Green building
If we could really succeed in establishing a sustainable production chain of concrete, it would be more effective and cheaper than solar and wind power. An example of the potential of green building for the environment and a sustainable society. Therefore, green building is not just about energy and resource conservation, but at least as
Biobased chemicals: European share to drop sharply
Whereas world capacity for biobased chemicals and materials is rapidly growing, Europe clearly lags behind. Lux Research, a Boston based company, expects a doubling of global biobased capacity in 2017 to 13.2 Mton. But Europe’s share will drop from 37% in 2005 to 14% in 2017. And the winner in biobased chemicals is… The United
EFIB, now is the time!
Whereas last year, EFIB was still under the aegis of high hopes on this new phenomenon, the biobased economy, this year in Brussels the main sentiment was ‘this is the time for Europe, otherwise others will take the lead’. There were good reasons for those ideas. And there were solutions. Early October at the most
Synbra takes the biobased economy to your home
Synbra Technology, an Etten-Leur (the Netherlands) based company which produces sustainable bioplastics, is small (90 employees); but as a part of Synbra Holding (26 branches throughout Europe) it is a big player. Synbra Holding in all its European branches produces expanded polystyrene foam (EPF) for sustainable construction systems and packaging. Styrene itself is produced by
Annita Westenbroek: biorefinery is at the heart of the biobased economy
Annita Westenbroek, director of the Dutch Biorefinery Cluster, a partnership of agricultural and biobased industrial companies, holds the opinion that the Netherlands can easily produce enough biomass to feed the entire chemical sector. But not to feed the entire energy sector. ‘The Netherlands’ excellent agricultural sector produces many valuable side streams that can deliver interesting
Lubbert Dijkhuizen, a man of many research projects
Biotechnology and Microbial Physiology is one of several chairs held by Lubbert Dijkhuizen at the University of Groningen. Enzymatic modification of starch is one of his many research projects, in cooperation with AVEBE, a cooperation of potato farmers in the Northern provinces. In the human body, potato starch is quickly broken down into sugars, causing
Carbohydrate Competence Centre (CCC) takes 70% of all living matter as its research object
The Carbohydrate Competence Centre performs in-depth scientific research on carbohydrate synthesis, modification and degradation. CCC thus aims to generate and develop high-quality knowledge in the field of carbohydrates, to stimulate innovation and contribute to a healthier and more sustainable society. Prominent research centres (7) and major companies (21) collaborate under the umbrella of CCC to
Wageningen University and Research Centre (WUR)
Wageningen UR is the focal point of the strong Dutch knowledge base in agribusiness. Traditionally, there has been a strong connection between Dutch agriculture and knowledge development; Dutch farmers and horticulturists continually review their practices using state-of-the-art technology, and this in turn allows knowledge development to stay at the top of the wave. The Netherlands,
