Perstorp launches world’s first portfolio of renewable polyols: In response to the fast-growing global need for more sustainable coatings, resins and synthetic lubricants, Perstorp has developed a portfolio of renewable alternatives to the essential polyols Pentaerythritol (Penta), Trimethylolpropane (TMP), and Neopentyl glycol (Neo). Two new polyols – Evyron and Neeture – complete the company’s portfolio of the three essential polyols in renewable options. The new portfolio is based on a mass balance concept. Moreover, the new polyols are all ISCC certified, ensuring, among other things, full traceability of the bio-based raw material back to its country of origin. Currently Perstorp is devoting 80% of its R&D resources to finding new sustainable solutions and in addition, all Perstorp Swedish plants will switch to using only renewable electricity in 2018.
BPI partners with DIN CERTCO for third-party compostability certification: BPI operates North America’s leading certification for compostable products, with over 6,500 products currently approved based on ASTM’s scientific standards. BPI now announced that DIN CERTCO has been hired for the administration of technical reviews under the BPI certification program, effective from December 2017. DIN CERTCO has more than two decades of experience administering compostability certification. Certification for compostable products is critical for ensuring that items have been properly tested, meet international standards, and can be identified as such by composters, municipalities, restaurants, consumers, and others engaged in the diversion of organic waste. States like California and Maryland have laws requiring any product marketed as compostable to meet these standards.
European Bioeconomy Manifesto: On the Bioeconomy Policy day last week, a day dedicated to move the bioeconomy forward, the EU Bioeconomy Stakeholders Panel launched the European Bioeconomy Manifesto to set out how the continent plans to grow this multi-trillion euro industry. EuropaBio, the European Association for Bioindustries, called for an ambitious revision of the European Bioeconomy Strategy, that should address: (1) Biomass: Circular bioeconomy should be an integral part of EU-level frameworks and policies; (2) Investment: Increase funding and improve coherence of financing mechanisms for the circular bioeconomy; (3) Investment: Secure the Bio-Based Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI JU) 2.0; (4) Markets: Incentives for bio-based products in strategic sectors and promotion of bio-based products’ visibility to stimulate market demand.
Brand perspectives on biomaterials: PR agency Sustainability Consult have published a report #WhatBrandsWant that analysed responses from over 40 brands aiming to give the industry a better understanding of what makes a brand engage with the bio-economy. The findings reveal a growing commitment towards renewable materials and alternatives to fossil-based products. Half of the brands surveyed have set targets for bio-based products. One quarter said bio-based content was one of the selection criteria when choosing a supplier based on sustainability performance. Of the brands not currently using bio-based materials, two-thirds intend to incorporate them into future product lines. The full report is available here.
Online toolbox for bio-based procurement to make buyers’ lives easier: The European project InnProBio launched an online toolbox for bio-based procurement in the public sector. The toolbox is designed to assist public buyers considering alternatives to plastics produced from fossil fuel based materials. The toolbox includes an online database of bio-based products and suppliers, good practice examples, procurement instruments and standard tender text blocks. The toolbox is available in English, German, Dutch and Polish. Visit the online toolbox directly at http://tools.innprobio.eu.
