Mastercard and card
manufacturers Gemalto Giesecke+Devrient and IDEMIA have
this month launched the Greener Payments Partnership to
establish environmental best practices and reduce first-use PVC
plastic in card manufacturing Roughly six billion plastic payment
cards are made each year according to The Nilson Report
While Mastercard analysis shows that this is less than 0015
percent of the volume of plastic manufactured each year there
is room to improve that through the use of alternative materials
ldquoConsumers are increasingly moving from cash to card as they
look for greater security and sustainabilityrdquo commented Ajay
Bhalla president cyber and intelligence solutions Mastercard
( MastercardNews ) ldquoThis partnership will help us and our
industry reduce first-use plastic in cards Together we can
build on recent research and tests and drive adoption of
environmentally-friendly materials on a larger scalerdquo
Research and analysis into recyclable bio-sourced and bio-
degradable materials is already underway and now included in
this remit The partnership commits to accelerating that research
with the goal of delivering globally available solutions to reduce
first-use PVC plastic in card manufacturing in a matter of years
ldquoResponsible use of natural resources and protection of our
climate and environment are core elements of G+Drsquos Corporate
Responsibility policy We are committed to ensuring that our
entire value chain is sustainable and to continuously reducing
our ecological footprint As a participant of the Greener Payment
Partnership we work on the standardization of bio-sourced
materials in payment cards It is the way to step forward to an
earth-friendly solution reducing petroleum based materialsrdquo
says Gabrielle Bugat Head of the Financial Services Division at
Giesecke+Devrient Mobile Security
The group will also ensure best practices around how materials
are evaluated including environmental impact benefits and the
ability to meet increasing consumer concerns around the impact
of plastic globally
ldquoItrsquos no secret that we all need to change the way we live and
consume to reduce the impact wersquore having on our planet For
IDEMIA itrsquos essential as an industrial leader to effect change
for the better and play our part to reduce for instance our
reliance on plasticrdquo said Pierre Barrial executive vice president
for financial institutions activities at IDEMIA ( IdemiaGroup )
ldquoWersquore delighted to partner with Mastercard to deliver viable
environmentally friendly alternatives that bring positive change
to the industry as a wholerdquo
ldquoEnvironmental-friendly products are now a priority for all
stakeholders in the payment eco-systemrdquo says Sylvie Gibert
senior vice president of payment cards Gemalto ldquoWe are
committed to supporting this partnership formed by Mastercard
and we have already adopted sustainable practices in our
banking card business This initiative comes at a time where we
see a growing interest from the banks for greener cardsrdquo
This is no the first foray into bio-materials for Mastercard in
2016 they partnered with the Finnish Bank of Aringland WWF
Finland KPMG and Gemalto to create a credit card made of
renewable and biodegradable materials n
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 19
We regularly feature stories emerging from Canada
whether itrsquos about a new way to harness the
nations huge amounts of harvestable biomass
the commercialization of an innovation emerging
from one of their many illustrious university
laboratories or the growth in popularity of a bio-based product
for an increasingly environmentally aware population
So in order to learn more about one of the worldrsquos most vibrant
bio-economies our editor Luke Upton recently sat down with
Sandy Marshall the Executive Director of Bioindustrial Innovation
Canada a not-for-profit organisation focussed on catalysing the
further commercialisation of the bio-economy In a wide ranging
discussion they looked at how agriculture can better connect
with the bio-economy advice on starting a business and what
makes Canada so strong in this area
Luke Upton (LU) Thanks for the time today so as an
introduction ndash whatrsquos been your personal path to becoming
executive director of Bioindustrial Innovation Canada
Sandy Marshall (SM) I was raised on a farm near Blyth
Ontario Canada before graduating with Bachelor of Applied
Science Degree (BASc) and Masters of Applied Science Degree
(MASc) in Chemical Engineering from the University of Waterloo
I started my professional career in 1984 with Polysar Inc a
Canadian rubber manufacturer Over my 30 year career in
the chemical and polymers industry I worked in research and
process product development and market development before
moving into Operations and General Management I had two
international assignment one with Bayer AG in Germany and a
second with Lanxess in Cincinnati USA I finished my corporate
career as President and Managing Director responsible for
Canadian Operations of Lanxess Canada I have been recognized
as a leader committed to Corporate Social Responsibility and
environmental sustainability in Canada
I am very interested in sustainable chemistry and have been an
active Board member for Bioindustrial Innovation Canada (BIC)
from its inception in 2008 After I left Lanxess in 2013 I began
consulting in this space At that time I also took over the role of
Chairman of the BIC Board and worked very closely with Murray
McLaughlin Executive Director BIC In 2016 Murray McLaughlin
chose to step back as Executive Director and I was hired as his
replacement It is exciting to be back in a leadership role for an
organization with an inspiring vision and mission
LU For our readers who are unfamiliar with BIC could you
explain a little about the organisation and its aims
SM BIC is a nationally focused not-for-profit organization
based in Sarnia Ontario BICrsquos vision is to create jobs and
economic value sustainably for Canada BICrsquos mission is to
provide critical strategic investment advice and services to
THE LAST WORD WITHhellip SANDY MARSHALL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BIOINDUSTRIAL INNOVATION CANADA
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM20
FEATURE
business developers of clean green and sustainable technologies
Our expertise in commercialization builds a stronger Canada BIC
is focused on enabling Ontario and Canada to become globally
recognized leaders in converting renewable resources such as
agricultural and forestry by-products and residues into value-
added bioenergy biofuel biochemical and biomaterials for use
in a wide range of commercial applications along the chemistry
value chain to advanced manufacturing
LU BIC has worked with a number of companies is there a
particular project of which you are most proud
SM In 2012 BIC together with community leaders in Agriculture
embarked on a project to identify whether the Sarnia-Lambton
region could develop a source of cellulosic sugars using a biomass
supply chain based on agricultural residues BIC lead this project
with the support of numerous companies and government agencies
which lead to the formation of the Cellulosic Sugar Producers
Cooperative and identified Comet Bio as a viable technology
provider Currently these companies are partnering to establish the
worldrsquos first commercial cellulosic glucose sugar supply chain
LU What makes Canada a good home for a bio-based innovation
SM Canada is a vast country which is blessed with enormous
quantities of sustainably harvestable biomass both from forestry
and agriculture The access to raw materials is critical for the
success of any business venture Furthermore Canada is known
for its strong innovation capacity and its collaborative work
culture Together these attributes make Canada an ideal home of
the bio-based economy
LU What can agriculture do to better connect with bio-based
chemical and bio-based product manufactures
SM Agriculture needs to take a leadership role in the bio-
economy There has been a good start here in Canada It is
critical that the question about the availability of sustainably
harvestable biomass is answered through good science to allow
the industry to grow and leverage Canadarsquos great potential
Producers can also promote the bio-economy as an
opportunity to diversify their business models Generating
revenue through feedstock sales to bio-based chemical and
product producers or through participation as business partners
and investors in these ventures can be very beneficial in
reducing risk for all participants in the bio-economy
Government can support these entrepreneurial activities
through support of applied research and development of the
science to assure society that the bio-economy based on
agricultural feedstocks is both sustainable and critical to the
fight against climate change
LU What advice would you give someone looking to start a
bio-based business
SM Start with a solid business plan that clearly identified the
value proposition and can show profitability without relying on
long term government incentives I think that government has
an important role to de-risk early stage commercialization but
businesses must be able to show a path to successful commercial
independence
LU And finallyhellip whatrsquos your favourite sustainable bio-based
product
SM I do not have a favourite The petrochemical industry
succeeded based on leveraging all of the products in the barrel of
oil I see the bio-economy in the same way We need to valorize
all of the products in the truckload of biomass It is only through
leveraging sugars lignin renewable natural gas and the bio-
products produced from them that we can successfully build a
vibrant bio-economy n
ldquoTHE PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRY SUCCEEDED BASED ON LEVERAGING ALL OF THE PRODUCTS IN THE BARREL OF OIL I SEE THE BIO-ECONOMY IN THE SAME WAYrdquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 21
BRANDS A PRAGMATIC APPROACH TO BIO-BASED CHEMICALSCHRISTOPHE SCHILLING CEO GENOMATICA
The brands I speak with have well-crafted
plans for advancing the sustainability of their
products These address choosing materials
for recyclability considering end-of-life
reuse energy consumption during
production packaging and community-related issues
consistent with the United Nationsrsquo Sustainable
Development Goals
I was particularly energized by my conversations at the
VERGE18 conference where I was asked to be a discussion
leader at the Circular Plastics Summit co-led by the Ellen
MacArthur Foundation (I encourage you to read their New
Plastics Economy and Make Fashion Circular reports)
Increasingly brands are seeing the opportunity to improve
sustainability through increased use of renewably-sourced
materials This approach is part of a broader set of initiatives
to increase circularity in a range of global material flows
Although these approaches offer compelling benefits
making them happen can be challenging In this article Irsquod
like to share some ideas for tangible near-term actions that
emerged from my recent discussions as they apply to bio-
based chemicals
ONE KEY LEARNING CLOSER IS BETTER
Wersquove found that brands are more energized to act when
key chemicals are ldquocloserrdquo to their end products in the
sense of making up a substantial portion of the end
product A great example is nylon where the key chemical
caprolactam is only one step away from conversion to
nylon Genomatica is developing technology for bio-based
caprolactam which is then made into 100 bio-based
nylon-6 for apparel and carpet we announced Aquafil as
a partner in early 2018 Brands appreciate that moving to
100 bio-based nylon could allow them to have a major
impact on the sustainability of their products and on their
market differentiation
To make that happen only one chemical needs to be made
renewably This announcement was followed by Project
EFFECTIVE which aims to commercialize better fibers and
plastics and includes four major brands ndash HampM Vaude Carvico
and Balsan EFFECTIVE supported by the EUrsquos Horizon2020
program will use Genomaticarsquos caprolactam technology as
well as technology for the first bio-based chemical delivered
by Genomatica for 14-butanediol (BDO) to enable higher
renewable content in polyesters and polyurethanes
Two more examples are instructive First Genomatica has
also commercialized its Brontidetrade bio-based butylene glycol
Itrsquos certainly close to the customer as itrsquos used directly in
personal care and cosmetics products As a result
Brontide has resonated with major brands that
emphasize naturalness and purity Second is
Genomaticarsquos aforementioned BDO At
first glance BDO is a few conversion
ldquoWHEN BRANDS ARE LOOKING FOR NEAR-TERM IMPACT THEY NEED A BIO-BASED TECHNOLOGY THAT REALLY WORKSrdquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM14
FEATURE
steps away from most products But brands that look deeper have
realized they can quickly improve the sustainability of polymers
used in common urethane foams (for example) by replacing just
the BDO part with a bio-based version That wonrsquot take the product
to 100 but it allows for a fast improvement through better
understanding of where a productrsquos ingredients come from
ANOTHER IT HAS TO WORK
When brands are looking for near-term impact they need a bio-
based technology that really works That means it can be produced
at commercial scale today with competitive economics Tangible
examples like bio-based BDO and Brontide deliver immediate
opportunities and build confidence that the technology side of
our industry can deliver further innovations A recent example is
Novamontrsquos production of compostable biodegradable plastics
in Italy using bio-based BDO Their plant with a 30000 ton per
year capacity has helped revitalize the local economy providing
a market for farmersrsquo products plus the refurbishing of an older
industrial facility creating many jobs Novamont has secured
multiple well-known brands as customers including UK retailer
Co-op which will replace 180 million bags As brands see
biotechnology deliver at scale many want to learn whatrsquos next
WHAT BRANDS CAN DO NOW
To see how bio-based chemicals can fit your sustainability
strategy we recommend the following
bull Increase internal awareness and understanding This starts
with a deeper understanding of where your key production
inputs come from and how they are made When coupled
with greater exposure to what biotechnology can do it helps
prioritize what parts of your supply chain can be improved
Leverage outside expertise ndash invite biotech firms to share
what they know and do
bull Involve your upstream chemical and material suppliers
Give them updated requirements tied to your sustainability
objectives Encourage them to have direct discussions with
the biotechnology firms and biochemical producers that
expand their options and fit your needs
bull Be clear about your shopping list and priorities This allows
biotechnology firms and chemicalmaterial producers to
provide feedback and look for areas of overlap
bull Send tangible market signals If suppliers know yoursquore serious
about moving to more sustainable ingredients and process
technologies theyrsquoll pay attention This can tie directly to your
Corporate Sustainability Reporting and objectives
bull Publicise and celebrate your choices Let your customers
know about your process for improving and milestones along
the way Press releases speaking at conferences blogs and
tweets can all be effective
bull Get ldquoinside the tentrdquo with preferred partners Some of your
technology or supply chain partners can share more insights
or have a greater impact on your results Invest in ideation and
exploration if needed Close partnerships can help you influence
their priorities or gain early access to advantaged ingredients n
Irsquoll be a speaker at World Bio Markets in April Contact
me directly at cschillinggenomaticacom if yoursquod like
to discuss your companyrsquos vision and needs sooner
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 15
Yes thatrsquos us down there Yes you know us as a prime tourist destination and a business service hub But did you know that in the port of Amsterdam we have one of Europersquos largest biorefinery clustersThe port also has reliable infrastructure logistics providers and terminals utilities feedstock and markets literally at spitting distance Schiphol Airport is as you know just around the corner We reserved space for your business to grow Biopark Amsterdam So consider Amsterdam you are more than welcome to join us Discover our success stories on portofamsterdamcom
The greatest port you never thought of
Considered Amsterdam
In our industry where explaining the benefits of a
product can sometimes be a challenge a good
boost was received this week A familiar name to
most of our readers the Brazilian chemicals
company Braskem producers of Irsquom green ndash a
bio-based polyethylene made from sugarcane ndash has had its
negative carbon footprint credentials strengthened thanks to an
independent review The assessment was carried out by the
Carbon Trust an international organisation that helps businesses
governments and the public sector to accelerate the move to a
more sustainable low carbon economy And the result is that
Braskemrsquos bio-based plastic as used by LEGO (pictured above)
among others is effectively carbon-negative
In a new report comparing Irsquom green with fossil-based equivalents
the Carbon Trust has endorsed the methodology used by Braskem
to support claims that for every tonne of Irsquom green produced the
equivalent of around 3 tonnes of CO2 are locked away by the
sugarcane which provides the main raw material for its manufacture
Capturing CO2 during its lifecycle Irsquom green avoids emissions
related to the production of fossil fuel feedstock thereby
providing a net saving of the equivalent of around 5 tonnes of
CO2sup1 by the end of the plastic manufacturing process
Irsquom green is 100 recyclable plastic currently being used in a
range of applications from food packaging to personal care
products as well as more durable goods such as chairs and vases
Brand owners are increasingly responding to climate change
by reducing their carbon footprint which requires investment
in more efficient processes and using innovative renewable
materials Braskemrsquos Irsquom green is made from a renewable
feedstock and can make a significant contribution to reduce
carbon emissions
John Newton Associated Director at the Carbon Trust said ldquoTo
address climate change we will need innovative materials that
are radically lower in emissions compared to what is commonly
used today Products like Irsquom green which help lock away carbon
emissions in their production can be a real part of the solutionrdquo
Marco Jansen Commercial Director Renewable Chemicals at
Braskem said ldquoWersquore delighted that credible association Carbon
Trust further validates our calculations of Irsquom greenrsquos carbon
footprint Our customers know Irsquom green polyethylene is a smart
and sustainable way to reduce a productrsquos carbon footprint and we
hope more brands will use it as a renewable solution in the futurerdquo
This news will no doubt have been welcomed by LEGO too as
Braskem will supply the LEGO Group with Irsquom green as it makes
it switch to bio-based bricks Already in 2018 Green Plastic has
been used in the lsquobotanicalrsquo elements range such as trees bushes
and leaves that sold quickly once released
The LCA Summary is available here A one-page statement is
available here n
ITrsquoS OFFICIAL BRASKEMrsquoS CARBON-NEGATIVE
CLAIMS FOR ITS BIO-BASED PLASTIC ARE APPROVED
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 17
ldquo IT IS THE WAY TO STEP FORWARD TO AN EARTH-FRIENDLY SOLUTION REDUCING PETROLEUM BASED MATERIALSrdquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM18
FEATURE
BIO-BASED A POSSIBLE SOLUTION
TO MASTERCARDrsquoS SEARCH FOR MORE
SUSTAINABLE BANK CARDS
For many years the idea of going green with your
credit or debit card payments was limited to
buying sustainable products donating to
charities or paying for carbon offsets But now a
new alliance is aiming to green the card itself as
part of a wider array of actions a broader part of the payments
industry Global payment giants Mastercard and card
manufacturers Gemalto Giesecke+Devrient and IDEMIA have
this month launched the Greener Payments Partnership to
establish environmental best practices and reduce first-use PVC
plastic in card manufacturing Roughly six billion plastic payment
cards are made each year according to The Nilson Report
While Mastercard analysis shows that this is less than 0015
percent of the volume of plastic manufactured each year there
is room to improve that through the use of alternative materials
ldquoConsumers are increasingly moving from cash to card as they
look for greater security and sustainabilityrdquo commented Ajay
Bhalla president cyber and intelligence solutions Mastercard
( MastercardNews ) ldquoThis partnership will help us and our
industry reduce first-use plastic in cards Together we can
build on recent research and tests and drive adoption of
environmentally-friendly materials on a larger scalerdquo
Research and analysis into recyclable bio-sourced and bio-
degradable materials is already underway and now included in
this remit The partnership commits to accelerating that research
with the goal of delivering globally available solutions to reduce
first-use PVC plastic in card manufacturing in a matter of years
ldquoResponsible use of natural resources and protection of our
climate and environment are core elements of G+Drsquos Corporate
Responsibility policy We are committed to ensuring that our
entire value chain is sustainable and to continuously reducing
our ecological footprint As a participant of the Greener Payment
Partnership we work on the standardization of bio-sourced
materials in payment cards It is the way to step forward to an
earth-friendly solution reducing petroleum based materialsrdquo
says Gabrielle Bugat Head of the Financial Services Division at
Giesecke+Devrient Mobile Security
The group will also ensure best practices around how materials
are evaluated including environmental impact benefits and the
ability to meet increasing consumer concerns around the impact
of plastic globally
ldquoItrsquos no secret that we all need to change the way we live and
consume to reduce the impact wersquore having on our planet For
IDEMIA itrsquos essential as an industrial leader to effect change
for the better and play our part to reduce for instance our
reliance on plasticrdquo said Pierre Barrial executive vice president
for financial institutions activities at IDEMIA ( IdemiaGroup )
ldquoWersquore delighted to partner with Mastercard to deliver viable
environmentally friendly alternatives that bring positive change
to the industry as a wholerdquo
ldquoEnvironmental-friendly products are now a priority for all
stakeholders in the payment eco-systemrdquo says Sylvie Gibert
senior vice president of payment cards Gemalto ldquoWe are
committed to supporting this partnership formed by Mastercard
and we have already adopted sustainable practices in our
banking card business This initiative comes at a time where we
see a growing interest from the banks for greener cardsrdquo
This is no the first foray into bio-materials for Mastercard in
2016 they partnered with the Finnish Bank of Aringland WWF
Finland KPMG and Gemalto to create a credit card made of
renewable and biodegradable materials n
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 19
We regularly feature stories emerging from Canada
whether itrsquos about a new way to harness the
nations huge amounts of harvestable biomass
the commercialization of an innovation emerging
from one of their many illustrious university
laboratories or the growth in popularity of a bio-based product
for an increasingly environmentally aware population
So in order to learn more about one of the worldrsquos most vibrant
bio-economies our editor Luke Upton recently sat down with
Sandy Marshall the Executive Director of Bioindustrial Innovation
Canada a not-for-profit organisation focussed on catalysing the
further commercialisation of the bio-economy In a wide ranging
discussion they looked at how agriculture can better connect
with the bio-economy advice on starting a business and what
makes Canada so strong in this area
Luke Upton (LU) Thanks for the time today so as an
introduction ndash whatrsquos been your personal path to becoming
executive director of Bioindustrial Innovation Canada
Sandy Marshall (SM) I was raised on a farm near Blyth
Ontario Canada before graduating with Bachelor of Applied
Science Degree (BASc) and Masters of Applied Science Degree
(MASc) in Chemical Engineering from the University of Waterloo
I started my professional career in 1984 with Polysar Inc a
Canadian rubber manufacturer Over my 30 year career in
the chemical and polymers industry I worked in research and
process product development and market development before
moving into Operations and General Management I had two
international assignment one with Bayer AG in Germany and a
second with Lanxess in Cincinnati USA I finished my corporate
career as President and Managing Director responsible for
Canadian Operations of Lanxess Canada I have been recognized
as a leader committed to Corporate Social Responsibility and
environmental sustainability in Canada
I am very interested in sustainable chemistry and have been an
active Board member for Bioindustrial Innovation Canada (BIC)
from its inception in 2008 After I left Lanxess in 2013 I began
consulting in this space At that time I also took over the role of
Chairman of the BIC Board and worked very closely with Murray
McLaughlin Executive Director BIC In 2016 Murray McLaughlin
chose to step back as Executive Director and I was hired as his
replacement It is exciting to be back in a leadership role for an
organization with an inspiring vision and mission
LU For our readers who are unfamiliar with BIC could you
explain a little about the organisation and its aims
SM BIC is a nationally focused not-for-profit organization
based in Sarnia Ontario BICrsquos vision is to create jobs and
economic value sustainably for Canada BICrsquos mission is to
provide critical strategic investment advice and services to
THE LAST WORD WITHhellip SANDY MARSHALL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BIOINDUSTRIAL INNOVATION CANADA
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM20
FEATURE
business developers of clean green and sustainable technologies
Our expertise in commercialization builds a stronger Canada BIC
is focused on enabling Ontario and Canada to become globally
recognized leaders in converting renewable resources such as
agricultural and forestry by-products and residues into value-
added bioenergy biofuel biochemical and biomaterials for use
in a wide range of commercial applications along the chemistry
value chain to advanced manufacturing
LU BIC has worked with a number of companies is there a
particular project of which you are most proud
SM In 2012 BIC together with community leaders in Agriculture
embarked on a project to identify whether the Sarnia-Lambton
region could develop a source of cellulosic sugars using a biomass
supply chain based on agricultural residues BIC lead this project
with the support of numerous companies and government agencies
which lead to the formation of the Cellulosic Sugar Producers
Cooperative and identified Comet Bio as a viable technology
provider Currently these companies are partnering to establish the
worldrsquos first commercial cellulosic glucose sugar supply chain
LU What makes Canada a good home for a bio-based innovation
SM Canada is a vast country which is blessed with enormous
quantities of sustainably harvestable biomass both from forestry
and agriculture The access to raw materials is critical for the
success of any business venture Furthermore Canada is known
for its strong innovation capacity and its collaborative work
culture Together these attributes make Canada an ideal home of
the bio-based economy
LU What can agriculture do to better connect with bio-based
chemical and bio-based product manufactures
SM Agriculture needs to take a leadership role in the bio-
economy There has been a good start here in Canada It is
critical that the question about the availability of sustainably
harvestable biomass is answered through good science to allow
the industry to grow and leverage Canadarsquos great potential
Producers can also promote the bio-economy as an
opportunity to diversify their business models Generating
revenue through feedstock sales to bio-based chemical and
product producers or through participation as business partners
and investors in these ventures can be very beneficial in
reducing risk for all participants in the bio-economy
Government can support these entrepreneurial activities
through support of applied research and development of the
science to assure society that the bio-economy based on
agricultural feedstocks is both sustainable and critical to the
fight against climate change
LU What advice would you give someone looking to start a
bio-based business
SM Start with a solid business plan that clearly identified the
value proposition and can show profitability without relying on
long term government incentives I think that government has
an important role to de-risk early stage commercialization but
businesses must be able to show a path to successful commercial
independence
LU And finallyhellip whatrsquos your favourite sustainable bio-based
product
SM I do not have a favourite The petrochemical industry
succeeded based on leveraging all of the products in the barrel of
oil I see the bio-economy in the same way We need to valorize
all of the products in the truckload of biomass It is only through
leveraging sugars lignin renewable natural gas and the bio-
products produced from them that we can successfully build a
vibrant bio-economy n
ldquoTHE PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRY SUCCEEDED BASED ON LEVERAGING ALL OF THE PRODUCTS IN THE BARREL OF OIL I SEE THE BIO-ECONOMY IN THE SAME WAYrdquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 21
steps away from most products But brands that look deeper have
realized they can quickly improve the sustainability of polymers
used in common urethane foams (for example) by replacing just
the BDO part with a bio-based version That wonrsquot take the product
to 100 but it allows for a fast improvement through better
understanding of where a productrsquos ingredients come from
ANOTHER IT HAS TO WORK
When brands are looking for near-term impact they need a bio-
based technology that really works That means it can be produced
at commercial scale today with competitive economics Tangible
examples like bio-based BDO and Brontide deliver immediate
opportunities and build confidence that the technology side of
our industry can deliver further innovations A recent example is
Novamontrsquos production of compostable biodegradable plastics
in Italy using bio-based BDO Their plant with a 30000 ton per
year capacity has helped revitalize the local economy providing
a market for farmersrsquo products plus the refurbishing of an older
industrial facility creating many jobs Novamont has secured
multiple well-known brands as customers including UK retailer
Co-op which will replace 180 million bags As brands see
biotechnology deliver at scale many want to learn whatrsquos next
WHAT BRANDS CAN DO NOW
To see how bio-based chemicals can fit your sustainability
strategy we recommend the following
bull Increase internal awareness and understanding This starts
with a deeper understanding of where your key production
inputs come from and how they are made When coupled
with greater exposure to what biotechnology can do it helps
prioritize what parts of your supply chain can be improved
Leverage outside expertise ndash invite biotech firms to share
what they know and do
bull Involve your upstream chemical and material suppliers
Give them updated requirements tied to your sustainability
objectives Encourage them to have direct discussions with
the biotechnology firms and biochemical producers that
expand their options and fit your needs
bull Be clear about your shopping list and priorities This allows
biotechnology firms and chemicalmaterial producers to
provide feedback and look for areas of overlap
bull Send tangible market signals If suppliers know yoursquore serious
about moving to more sustainable ingredients and process
technologies theyrsquoll pay attention This can tie directly to your
Corporate Sustainability Reporting and objectives
bull Publicise and celebrate your choices Let your customers
know about your process for improving and milestones along
the way Press releases speaking at conferences blogs and
tweets can all be effective
bull Get ldquoinside the tentrdquo with preferred partners Some of your
technology or supply chain partners can share more insights
or have a greater impact on your results Invest in ideation and
exploration if needed Close partnerships can help you influence
their priorities or gain early access to advantaged ingredients n
Irsquoll be a speaker at World Bio Markets in April Contact
me directly at cschillinggenomaticacom if yoursquod like
to discuss your companyrsquos vision and needs sooner
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 15
Yes thatrsquos us down there Yes you know us as a prime tourist destination and a business service hub But did you know that in the port of Amsterdam we have one of Europersquos largest biorefinery clustersThe port also has reliable infrastructure logistics providers and terminals utilities feedstock and markets literally at spitting distance Schiphol Airport is as you know just around the corner We reserved space for your business to grow Biopark Amsterdam So consider Amsterdam you are more than welcome to join us Discover our success stories on portofamsterdamcom
The greatest port you never thought of
Considered Amsterdam
In our industry where explaining the benefits of a
product can sometimes be a challenge a good
boost was received this week A familiar name to
most of our readers the Brazilian chemicals
company Braskem producers of Irsquom green ndash a
bio-based polyethylene made from sugarcane ndash has had its
negative carbon footprint credentials strengthened thanks to an
independent review The assessment was carried out by the
Carbon Trust an international organisation that helps businesses
governments and the public sector to accelerate the move to a
more sustainable low carbon economy And the result is that
Braskemrsquos bio-based plastic as used by LEGO (pictured above)
among others is effectively carbon-negative
In a new report comparing Irsquom green with fossil-based equivalents
the Carbon Trust has endorsed the methodology used by Braskem
to support claims that for every tonne of Irsquom green produced the
equivalent of around 3 tonnes of CO2 are locked away by the
sugarcane which provides the main raw material for its manufacture
Capturing CO2 during its lifecycle Irsquom green avoids emissions
related to the production of fossil fuel feedstock thereby
providing a net saving of the equivalent of around 5 tonnes of
CO2sup1 by the end of the plastic manufacturing process
Irsquom green is 100 recyclable plastic currently being used in a
range of applications from food packaging to personal care
products as well as more durable goods such as chairs and vases
Brand owners are increasingly responding to climate change
by reducing their carbon footprint which requires investment
in more efficient processes and using innovative renewable
materials Braskemrsquos Irsquom green is made from a renewable
feedstock and can make a significant contribution to reduce
carbon emissions
John Newton Associated Director at the Carbon Trust said ldquoTo
address climate change we will need innovative materials that
are radically lower in emissions compared to what is commonly
used today Products like Irsquom green which help lock away carbon
emissions in their production can be a real part of the solutionrdquo
Marco Jansen Commercial Director Renewable Chemicals at
Braskem said ldquoWersquore delighted that credible association Carbon
Trust further validates our calculations of Irsquom greenrsquos carbon
footprint Our customers know Irsquom green polyethylene is a smart
and sustainable way to reduce a productrsquos carbon footprint and we
hope more brands will use it as a renewable solution in the futurerdquo
This news will no doubt have been welcomed by LEGO too as
Braskem will supply the LEGO Group with Irsquom green as it makes
it switch to bio-based bricks Already in 2018 Green Plastic has
been used in the lsquobotanicalrsquo elements range such as trees bushes
and leaves that sold quickly once released
The LCA Summary is available here A one-page statement is
available here n
ITrsquoS OFFICIAL BRASKEMrsquoS CARBON-NEGATIVE
CLAIMS FOR ITS BIO-BASED PLASTIC ARE APPROVED
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 17
ldquo IT IS THE WAY TO STEP FORWARD TO AN EARTH-FRIENDLY SOLUTION REDUCING PETROLEUM BASED MATERIALSrdquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM18
FEATURE
BIO-BASED A POSSIBLE SOLUTION
TO MASTERCARDrsquoS SEARCH FOR MORE
SUSTAINABLE BANK CARDS
For many years the idea of going green with your
credit or debit card payments was limited to
buying sustainable products donating to
charities or paying for carbon offsets But now a
new alliance is aiming to green the card itself as
part of a wider array of actions a broader part of the payments
industry Global payment giants Mastercard and card
manufacturers Gemalto Giesecke+Devrient and IDEMIA have
this month launched the Greener Payments Partnership to
establish environmental best practices and reduce first-use PVC
plastic in card manufacturing Roughly six billion plastic payment
cards are made each year according to The Nilson Report
While Mastercard analysis shows that this is less than 0015
percent of the volume of plastic manufactured each year there
is room to improve that through the use of alternative materials
ldquoConsumers are increasingly moving from cash to card as they
look for greater security and sustainabilityrdquo commented Ajay
Bhalla president cyber and intelligence solutions Mastercard
( MastercardNews ) ldquoThis partnership will help us and our
industry reduce first-use plastic in cards Together we can
build on recent research and tests and drive adoption of
environmentally-friendly materials on a larger scalerdquo
Research and analysis into recyclable bio-sourced and bio-
degradable materials is already underway and now included in
this remit The partnership commits to accelerating that research
with the goal of delivering globally available solutions to reduce
first-use PVC plastic in card manufacturing in a matter of years
ldquoResponsible use of natural resources and protection of our
climate and environment are core elements of G+Drsquos Corporate
Responsibility policy We are committed to ensuring that our
entire value chain is sustainable and to continuously reducing
our ecological footprint As a participant of the Greener Payment
Partnership we work on the standardization of bio-sourced
materials in payment cards It is the way to step forward to an
earth-friendly solution reducing petroleum based materialsrdquo
says Gabrielle Bugat Head of the Financial Services Division at
Giesecke+Devrient Mobile Security
The group will also ensure best practices around how materials
are evaluated including environmental impact benefits and the
ability to meet increasing consumer concerns around the impact
of plastic globally
ldquoItrsquos no secret that we all need to change the way we live and
consume to reduce the impact wersquore having on our planet For
IDEMIA itrsquos essential as an industrial leader to effect change
for the better and play our part to reduce for instance our
reliance on plasticrdquo said Pierre Barrial executive vice president
for financial institutions activities at IDEMIA ( IdemiaGroup )
ldquoWersquore delighted to partner with Mastercard to deliver viable
environmentally friendly alternatives that bring positive change
to the industry as a wholerdquo
ldquoEnvironmental-friendly products are now a priority for all
stakeholders in the payment eco-systemrdquo says Sylvie Gibert
senior vice president of payment cards Gemalto ldquoWe are
committed to supporting this partnership formed by Mastercard
and we have already adopted sustainable practices in our
banking card business This initiative comes at a time where we
see a growing interest from the banks for greener cardsrdquo
This is no the first foray into bio-materials for Mastercard in
2016 they partnered with the Finnish Bank of Aringland WWF
Finland KPMG and Gemalto to create a credit card made of
renewable and biodegradable materials n
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 19
We regularly feature stories emerging from Canada
whether itrsquos about a new way to harness the
nations huge amounts of harvestable biomass
the commercialization of an innovation emerging
from one of their many illustrious university
laboratories or the growth in popularity of a bio-based product
for an increasingly environmentally aware population
So in order to learn more about one of the worldrsquos most vibrant
bio-economies our editor Luke Upton recently sat down with
Sandy Marshall the Executive Director of Bioindustrial Innovation
Canada a not-for-profit organisation focussed on catalysing the
further commercialisation of the bio-economy In a wide ranging
discussion they looked at how agriculture can better connect
with the bio-economy advice on starting a business and what
makes Canada so strong in this area
Luke Upton (LU) Thanks for the time today so as an
introduction ndash whatrsquos been your personal path to becoming
executive director of Bioindustrial Innovation Canada
Sandy Marshall (SM) I was raised on a farm near Blyth
Ontario Canada before graduating with Bachelor of Applied
Science Degree (BASc) and Masters of Applied Science Degree
(MASc) in Chemical Engineering from the University of Waterloo
I started my professional career in 1984 with Polysar Inc a
Canadian rubber manufacturer Over my 30 year career in
the chemical and polymers industry I worked in research and
process product development and market development before
moving into Operations and General Management I had two
international assignment one with Bayer AG in Germany and a
second with Lanxess in Cincinnati USA I finished my corporate
career as President and Managing Director responsible for
Canadian Operations of Lanxess Canada I have been recognized
as a leader committed to Corporate Social Responsibility and
environmental sustainability in Canada
I am very interested in sustainable chemistry and have been an
active Board member for Bioindustrial Innovation Canada (BIC)
from its inception in 2008 After I left Lanxess in 2013 I began
consulting in this space At that time I also took over the role of
Chairman of the BIC Board and worked very closely with Murray
McLaughlin Executive Director BIC In 2016 Murray McLaughlin
chose to step back as Executive Director and I was hired as his
replacement It is exciting to be back in a leadership role for an
organization with an inspiring vision and mission
LU For our readers who are unfamiliar with BIC could you
explain a little about the organisation and its aims
SM BIC is a nationally focused not-for-profit organization
based in Sarnia Ontario BICrsquos vision is to create jobs and
economic value sustainably for Canada BICrsquos mission is to
provide critical strategic investment advice and services to
THE LAST WORD WITHhellip SANDY MARSHALL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BIOINDUSTRIAL INNOVATION CANADA
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM20
FEATURE
business developers of clean green and sustainable technologies
Our expertise in commercialization builds a stronger Canada BIC
is focused on enabling Ontario and Canada to become globally
recognized leaders in converting renewable resources such as
agricultural and forestry by-products and residues into value-
added bioenergy biofuel biochemical and biomaterials for use
in a wide range of commercial applications along the chemistry
value chain to advanced manufacturing
LU BIC has worked with a number of companies is there a
particular project of which you are most proud
SM In 2012 BIC together with community leaders in Agriculture
embarked on a project to identify whether the Sarnia-Lambton
region could develop a source of cellulosic sugars using a biomass
supply chain based on agricultural residues BIC lead this project
with the support of numerous companies and government agencies
which lead to the formation of the Cellulosic Sugar Producers
Cooperative and identified Comet Bio as a viable technology
provider Currently these companies are partnering to establish the
worldrsquos first commercial cellulosic glucose sugar supply chain
LU What makes Canada a good home for a bio-based innovation
SM Canada is a vast country which is blessed with enormous
quantities of sustainably harvestable biomass both from forestry
and agriculture The access to raw materials is critical for the
success of any business venture Furthermore Canada is known
for its strong innovation capacity and its collaborative work
culture Together these attributes make Canada an ideal home of
the bio-based economy
LU What can agriculture do to better connect with bio-based
chemical and bio-based product manufactures
SM Agriculture needs to take a leadership role in the bio-
economy There has been a good start here in Canada It is
critical that the question about the availability of sustainably
harvestable biomass is answered through good science to allow
the industry to grow and leverage Canadarsquos great potential
Producers can also promote the bio-economy as an
opportunity to diversify their business models Generating
revenue through feedstock sales to bio-based chemical and
product producers or through participation as business partners
and investors in these ventures can be very beneficial in
reducing risk for all participants in the bio-economy
Government can support these entrepreneurial activities
through support of applied research and development of the
science to assure society that the bio-economy based on
agricultural feedstocks is both sustainable and critical to the
fight against climate change
LU What advice would you give someone looking to start a
bio-based business
SM Start with a solid business plan that clearly identified the
value proposition and can show profitability without relying on
long term government incentives I think that government has
an important role to de-risk early stage commercialization but
businesses must be able to show a path to successful commercial
independence
LU And finallyhellip whatrsquos your favourite sustainable bio-based
product
SM I do not have a favourite The petrochemical industry
succeeded based on leveraging all of the products in the barrel of
oil I see the bio-economy in the same way We need to valorize
all of the products in the truckload of biomass It is only through
leveraging sugars lignin renewable natural gas and the bio-
products produced from them that we can successfully build a
vibrant bio-economy n
ldquoTHE PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRY SUCCEEDED BASED ON LEVERAGING ALL OF THE PRODUCTS IN THE BARREL OF OIL I SEE THE BIO-ECONOMY IN THE SAME WAYrdquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 21
Yes thatrsquos us down there Yes you know us as a prime tourist destination and a business service hub But did you know that in the port of Amsterdam we have one of Europersquos largest biorefinery clustersThe port also has reliable infrastructure logistics providers and terminals utilities feedstock and markets literally at spitting distance Schiphol Airport is as you know just around the corner We reserved space for your business to grow Biopark Amsterdam So consider Amsterdam you are more than welcome to join us Discover our success stories on portofamsterdamcom
The greatest port you never thought of
Considered Amsterdam
In our industry where explaining the benefits of a
product can sometimes be a challenge a good
boost was received this week A familiar name to
most of our readers the Brazilian chemicals
company Braskem producers of Irsquom green ndash a
bio-based polyethylene made from sugarcane ndash has had its
negative carbon footprint credentials strengthened thanks to an
independent review The assessment was carried out by the
Carbon Trust an international organisation that helps businesses
governments and the public sector to accelerate the move to a
more sustainable low carbon economy And the result is that
Braskemrsquos bio-based plastic as used by LEGO (pictured above)
among others is effectively carbon-negative
In a new report comparing Irsquom green with fossil-based equivalents
the Carbon Trust has endorsed the methodology used by Braskem
to support claims that for every tonne of Irsquom green produced the
equivalent of around 3 tonnes of CO2 are locked away by the
sugarcane which provides the main raw material for its manufacture
Capturing CO2 during its lifecycle Irsquom green avoids emissions
related to the production of fossil fuel feedstock thereby
providing a net saving of the equivalent of around 5 tonnes of
CO2sup1 by the end of the plastic manufacturing process
Irsquom green is 100 recyclable plastic currently being used in a
range of applications from food packaging to personal care
products as well as more durable goods such as chairs and vases
Brand owners are increasingly responding to climate change
by reducing their carbon footprint which requires investment
in more efficient processes and using innovative renewable
materials Braskemrsquos Irsquom green is made from a renewable
feedstock and can make a significant contribution to reduce
carbon emissions
John Newton Associated Director at the Carbon Trust said ldquoTo
address climate change we will need innovative materials that
are radically lower in emissions compared to what is commonly
used today Products like Irsquom green which help lock away carbon
emissions in their production can be a real part of the solutionrdquo
Marco Jansen Commercial Director Renewable Chemicals at
Braskem said ldquoWersquore delighted that credible association Carbon
Trust further validates our calculations of Irsquom greenrsquos carbon
footprint Our customers know Irsquom green polyethylene is a smart
and sustainable way to reduce a productrsquos carbon footprint and we
hope more brands will use it as a renewable solution in the futurerdquo
This news will no doubt have been welcomed by LEGO too as
Braskem will supply the LEGO Group with Irsquom green as it makes
it switch to bio-based bricks Already in 2018 Green Plastic has
been used in the lsquobotanicalrsquo elements range such as trees bushes
and leaves that sold quickly once released
The LCA Summary is available here A one-page statement is
available here n
ITrsquoS OFFICIAL BRASKEMrsquoS CARBON-NEGATIVE
CLAIMS FOR ITS BIO-BASED PLASTIC ARE APPROVED
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 17
ldquo IT IS THE WAY TO STEP FORWARD TO AN EARTH-FRIENDLY SOLUTION REDUCING PETROLEUM BASED MATERIALSrdquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM18
FEATURE
BIO-BASED A POSSIBLE SOLUTION
TO MASTERCARDrsquoS SEARCH FOR MORE
SUSTAINABLE BANK CARDS
For many years the idea of going green with your
credit or debit card payments was limited to
buying sustainable products donating to
charities or paying for carbon offsets But now a
new alliance is aiming to green the card itself as
part of a wider array of actions a broader part of the payments
industry Global payment giants Mastercard and card
manufacturers Gemalto Giesecke+Devrient and IDEMIA have
this month launched the Greener Payments Partnership to
establish environmental best practices and reduce first-use PVC
plastic in card manufacturing Roughly six billion plastic payment
cards are made each year according to The Nilson Report
While Mastercard analysis shows that this is less than 0015
percent of the volume of plastic manufactured each year there
is room to improve that through the use of alternative materials
ldquoConsumers are increasingly moving from cash to card as they
look for greater security and sustainabilityrdquo commented Ajay
Bhalla president cyber and intelligence solutions Mastercard
( MastercardNews ) ldquoThis partnership will help us and our
industry reduce first-use plastic in cards Together we can
build on recent research and tests and drive adoption of
environmentally-friendly materials on a larger scalerdquo
Research and analysis into recyclable bio-sourced and bio-
degradable materials is already underway and now included in
this remit The partnership commits to accelerating that research
with the goal of delivering globally available solutions to reduce
first-use PVC plastic in card manufacturing in a matter of years
ldquoResponsible use of natural resources and protection of our
climate and environment are core elements of G+Drsquos Corporate
Responsibility policy We are committed to ensuring that our
entire value chain is sustainable and to continuously reducing
our ecological footprint As a participant of the Greener Payment
Partnership we work on the standardization of bio-sourced
materials in payment cards It is the way to step forward to an
earth-friendly solution reducing petroleum based materialsrdquo
says Gabrielle Bugat Head of the Financial Services Division at
Giesecke+Devrient Mobile Security
The group will also ensure best practices around how materials
are evaluated including environmental impact benefits and the
ability to meet increasing consumer concerns around the impact
of plastic globally
ldquoItrsquos no secret that we all need to change the way we live and
consume to reduce the impact wersquore having on our planet For
IDEMIA itrsquos essential as an industrial leader to effect change
for the better and play our part to reduce for instance our
reliance on plasticrdquo said Pierre Barrial executive vice president
for financial institutions activities at IDEMIA ( IdemiaGroup )
ldquoWersquore delighted to partner with Mastercard to deliver viable
environmentally friendly alternatives that bring positive change
to the industry as a wholerdquo
ldquoEnvironmental-friendly products are now a priority for all
stakeholders in the payment eco-systemrdquo says Sylvie Gibert
senior vice president of payment cards Gemalto ldquoWe are
committed to supporting this partnership formed by Mastercard
and we have already adopted sustainable practices in our
banking card business This initiative comes at a time where we
see a growing interest from the banks for greener cardsrdquo
This is no the first foray into bio-materials for Mastercard in
2016 they partnered with the Finnish Bank of Aringland WWF
Finland KPMG and Gemalto to create a credit card made of
renewable and biodegradable materials n
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 19
We regularly feature stories emerging from Canada
whether itrsquos about a new way to harness the
nations huge amounts of harvestable biomass
the commercialization of an innovation emerging
from one of their many illustrious university
laboratories or the growth in popularity of a bio-based product
for an increasingly environmentally aware population
So in order to learn more about one of the worldrsquos most vibrant
bio-economies our editor Luke Upton recently sat down with
Sandy Marshall the Executive Director of Bioindustrial Innovation
Canada a not-for-profit organisation focussed on catalysing the
further commercialisation of the bio-economy In a wide ranging
discussion they looked at how agriculture can better connect
with the bio-economy advice on starting a business and what
makes Canada so strong in this area
Luke Upton (LU) Thanks for the time today so as an
introduction ndash whatrsquos been your personal path to becoming
executive director of Bioindustrial Innovation Canada
Sandy Marshall (SM) I was raised on a farm near Blyth
Ontario Canada before graduating with Bachelor of Applied
Science Degree (BASc) and Masters of Applied Science Degree
(MASc) in Chemical Engineering from the University of Waterloo
I started my professional career in 1984 with Polysar Inc a
Canadian rubber manufacturer Over my 30 year career in
the chemical and polymers industry I worked in research and
process product development and market development before
moving into Operations and General Management I had two
international assignment one with Bayer AG in Germany and a
second with Lanxess in Cincinnati USA I finished my corporate
career as President and Managing Director responsible for
Canadian Operations of Lanxess Canada I have been recognized
as a leader committed to Corporate Social Responsibility and
environmental sustainability in Canada
I am very interested in sustainable chemistry and have been an
active Board member for Bioindustrial Innovation Canada (BIC)
from its inception in 2008 After I left Lanxess in 2013 I began
consulting in this space At that time I also took over the role of
Chairman of the BIC Board and worked very closely with Murray
McLaughlin Executive Director BIC In 2016 Murray McLaughlin
chose to step back as Executive Director and I was hired as his
replacement It is exciting to be back in a leadership role for an
organization with an inspiring vision and mission
LU For our readers who are unfamiliar with BIC could you
explain a little about the organisation and its aims
SM BIC is a nationally focused not-for-profit organization
based in Sarnia Ontario BICrsquos vision is to create jobs and
economic value sustainably for Canada BICrsquos mission is to
provide critical strategic investment advice and services to
THE LAST WORD WITHhellip SANDY MARSHALL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BIOINDUSTRIAL INNOVATION CANADA
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM20
FEATURE
business developers of clean green and sustainable technologies
Our expertise in commercialization builds a stronger Canada BIC
is focused on enabling Ontario and Canada to become globally
recognized leaders in converting renewable resources such as
agricultural and forestry by-products and residues into value-
added bioenergy biofuel biochemical and biomaterials for use
in a wide range of commercial applications along the chemistry
value chain to advanced manufacturing
LU BIC has worked with a number of companies is there a
particular project of which you are most proud
SM In 2012 BIC together with community leaders in Agriculture
embarked on a project to identify whether the Sarnia-Lambton
region could develop a source of cellulosic sugars using a biomass
supply chain based on agricultural residues BIC lead this project
with the support of numerous companies and government agencies
which lead to the formation of the Cellulosic Sugar Producers
Cooperative and identified Comet Bio as a viable technology
provider Currently these companies are partnering to establish the
worldrsquos first commercial cellulosic glucose sugar supply chain
LU What makes Canada a good home for a bio-based innovation
SM Canada is a vast country which is blessed with enormous
quantities of sustainably harvestable biomass both from forestry
and agriculture The access to raw materials is critical for the
success of any business venture Furthermore Canada is known
for its strong innovation capacity and its collaborative work
culture Together these attributes make Canada an ideal home of
the bio-based economy
LU What can agriculture do to better connect with bio-based
chemical and bio-based product manufactures
SM Agriculture needs to take a leadership role in the bio-
economy There has been a good start here in Canada It is
critical that the question about the availability of sustainably
harvestable biomass is answered through good science to allow
the industry to grow and leverage Canadarsquos great potential
Producers can also promote the bio-economy as an
opportunity to diversify their business models Generating
revenue through feedstock sales to bio-based chemical and
product producers or through participation as business partners
and investors in these ventures can be very beneficial in
reducing risk for all participants in the bio-economy
Government can support these entrepreneurial activities
through support of applied research and development of the
science to assure society that the bio-economy based on
agricultural feedstocks is both sustainable and critical to the
fight against climate change
LU What advice would you give someone looking to start a
bio-based business
SM Start with a solid business plan that clearly identified the
value proposition and can show profitability without relying on
long term government incentives I think that government has
an important role to de-risk early stage commercialization but
businesses must be able to show a path to successful commercial
independence
LU And finallyhellip whatrsquos your favourite sustainable bio-based
product
SM I do not have a favourite The petrochemical industry
succeeded based on leveraging all of the products in the barrel of
oil I see the bio-economy in the same way We need to valorize
all of the products in the truckload of biomass It is only through
leveraging sugars lignin renewable natural gas and the bio-
products produced from them that we can successfully build a
vibrant bio-economy n
ldquoTHE PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRY SUCCEEDED BASED ON LEVERAGING ALL OF THE PRODUCTS IN THE BARREL OF OIL I SEE THE BIO-ECONOMY IN THE SAME WAYrdquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 21
In our industry where explaining the benefits of a
product can sometimes be a challenge a good
boost was received this week A familiar name to
most of our readers the Brazilian chemicals
company Braskem producers of Irsquom green ndash a
bio-based polyethylene made from sugarcane ndash has had its
negative carbon footprint credentials strengthened thanks to an
independent review The assessment was carried out by the
Carbon Trust an international organisation that helps businesses
governments and the public sector to accelerate the move to a
more sustainable low carbon economy And the result is that
Braskemrsquos bio-based plastic as used by LEGO (pictured above)
among others is effectively carbon-negative
In a new report comparing Irsquom green with fossil-based equivalents
the Carbon Trust has endorsed the methodology used by Braskem
to support claims that for every tonne of Irsquom green produced the
equivalent of around 3 tonnes of CO2 are locked away by the
sugarcane which provides the main raw material for its manufacture
Capturing CO2 during its lifecycle Irsquom green avoids emissions
related to the production of fossil fuel feedstock thereby
providing a net saving of the equivalent of around 5 tonnes of
CO2sup1 by the end of the plastic manufacturing process
Irsquom green is 100 recyclable plastic currently being used in a
range of applications from food packaging to personal care
products as well as more durable goods such as chairs and vases
Brand owners are increasingly responding to climate change
by reducing their carbon footprint which requires investment
in more efficient processes and using innovative renewable
materials Braskemrsquos Irsquom green is made from a renewable
feedstock and can make a significant contribution to reduce
carbon emissions
John Newton Associated Director at the Carbon Trust said ldquoTo
address climate change we will need innovative materials that
are radically lower in emissions compared to what is commonly
used today Products like Irsquom green which help lock away carbon
emissions in their production can be a real part of the solutionrdquo
Marco Jansen Commercial Director Renewable Chemicals at
Braskem said ldquoWersquore delighted that credible association Carbon
Trust further validates our calculations of Irsquom greenrsquos carbon
footprint Our customers know Irsquom green polyethylene is a smart
and sustainable way to reduce a productrsquos carbon footprint and we
hope more brands will use it as a renewable solution in the futurerdquo
This news will no doubt have been welcomed by LEGO too as
Braskem will supply the LEGO Group with Irsquom green as it makes
it switch to bio-based bricks Already in 2018 Green Plastic has
been used in the lsquobotanicalrsquo elements range such as trees bushes
and leaves that sold quickly once released
The LCA Summary is available here A one-page statement is
available here n
ITrsquoS OFFICIAL BRASKEMrsquoS CARBON-NEGATIVE
CLAIMS FOR ITS BIO-BASED PLASTIC ARE APPROVED
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 17
ldquo IT IS THE WAY TO STEP FORWARD TO AN EARTH-FRIENDLY SOLUTION REDUCING PETROLEUM BASED MATERIALSrdquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM18
FEATURE
BIO-BASED A POSSIBLE SOLUTION
TO MASTERCARDrsquoS SEARCH FOR MORE
SUSTAINABLE BANK CARDS
For many years the idea of going green with your
credit or debit card payments was limited to
buying sustainable products donating to
charities or paying for carbon offsets But now a
new alliance is aiming to green the card itself as
part of a wider array of actions a broader part of the payments
industry Global payment giants Mastercard and card
manufacturers Gemalto Giesecke+Devrient and IDEMIA have
this month launched the Greener Payments Partnership to
establish environmental best practices and reduce first-use PVC
plastic in card manufacturing Roughly six billion plastic payment
cards are made each year according to The Nilson Report
While Mastercard analysis shows that this is less than 0015
percent of the volume of plastic manufactured each year there
is room to improve that through the use of alternative materials
ldquoConsumers are increasingly moving from cash to card as they
look for greater security and sustainabilityrdquo commented Ajay
Bhalla president cyber and intelligence solutions Mastercard
( MastercardNews ) ldquoThis partnership will help us and our
industry reduce first-use plastic in cards Together we can
build on recent research and tests and drive adoption of
environmentally-friendly materials on a larger scalerdquo
Research and analysis into recyclable bio-sourced and bio-
degradable materials is already underway and now included in
this remit The partnership commits to accelerating that research
with the goal of delivering globally available solutions to reduce
first-use PVC plastic in card manufacturing in a matter of years
ldquoResponsible use of natural resources and protection of our
climate and environment are core elements of G+Drsquos Corporate
Responsibility policy We are committed to ensuring that our
entire value chain is sustainable and to continuously reducing
our ecological footprint As a participant of the Greener Payment
Partnership we work on the standardization of bio-sourced
materials in payment cards It is the way to step forward to an
earth-friendly solution reducing petroleum based materialsrdquo
says Gabrielle Bugat Head of the Financial Services Division at
Giesecke+Devrient Mobile Security
The group will also ensure best practices around how materials
are evaluated including environmental impact benefits and the
ability to meet increasing consumer concerns around the impact
of plastic globally
ldquoItrsquos no secret that we all need to change the way we live and
consume to reduce the impact wersquore having on our planet For
IDEMIA itrsquos essential as an industrial leader to effect change
for the better and play our part to reduce for instance our
reliance on plasticrdquo said Pierre Barrial executive vice president
for financial institutions activities at IDEMIA ( IdemiaGroup )
ldquoWersquore delighted to partner with Mastercard to deliver viable
environmentally friendly alternatives that bring positive change
to the industry as a wholerdquo
ldquoEnvironmental-friendly products are now a priority for all
stakeholders in the payment eco-systemrdquo says Sylvie Gibert
senior vice president of payment cards Gemalto ldquoWe are
committed to supporting this partnership formed by Mastercard
and we have already adopted sustainable practices in our
banking card business This initiative comes at a time where we
see a growing interest from the banks for greener cardsrdquo
This is no the first foray into bio-materials for Mastercard in
2016 they partnered with the Finnish Bank of Aringland WWF
Finland KPMG and Gemalto to create a credit card made of
renewable and biodegradable materials n
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 19
We regularly feature stories emerging from Canada
whether itrsquos about a new way to harness the
nations huge amounts of harvestable biomass
the commercialization of an innovation emerging
from one of their many illustrious university
laboratories or the growth in popularity of a bio-based product
for an increasingly environmentally aware population
So in order to learn more about one of the worldrsquos most vibrant
bio-economies our editor Luke Upton recently sat down with
Sandy Marshall the Executive Director of Bioindustrial Innovation
Canada a not-for-profit organisation focussed on catalysing the
further commercialisation of the bio-economy In a wide ranging
discussion they looked at how agriculture can better connect
with the bio-economy advice on starting a business and what
makes Canada so strong in this area
Luke Upton (LU) Thanks for the time today so as an
introduction ndash whatrsquos been your personal path to becoming
executive director of Bioindustrial Innovation Canada
Sandy Marshall (SM) I was raised on a farm near Blyth
Ontario Canada before graduating with Bachelor of Applied
Science Degree (BASc) and Masters of Applied Science Degree
(MASc) in Chemical Engineering from the University of Waterloo
I started my professional career in 1984 with Polysar Inc a
Canadian rubber manufacturer Over my 30 year career in
the chemical and polymers industry I worked in research and
process product development and market development before
moving into Operations and General Management I had two
international assignment one with Bayer AG in Germany and a
second with Lanxess in Cincinnati USA I finished my corporate
career as President and Managing Director responsible for
Canadian Operations of Lanxess Canada I have been recognized
as a leader committed to Corporate Social Responsibility and
environmental sustainability in Canada
I am very interested in sustainable chemistry and have been an
active Board member for Bioindustrial Innovation Canada (BIC)
from its inception in 2008 After I left Lanxess in 2013 I began
consulting in this space At that time I also took over the role of
Chairman of the BIC Board and worked very closely with Murray
McLaughlin Executive Director BIC In 2016 Murray McLaughlin
chose to step back as Executive Director and I was hired as his
replacement It is exciting to be back in a leadership role for an
organization with an inspiring vision and mission
LU For our readers who are unfamiliar with BIC could you
explain a little about the organisation and its aims
SM BIC is a nationally focused not-for-profit organization
based in Sarnia Ontario BICrsquos vision is to create jobs and
economic value sustainably for Canada BICrsquos mission is to
provide critical strategic investment advice and services to
THE LAST WORD WITHhellip SANDY MARSHALL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BIOINDUSTRIAL INNOVATION CANADA
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM20
FEATURE
business developers of clean green and sustainable technologies
Our expertise in commercialization builds a stronger Canada BIC
is focused on enabling Ontario and Canada to become globally
recognized leaders in converting renewable resources such as
agricultural and forestry by-products and residues into value-
added bioenergy biofuel biochemical and biomaterials for use
in a wide range of commercial applications along the chemistry
value chain to advanced manufacturing
LU BIC has worked with a number of companies is there a
particular project of which you are most proud
SM In 2012 BIC together with community leaders in Agriculture
embarked on a project to identify whether the Sarnia-Lambton
region could develop a source of cellulosic sugars using a biomass
supply chain based on agricultural residues BIC lead this project
with the support of numerous companies and government agencies
which lead to the formation of the Cellulosic Sugar Producers
Cooperative and identified Comet Bio as a viable technology
provider Currently these companies are partnering to establish the
worldrsquos first commercial cellulosic glucose sugar supply chain
LU What makes Canada a good home for a bio-based innovation
SM Canada is a vast country which is blessed with enormous
quantities of sustainably harvestable biomass both from forestry
and agriculture The access to raw materials is critical for the
success of any business venture Furthermore Canada is known
for its strong innovation capacity and its collaborative work
culture Together these attributes make Canada an ideal home of
the bio-based economy
LU What can agriculture do to better connect with bio-based
chemical and bio-based product manufactures
SM Agriculture needs to take a leadership role in the bio-
economy There has been a good start here in Canada It is
critical that the question about the availability of sustainably
harvestable biomass is answered through good science to allow
the industry to grow and leverage Canadarsquos great potential
Producers can also promote the bio-economy as an
opportunity to diversify their business models Generating
revenue through feedstock sales to bio-based chemical and
product producers or through participation as business partners
and investors in these ventures can be very beneficial in
reducing risk for all participants in the bio-economy
Government can support these entrepreneurial activities
through support of applied research and development of the
science to assure society that the bio-economy based on
agricultural feedstocks is both sustainable and critical to the
fight against climate change
LU What advice would you give someone looking to start a
bio-based business
SM Start with a solid business plan that clearly identified the
value proposition and can show profitability without relying on
long term government incentives I think that government has
an important role to de-risk early stage commercialization but
businesses must be able to show a path to successful commercial
independence
LU And finallyhellip whatrsquos your favourite sustainable bio-based
product
SM I do not have a favourite The petrochemical industry
succeeded based on leveraging all of the products in the barrel of
oil I see the bio-economy in the same way We need to valorize
all of the products in the truckload of biomass It is only through
leveraging sugars lignin renewable natural gas and the bio-
products produced from them that we can successfully build a
vibrant bio-economy n
ldquoTHE PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRY SUCCEEDED BASED ON LEVERAGING ALL OF THE PRODUCTS IN THE BARREL OF OIL I SEE THE BIO-ECONOMY IN THE SAME WAYrdquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 21
ldquo IT IS THE WAY TO STEP FORWARD TO AN EARTH-FRIENDLY SOLUTION REDUCING PETROLEUM BASED MATERIALSrdquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM18
FEATURE
BIO-BASED A POSSIBLE SOLUTION
TO MASTERCARDrsquoS SEARCH FOR MORE
SUSTAINABLE BANK CARDS
For many years the idea of going green with your
credit or debit card payments was limited to
buying sustainable products donating to
charities or paying for carbon offsets But now a
new alliance is aiming to green the card itself as
part of a wider array of actions a broader part of the payments
industry Global payment giants Mastercard and card
manufacturers Gemalto Giesecke+Devrient and IDEMIA have
this month launched the Greener Payments Partnership to
establish environmental best practices and reduce first-use PVC
plastic in card manufacturing Roughly six billion plastic payment
cards are made each year according to The Nilson Report
While Mastercard analysis shows that this is less than 0015
percent of the volume of plastic manufactured each year there
is room to improve that through the use of alternative materials
ldquoConsumers are increasingly moving from cash to card as they
look for greater security and sustainabilityrdquo commented Ajay
Bhalla president cyber and intelligence solutions Mastercard
( MastercardNews ) ldquoThis partnership will help us and our
industry reduce first-use plastic in cards Together we can
build on recent research and tests and drive adoption of
environmentally-friendly materials on a larger scalerdquo
Research and analysis into recyclable bio-sourced and bio-
degradable materials is already underway and now included in
this remit The partnership commits to accelerating that research
with the goal of delivering globally available solutions to reduce
first-use PVC plastic in card manufacturing in a matter of years
ldquoResponsible use of natural resources and protection of our
climate and environment are core elements of G+Drsquos Corporate
Responsibility policy We are committed to ensuring that our
entire value chain is sustainable and to continuously reducing
our ecological footprint As a participant of the Greener Payment
Partnership we work on the standardization of bio-sourced
materials in payment cards It is the way to step forward to an
earth-friendly solution reducing petroleum based materialsrdquo
says Gabrielle Bugat Head of the Financial Services Division at
Giesecke+Devrient Mobile Security
The group will also ensure best practices around how materials
are evaluated including environmental impact benefits and the
ability to meet increasing consumer concerns around the impact
of plastic globally
ldquoItrsquos no secret that we all need to change the way we live and
consume to reduce the impact wersquore having on our planet For
IDEMIA itrsquos essential as an industrial leader to effect change
for the better and play our part to reduce for instance our
reliance on plasticrdquo said Pierre Barrial executive vice president
for financial institutions activities at IDEMIA ( IdemiaGroup )
ldquoWersquore delighted to partner with Mastercard to deliver viable
environmentally friendly alternatives that bring positive change
to the industry as a wholerdquo
ldquoEnvironmental-friendly products are now a priority for all
stakeholders in the payment eco-systemrdquo says Sylvie Gibert
senior vice president of payment cards Gemalto ldquoWe are
committed to supporting this partnership formed by Mastercard
and we have already adopted sustainable practices in our
banking card business This initiative comes at a time where we
see a growing interest from the banks for greener cardsrdquo
This is no the first foray into bio-materials for Mastercard in
2016 they partnered with the Finnish Bank of Aringland WWF
Finland KPMG and Gemalto to create a credit card made of
renewable and biodegradable materials n
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 19
We regularly feature stories emerging from Canada
whether itrsquos about a new way to harness the
nations huge amounts of harvestable biomass
the commercialization of an innovation emerging
from one of their many illustrious university
laboratories or the growth in popularity of a bio-based product
for an increasingly environmentally aware population
So in order to learn more about one of the worldrsquos most vibrant
bio-economies our editor Luke Upton recently sat down with
Sandy Marshall the Executive Director of Bioindustrial Innovation
Canada a not-for-profit organisation focussed on catalysing the
further commercialisation of the bio-economy In a wide ranging
discussion they looked at how agriculture can better connect
with the bio-economy advice on starting a business and what
makes Canada so strong in this area
Luke Upton (LU) Thanks for the time today so as an
introduction ndash whatrsquos been your personal path to becoming
executive director of Bioindustrial Innovation Canada
Sandy Marshall (SM) I was raised on a farm near Blyth
Ontario Canada before graduating with Bachelor of Applied
Science Degree (BASc) and Masters of Applied Science Degree
(MASc) in Chemical Engineering from the University of Waterloo
I started my professional career in 1984 with Polysar Inc a
Canadian rubber manufacturer Over my 30 year career in
the chemical and polymers industry I worked in research and
process product development and market development before
moving into Operations and General Management I had two
international assignment one with Bayer AG in Germany and a
second with Lanxess in Cincinnati USA I finished my corporate
career as President and Managing Director responsible for
Canadian Operations of Lanxess Canada I have been recognized
as a leader committed to Corporate Social Responsibility and
environmental sustainability in Canada
I am very interested in sustainable chemistry and have been an
active Board member for Bioindustrial Innovation Canada (BIC)
from its inception in 2008 After I left Lanxess in 2013 I began
consulting in this space At that time I also took over the role of
Chairman of the BIC Board and worked very closely with Murray
McLaughlin Executive Director BIC In 2016 Murray McLaughlin
chose to step back as Executive Director and I was hired as his
replacement It is exciting to be back in a leadership role for an
organization with an inspiring vision and mission
LU For our readers who are unfamiliar with BIC could you
explain a little about the organisation and its aims
SM BIC is a nationally focused not-for-profit organization
based in Sarnia Ontario BICrsquos vision is to create jobs and
economic value sustainably for Canada BICrsquos mission is to
provide critical strategic investment advice and services to
THE LAST WORD WITHhellip SANDY MARSHALL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BIOINDUSTRIAL INNOVATION CANADA
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM20
FEATURE
business developers of clean green and sustainable technologies
Our expertise in commercialization builds a stronger Canada BIC
is focused on enabling Ontario and Canada to become globally
recognized leaders in converting renewable resources such as
agricultural and forestry by-products and residues into value-
added bioenergy biofuel biochemical and biomaterials for use
in a wide range of commercial applications along the chemistry
value chain to advanced manufacturing
LU BIC has worked with a number of companies is there a
particular project of which you are most proud
SM In 2012 BIC together with community leaders in Agriculture
embarked on a project to identify whether the Sarnia-Lambton
region could develop a source of cellulosic sugars using a biomass
supply chain based on agricultural residues BIC lead this project
with the support of numerous companies and government agencies
which lead to the formation of the Cellulosic Sugar Producers
Cooperative and identified Comet Bio as a viable technology
provider Currently these companies are partnering to establish the
worldrsquos first commercial cellulosic glucose sugar supply chain
LU What makes Canada a good home for a bio-based innovation
SM Canada is a vast country which is blessed with enormous
quantities of sustainably harvestable biomass both from forestry
and agriculture The access to raw materials is critical for the
success of any business venture Furthermore Canada is known
for its strong innovation capacity and its collaborative work
culture Together these attributes make Canada an ideal home of
the bio-based economy
LU What can agriculture do to better connect with bio-based
chemical and bio-based product manufactures
SM Agriculture needs to take a leadership role in the bio-
economy There has been a good start here in Canada It is
critical that the question about the availability of sustainably
harvestable biomass is answered through good science to allow
the industry to grow and leverage Canadarsquos great potential
Producers can also promote the bio-economy as an
opportunity to diversify their business models Generating
revenue through feedstock sales to bio-based chemical and
product producers or through participation as business partners
and investors in these ventures can be very beneficial in
reducing risk for all participants in the bio-economy
Government can support these entrepreneurial activities
through support of applied research and development of the
science to assure society that the bio-economy based on
agricultural feedstocks is both sustainable and critical to the
fight against climate change
LU What advice would you give someone looking to start a
bio-based business
SM Start with a solid business plan that clearly identified the
value proposition and can show profitability without relying on
long term government incentives I think that government has
an important role to de-risk early stage commercialization but
businesses must be able to show a path to successful commercial
independence
LU And finallyhellip whatrsquos your favourite sustainable bio-based
product
SM I do not have a favourite The petrochemical industry
succeeded based on leveraging all of the products in the barrel of
oil I see the bio-economy in the same way We need to valorize
all of the products in the truckload of biomass It is only through
leveraging sugars lignin renewable natural gas and the bio-
products produced from them that we can successfully build a
vibrant bio-economy n
ldquoTHE PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRY SUCCEEDED BASED ON LEVERAGING ALL OF THE PRODUCTS IN THE BARREL OF OIL I SEE THE BIO-ECONOMY IN THE SAME WAYrdquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 21
BIO-BASED A POSSIBLE SOLUTION
TO MASTERCARDrsquoS SEARCH FOR MORE
SUSTAINABLE BANK CARDS
For many years the idea of going green with your
credit or debit card payments was limited to
buying sustainable products donating to
charities or paying for carbon offsets But now a
new alliance is aiming to green the card itself as
part of a wider array of actions a broader part of the payments
industry Global payment giants Mastercard and card
manufacturers Gemalto Giesecke+Devrient and IDEMIA have
this month launched the Greener Payments Partnership to
establish environmental best practices and reduce first-use PVC
plastic in card manufacturing Roughly six billion plastic payment
cards are made each year according to The Nilson Report
While Mastercard analysis shows that this is less than 0015
percent of the volume of plastic manufactured each year there
is room to improve that through the use of alternative materials
ldquoConsumers are increasingly moving from cash to card as they
look for greater security and sustainabilityrdquo commented Ajay
Bhalla president cyber and intelligence solutions Mastercard
( MastercardNews ) ldquoThis partnership will help us and our
industry reduce first-use plastic in cards Together we can
build on recent research and tests and drive adoption of
environmentally-friendly materials on a larger scalerdquo
Research and analysis into recyclable bio-sourced and bio-
degradable materials is already underway and now included in
this remit The partnership commits to accelerating that research
with the goal of delivering globally available solutions to reduce
first-use PVC plastic in card manufacturing in a matter of years
ldquoResponsible use of natural resources and protection of our
climate and environment are core elements of G+Drsquos Corporate
Responsibility policy We are committed to ensuring that our
entire value chain is sustainable and to continuously reducing
our ecological footprint As a participant of the Greener Payment
Partnership we work on the standardization of bio-sourced
materials in payment cards It is the way to step forward to an
earth-friendly solution reducing petroleum based materialsrdquo
says Gabrielle Bugat Head of the Financial Services Division at
Giesecke+Devrient Mobile Security
The group will also ensure best practices around how materials
are evaluated including environmental impact benefits and the
ability to meet increasing consumer concerns around the impact
of plastic globally
ldquoItrsquos no secret that we all need to change the way we live and
consume to reduce the impact wersquore having on our planet For
IDEMIA itrsquos essential as an industrial leader to effect change
for the better and play our part to reduce for instance our
reliance on plasticrdquo said Pierre Barrial executive vice president
for financial institutions activities at IDEMIA ( IdemiaGroup )
ldquoWersquore delighted to partner with Mastercard to deliver viable
environmentally friendly alternatives that bring positive change
to the industry as a wholerdquo
ldquoEnvironmental-friendly products are now a priority for all
stakeholders in the payment eco-systemrdquo says Sylvie Gibert
senior vice president of payment cards Gemalto ldquoWe are
committed to supporting this partnership formed by Mastercard
and we have already adopted sustainable practices in our
banking card business This initiative comes at a time where we
see a growing interest from the banks for greener cardsrdquo
This is no the first foray into bio-materials for Mastercard in
2016 they partnered with the Finnish Bank of Aringland WWF
Finland KPMG and Gemalto to create a credit card made of
renewable and biodegradable materials n
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 19
We regularly feature stories emerging from Canada
whether itrsquos about a new way to harness the
nations huge amounts of harvestable biomass
the commercialization of an innovation emerging
from one of their many illustrious university
laboratories or the growth in popularity of a bio-based product
for an increasingly environmentally aware population
So in order to learn more about one of the worldrsquos most vibrant
bio-economies our editor Luke Upton recently sat down with
Sandy Marshall the Executive Director of Bioindustrial Innovation
Canada a not-for-profit organisation focussed on catalysing the
further commercialisation of the bio-economy In a wide ranging
discussion they looked at how agriculture can better connect
with the bio-economy advice on starting a business and what
makes Canada so strong in this area
Luke Upton (LU) Thanks for the time today so as an
introduction ndash whatrsquos been your personal path to becoming
executive director of Bioindustrial Innovation Canada
Sandy Marshall (SM) I was raised on a farm near Blyth
Ontario Canada before graduating with Bachelor of Applied
Science Degree (BASc) and Masters of Applied Science Degree
(MASc) in Chemical Engineering from the University of Waterloo
I started my professional career in 1984 with Polysar Inc a
Canadian rubber manufacturer Over my 30 year career in
the chemical and polymers industry I worked in research and
process product development and market development before
moving into Operations and General Management I had two
international assignment one with Bayer AG in Germany and a
second with Lanxess in Cincinnati USA I finished my corporate
career as President and Managing Director responsible for
Canadian Operations of Lanxess Canada I have been recognized
as a leader committed to Corporate Social Responsibility and
environmental sustainability in Canada
I am very interested in sustainable chemistry and have been an
active Board member for Bioindustrial Innovation Canada (BIC)
from its inception in 2008 After I left Lanxess in 2013 I began
consulting in this space At that time I also took over the role of
Chairman of the BIC Board and worked very closely with Murray
McLaughlin Executive Director BIC In 2016 Murray McLaughlin
chose to step back as Executive Director and I was hired as his
replacement It is exciting to be back in a leadership role for an
organization with an inspiring vision and mission
LU For our readers who are unfamiliar with BIC could you
explain a little about the organisation and its aims
SM BIC is a nationally focused not-for-profit organization
based in Sarnia Ontario BICrsquos vision is to create jobs and
economic value sustainably for Canada BICrsquos mission is to
provide critical strategic investment advice and services to
THE LAST WORD WITHhellip SANDY MARSHALL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BIOINDUSTRIAL INNOVATION CANADA
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM20
FEATURE
business developers of clean green and sustainable technologies
Our expertise in commercialization builds a stronger Canada BIC
is focused on enabling Ontario and Canada to become globally
recognized leaders in converting renewable resources such as
agricultural and forestry by-products and residues into value-
added bioenergy biofuel biochemical and biomaterials for use
in a wide range of commercial applications along the chemistry
value chain to advanced manufacturing
LU BIC has worked with a number of companies is there a
particular project of which you are most proud
SM In 2012 BIC together with community leaders in Agriculture
embarked on a project to identify whether the Sarnia-Lambton
region could develop a source of cellulosic sugars using a biomass
supply chain based on agricultural residues BIC lead this project
with the support of numerous companies and government agencies
which lead to the formation of the Cellulosic Sugar Producers
Cooperative and identified Comet Bio as a viable technology
provider Currently these companies are partnering to establish the
worldrsquos first commercial cellulosic glucose sugar supply chain
LU What makes Canada a good home for a bio-based innovation
SM Canada is a vast country which is blessed with enormous
quantities of sustainably harvestable biomass both from forestry
and agriculture The access to raw materials is critical for the
success of any business venture Furthermore Canada is known
for its strong innovation capacity and its collaborative work
culture Together these attributes make Canada an ideal home of
the bio-based economy
LU What can agriculture do to better connect with bio-based
chemical and bio-based product manufactures
SM Agriculture needs to take a leadership role in the bio-
economy There has been a good start here in Canada It is
critical that the question about the availability of sustainably
harvestable biomass is answered through good science to allow
the industry to grow and leverage Canadarsquos great potential
Producers can also promote the bio-economy as an
opportunity to diversify their business models Generating
revenue through feedstock sales to bio-based chemical and
product producers or through participation as business partners
and investors in these ventures can be very beneficial in
reducing risk for all participants in the bio-economy
Government can support these entrepreneurial activities
through support of applied research and development of the
science to assure society that the bio-economy based on
agricultural feedstocks is both sustainable and critical to the
fight against climate change
LU What advice would you give someone looking to start a
bio-based business
SM Start with a solid business plan that clearly identified the
value proposition and can show profitability without relying on
long term government incentives I think that government has
an important role to de-risk early stage commercialization but
businesses must be able to show a path to successful commercial
independence
LU And finallyhellip whatrsquos your favourite sustainable bio-based
product
SM I do not have a favourite The petrochemical industry
succeeded based on leveraging all of the products in the barrel of
oil I see the bio-economy in the same way We need to valorize
all of the products in the truckload of biomass It is only through
leveraging sugars lignin renewable natural gas and the bio-
products produced from them that we can successfully build a
vibrant bio-economy n
ldquoTHE PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRY SUCCEEDED BASED ON LEVERAGING ALL OF THE PRODUCTS IN THE BARREL OF OIL I SEE THE BIO-ECONOMY IN THE SAME WAYrdquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 21
We regularly feature stories emerging from Canada
whether itrsquos about a new way to harness the
nations huge amounts of harvestable biomass
the commercialization of an innovation emerging
from one of their many illustrious university
laboratories or the growth in popularity of a bio-based product
for an increasingly environmentally aware population
So in order to learn more about one of the worldrsquos most vibrant
bio-economies our editor Luke Upton recently sat down with
Sandy Marshall the Executive Director of Bioindustrial Innovation
Canada a not-for-profit organisation focussed on catalysing the
further commercialisation of the bio-economy In a wide ranging
discussion they looked at how agriculture can better connect
with the bio-economy advice on starting a business and what
makes Canada so strong in this area
Luke Upton (LU) Thanks for the time today so as an
introduction ndash whatrsquos been your personal path to becoming
executive director of Bioindustrial Innovation Canada
Sandy Marshall (SM) I was raised on a farm near Blyth
Ontario Canada before graduating with Bachelor of Applied
Science Degree (BASc) and Masters of Applied Science Degree
(MASc) in Chemical Engineering from the University of Waterloo
I started my professional career in 1984 with Polysar Inc a
Canadian rubber manufacturer Over my 30 year career in
the chemical and polymers industry I worked in research and
process product development and market development before
moving into Operations and General Management I had two
international assignment one with Bayer AG in Germany and a
second with Lanxess in Cincinnati USA I finished my corporate
career as President and Managing Director responsible for
Canadian Operations of Lanxess Canada I have been recognized
as a leader committed to Corporate Social Responsibility and
environmental sustainability in Canada
I am very interested in sustainable chemistry and have been an
active Board member for Bioindustrial Innovation Canada (BIC)
from its inception in 2008 After I left Lanxess in 2013 I began
consulting in this space At that time I also took over the role of
Chairman of the BIC Board and worked very closely with Murray
McLaughlin Executive Director BIC In 2016 Murray McLaughlin
chose to step back as Executive Director and I was hired as his
replacement It is exciting to be back in a leadership role for an
organization with an inspiring vision and mission
LU For our readers who are unfamiliar with BIC could you
explain a little about the organisation and its aims
SM BIC is a nationally focused not-for-profit organization
based in Sarnia Ontario BICrsquos vision is to create jobs and
economic value sustainably for Canada BICrsquos mission is to
provide critical strategic investment advice and services to
THE LAST WORD WITHhellip SANDY MARSHALL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BIOINDUSTRIAL INNOVATION CANADA
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM20
FEATURE
business developers of clean green and sustainable technologies
Our expertise in commercialization builds a stronger Canada BIC
is focused on enabling Ontario and Canada to become globally
recognized leaders in converting renewable resources such as
agricultural and forestry by-products and residues into value-
added bioenergy biofuel biochemical and biomaterials for use
in a wide range of commercial applications along the chemistry
value chain to advanced manufacturing
LU BIC has worked with a number of companies is there a
particular project of which you are most proud
SM In 2012 BIC together with community leaders in Agriculture
embarked on a project to identify whether the Sarnia-Lambton
region could develop a source of cellulosic sugars using a biomass
supply chain based on agricultural residues BIC lead this project
with the support of numerous companies and government agencies
which lead to the formation of the Cellulosic Sugar Producers
Cooperative and identified Comet Bio as a viable technology
provider Currently these companies are partnering to establish the
worldrsquos first commercial cellulosic glucose sugar supply chain
LU What makes Canada a good home for a bio-based innovation
SM Canada is a vast country which is blessed with enormous
quantities of sustainably harvestable biomass both from forestry
and agriculture The access to raw materials is critical for the
success of any business venture Furthermore Canada is known
for its strong innovation capacity and its collaborative work
culture Together these attributes make Canada an ideal home of
the bio-based economy
LU What can agriculture do to better connect with bio-based
chemical and bio-based product manufactures
SM Agriculture needs to take a leadership role in the bio-
economy There has been a good start here in Canada It is
critical that the question about the availability of sustainably
harvestable biomass is answered through good science to allow
the industry to grow and leverage Canadarsquos great potential
Producers can also promote the bio-economy as an
opportunity to diversify their business models Generating
revenue through feedstock sales to bio-based chemical and
product producers or through participation as business partners
and investors in these ventures can be very beneficial in
reducing risk for all participants in the bio-economy
Government can support these entrepreneurial activities
through support of applied research and development of the
science to assure society that the bio-economy based on
agricultural feedstocks is both sustainable and critical to the
fight against climate change
LU What advice would you give someone looking to start a
bio-based business
SM Start with a solid business plan that clearly identified the
value proposition and can show profitability without relying on
long term government incentives I think that government has
an important role to de-risk early stage commercialization but
businesses must be able to show a path to successful commercial
independence
LU And finallyhellip whatrsquos your favourite sustainable bio-based
product
SM I do not have a favourite The petrochemical industry
succeeded based on leveraging all of the products in the barrel of
oil I see the bio-economy in the same way We need to valorize
all of the products in the truckload of biomass It is only through
leveraging sugars lignin renewable natural gas and the bio-
products produced from them that we can successfully build a
vibrant bio-economy n
ldquoTHE PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRY SUCCEEDED BASED ON LEVERAGING ALL OF THE PRODUCTS IN THE BARREL OF OIL I SEE THE BIO-ECONOMY IN THE SAME WAYrdquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 21
business developers of clean green and sustainable technologies
Our expertise in commercialization builds a stronger Canada BIC
is focused on enabling Ontario and Canada to become globally
recognized leaders in converting renewable resources such as
agricultural and forestry by-products and residues into value-
added bioenergy biofuel biochemical and biomaterials for use
in a wide range of commercial applications along the chemistry
value chain to advanced manufacturing
LU BIC has worked with a number of companies is there a
particular project of which you are most proud
SM In 2012 BIC together with community leaders in Agriculture
embarked on a project to identify whether the Sarnia-Lambton
region could develop a source of cellulosic sugars using a biomass
supply chain based on agricultural residues BIC lead this project
with the support of numerous companies and government agencies
which lead to the formation of the Cellulosic Sugar Producers
Cooperative and identified Comet Bio as a viable technology
provider Currently these companies are partnering to establish the
worldrsquos first commercial cellulosic glucose sugar supply chain
LU What makes Canada a good home for a bio-based innovation
SM Canada is a vast country which is blessed with enormous
quantities of sustainably harvestable biomass both from forestry
and agriculture The access to raw materials is critical for the
success of any business venture Furthermore Canada is known
for its strong innovation capacity and its collaborative work
culture Together these attributes make Canada an ideal home of
the bio-based economy
LU What can agriculture do to better connect with bio-based
chemical and bio-based product manufactures
SM Agriculture needs to take a leadership role in the bio-
economy There has been a good start here in Canada It is
critical that the question about the availability of sustainably
harvestable biomass is answered through good science to allow
the industry to grow and leverage Canadarsquos great potential
Producers can also promote the bio-economy as an
opportunity to diversify their business models Generating
revenue through feedstock sales to bio-based chemical and
product producers or through participation as business partners
and investors in these ventures can be very beneficial in
reducing risk for all participants in the bio-economy
Government can support these entrepreneurial activities
through support of applied research and development of the
science to assure society that the bio-economy based on
agricultural feedstocks is both sustainable and critical to the
fight against climate change
LU What advice would you give someone looking to start a
bio-based business
SM Start with a solid business plan that clearly identified the
value proposition and can show profitability without relying on
long term government incentives I think that government has
an important role to de-risk early stage commercialization but
businesses must be able to show a path to successful commercial
independence
LU And finallyhellip whatrsquos your favourite sustainable bio-based
product
SM I do not have a favourite The petrochemical industry
succeeded based on leveraging all of the products in the barrel of
oil I see the bio-economy in the same way We need to valorize
all of the products in the truckload of biomass It is only through
leveraging sugars lignin renewable natural gas and the bio-
products produced from them that we can successfully build a
vibrant bio-economy n
ldquoTHE PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRY SUCCEEDED BASED ON LEVERAGING ALL OF THE PRODUCTS IN THE BARREL OF OIL I SEE THE BIO-ECONOMY IN THE SAME WAYrdquo
BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY 12 WINTER 2018 19 WWWBIOBASEDWORLDNEWSCOM 21
