Category: Top Stories

France’s 1st carbon-negative building thanks to hempcrete, new hemp-based 3D ink, seaweed yarn, biobased epichlorohydrin and more: The Digest’s Top 8 Innovations for the week of December 29th

December 28, 2021 | admin

France is claiming the world’s first carbon-negative building, thanks in large part to the carbon-sequestering power of hemp. The 4,000 square foot sports hall was constructed using Hempcrete, a construction alternative that incorporates fast-growing, water-efficient hemp. And not wanting to be left out in New York, a consortium is developing hemp-based ink for use […]

The key to a successful cellulosic ethanol project

December 27, 2021 | Jim Lane

By Mallikarjun Navalgund, President, Advanced Biofuels and Chemicals, Praj Industries Special to The Digest The need From the World Energy Outlook Report, 2021 it is clear that the pledges made so far in the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) are grossly inadequate to stay under the 2 °C, let alone the 1.5 °C target. Humankind, more […]

Firsts for biomethane – 1st of its kind network for biomethane industry, Scotland’s 1st biomethane refuelling station opens

December 26, 2021 | admin

In what is usually a slow news time, we were surprised to receive news on two interesting 1sts for the biomethane industry. First, the biomethane industry sets a 1st of its kind European Network to facilitate the tracking and exchange of renewable gas certificates and boost biomethane trading across Europe. Second, CNG Fuels, supplier of […]

Turning water into wine, Aquatech’s water treatment and reuse adds value for biofuels industry

December 23, 2021 | Jim Lane

Q: What was the reason for founding your organization – what was the open niche you saw that could be addressed with a new product or service? What was the problem, or gap, or opportunity? Wastewater treatment and reuse – Whatever is the carbonaceous feedstock, carbon recycling projects play a paramount role in reducing GHGs […]

Meat milestones, lab cultivated shrimp, Levis Strauss greener blue jeans, first-ever commercial extract from Lily of the Valley flower, and more: The Digest’s Top 8 Innovations for the week of December 23rd

December 22, 2021 | admin

In this week’s Top 8 Innovations, there may be a rumbly in your tummy after hearing that Dokdo shrimp was cultivated in a lab for the first time ever, Singapore regulators okayed the second cultivated meat product for human consumption, and news of Future Meat’s whopping $347 million in funding to bring lab-grown meat to […]

Why It Is Time to Bet Big on Biocontrol Solutions

December 21, 2021 | Jim Lane

By Luc Maertens, Chief Operations Officer, Biotalys Special to The Digest Growers need safe, easy-to-use crop protection solutions that will reduce environmental impact while maintaining yields. As the call grows to reduce the dependency on chemical pesticides, minimize post-harvest residues and stop the surge in pathogen resistance–especially for fruit and vegetable growers–ag innovators are banking […]

Birth of a New Molecule at Scale – Avantium’s big milestone for FDCA Flagship Plant and PEF plastic

December 20, 2021 | admin

FDCA – furandicarboxylic acid – is the key building block of the wondrous 100% plant-based, recyclable plastic material PEF, or polyethylene furanoate, clear bottle plastic we all know and love. It’s better than traditional PET with its superior barrier properties and other functional advantages, and now it’s getting a huge push for scaling up […]

The East is Green: SK makes major ESG investment in Fulcrum BioEnergy, how will this alter the trajectory for low-carbon fuels from waste?

December 19, 2021 | Jim Lane

In South Korea, SK and an undisclosed Korean private equity partners have invested $50 million in Fulcrum BioEnergy, the waste-to-fuels company now commissioning its first commercial project near Reno, Nevada. SK Inc. aims to make an inroad into the Korean bioenergy market with SK Ecoplant, another SK Group company, as a potential partner. SK Ecoplant […]

Aemetis signs $3.1B offtake agreement for 450M gallons of renewable diesel

December 17, 2021 | admin

Hot off the press this morning is news that Aemetis signed a 10-year offtake agreement with an industry-leading travel stop company, for 450 million gallons, or 45 million per year, from the Aemetis Riverbank Carbon Zero 1 project in California which will begin producing in 2024. The deal is expected to generate as much as $3.1B […]

Zara, LanzaTech’s steel factory waste emissions fashion, largest cultured steak printed to date, adidas, Allbirds on low-carbon footwear and more: The Digest’s Top 8 Innovations for the week of December 16th

December 15, 2021 | admin

Zara clothing made from steel factory waste emissions thanks to LanzaTech, adidas and Allbirds scaling up their low-carbon footwear, Canadian brand launches apple leather handbags, new fruit-based glitter for your holiday festivities, and the largest cultured steak “printed” to date. In today’s Digest, those fascinating innovations and a few not so fun ones like a […]

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