How do biofuel developers survive when oil is cheap?
Biofuels had an obvious appeal when oil prices were well over $ 100 a barrel. Developers thrived and almost a thousand flowers started to blossom. But then oil prices plummeted to $ 50 and below – and many biofuel developers survived. How did they manage? This question is the object of the report ‘How Alternative
Sustainability Day in higher education
Sustainability, the word has been used so often that some have been looking for alternatives for quite some time. But fortunately, the sustainability perspective often still inspires people; like in education, in view of the many courses, tracks, masters and prizes on this subject. Sustainability Day Today is Sustainability Day in Dutch higher education. Today
Still a one-sided emphasis on the energetic use of biomass
Last month, the European Parliament finally agreed on a new compromise on the use of biomass for energy. Nova Institute listed the main effects of the new regulations on the (competing) sector of biochemicals and biobased materials. Competition for biomass Since the inception of a European policy to lower CO2 emissions, energy policy has negatively
Bioplastics are the future
Bioplastics started their development just recently, said Innovia’s Andy Sweetman at the Bio!Pac conference, last week. Fossil-based plastics are at the height of their learning curve, they cannot improve very much anymore. Whereas there is much room for improvement in the bioplastics area. Just 13 years ago, bioplastics only served for fruit wrapping; until 2
Biodegradable or biobased: an on-going debate
One of the discussions at the Bio!Pac conference, organised by Bioplastics Magazine and Holland Bioplastics last week in Amsterdam, was about biodegradable versus biobased. Bioplastics, around which the conference revolved, are by no means all biodegradable. Is that a problem? Will that be an obstacle to their acceptance? Corbion’s François de Bie pointed out the
Green Growth, much too optimistic?
Those who do not believe in the future, might be advised not to go there at all. All too often I have heard readers of our book ‘Groene Groei’ (Green Growth) tell us: ‘what you want cannot be done, much too optimistic, you would not suppose companies like Shell to give up their positions just
Genetic modification of human embryos?
With great speed, genetic modification penetrates into our society – the biobased economy depends on it to a large extent. It does not evoke much discussion; ignorance and complacency abound. And yet, we increasingly need that discussion, as exemplified by recent Chinese research into genetic modification of human embryos. The scientific community tends to oppose
Leon Mur: plant ingredients have much potential
‘Plant ingredients are in the picture in industries: in the agrochemical, cosmetic and pharmaceutical sectors,’ says Leon Mur, director of the Dutch Expertise Centre for Plant Ingredients (Kenniscentrum Plantenstoffen). For use in industry, the centre collected a ‘library’ of plant ingredients in Dutch horticulture. The Expertise Centre teaches us to take a fresh look at
