Successes in the Fibre Sector

Successes in the Fibre Sector Fibres and textiles make up a substantial portion of the materials and products in the Netherlands, and these are used in a variety of sectors, from clothing and upholstery, to industrial filters and transportation products. In 2019, a total of 5,973 kton of textile was available in the textile industry …

Northern Netherlands the cradle of sustainable biobased

Biobased materials are made from renewable raw materials. Examples of these renewable raw materials include starch, sugar, cellulose, lactic acid, proteins or microorganisms. These raw materials are extracted from maize, beet, sugar cane, wood, potato, tapioca root or castor nuts, for example. Like products produced using fossil fuels, bio-based products also have what is known …

Types of Additive Manufacturing – and their Role in the Circular Economy

Additive manufacturing (AM), or 3D printing, is an integrated processing technique that unlocks the ability to design and fabricate objects in a parallel operation. This flexibility of material and shape is something that is simply out of reach for traditional manufacturing techniques. An added benefit is the significant reduction in process related waste materials, due …

duurzaamheidsrapportage

Sustainability reporting according to Scope 1, 2 and 3 – GHG Protocol

From 2024, it will become mandatory in the EU for all listed companies and large corporations to report on sustainability policies and performance according to the “European Corporate Sustainability Directive” (CRSD). Starting in 2025, this will also apply to large companies not currently covered by the NFRD. In addition, listed SMEs, insurance companies and credit …

Zeewier de duurzame oplossing

Seaweed, the sustainable solution of the future?

What do civilians, fertilizer, animal feed, packaging, fuel, clothing and a way to remove CO2 from the air have in common? As crazy as it may sound, seaweed is the common factor here. 98 percent of our food production comes from the land. As much as 71 percent of the Earth’s surface is made up …

Zeewier de duurzame oplossing

Seaweed, the sustainable solution of the future?

What do citizens, fertilizer, animal feed, packaging materials, fuel, clothing and a way to remove CO2 from the air have to do with each other? As crazy as it may sound, seaweed is the common factor here. 98 percent of our food is produced on natural ground, while as much as 71 percent of the …

Recyclability of plastics

Recent figures from the OECD show that plastic pollution is rising relentlessly because of inadequate waste management and recycling. They state that the world produces twice as much plastic waste as it did two decades ago, most of which ends up in landfills, is burned or leaks into the environment. Only 9% (!) is successfully …

Recyclability of plastics

Recent figures from the OECD show that plastic pollution is growing relentlessly, since waste management and recycling is falling short. They state that the world is producing twice as much plastic waste as two decades ago, whereof the bulk is ending up in landfills, getting incinerated or leaks into the environment. Only 9% (!) is …

Richtlijnen voor Ecodesign

Ecodesign: guidelines and implications for industry

Current Ecodesign guidelines Ecodesign, in short, is the development of an environmentally friendly product, which must consume less energy, emit fewer pollutants and be suitable for recycling. According to 2018 data from the European Parliament, only a few percent of rare metals in cell phones are recycled and about 80 percent of environmental pollution is …

Richtlijnen voor Ecodesign

Ecodesign: guidelines and implications for industry

Current Ecodesign Guidelines Ecodesign, in short, is the development of an environmentally friendly product, which must use less energy, emit fewer harmful substances and be suitable for recycling. According to 2018 data from the European Parliament, only a few percent of rare metals in cell phones are recycled and about 80 percent of environmental pollution …

The biggest barriers to the circular industry are within the Laws and Regulations

We desperately need the participation of the business community in the transition to a circular economy, because much of the practical implementation lies with companies. However, it is currently very difficult for companies to start a circular project. Innovative projects that are desirable in a circular economy are thereby confronted by several interdisciplinary challenges: think …

The biggest barriers to the circular industry are within the Laws and Regulations

We desperately need the participation of business in the transition to a circular economy, because the practical implementation lies largely with companies. However, it is currently very difficult for companies to start a circular project. Innovative projects that are desirable in a circular economy thereby face multiple interdisciplinary challenges: consider (1) the financial feasibility in …

Ecoras geeft LCA Training

Ecoras gives LCA Training at NHL Stenden

Last April, Ecoras gave a two-part basic LCA training course at the Biosintrum for NHL-Stenden’s Sustainable Plastics and Circular Plastics professorships. Here, a two-part basic training on LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) was given. LCA is a very fast growing topic within the sustainability transition. The research groups at NHL-Stenden that work on sustainable materials and …

Ecoras geeft LCA Training

Ecoras Provides LCA Training at NHL Stenden

Last April, Ecoras gave a two-part basic LCA course at the Biosintrum for the Sustainable Plastics and Circular Plastics lectureships of NHL-Stenden. Here a two-part basic training course on LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) was given. LCA is a very rapidly growing theme within the sustainability transition. The research groups at NHL-Stenden working on sustainable materials …

What is chemical recycling?

Plastics are an essential part of our daily lives. One consequence of this is that about 30 million tons of plastic waste is collected in Europe every year. Roughly 85% of this is incinerated, exported or sent to landfill. Not only is this a waste of our precious resources, but it also contributes greatly to …

The Processing of Biobased Plastics – Part 5: Starch

In the previous parts of this series, we have introduced a basic understanding of the market of bioplastics and subsquently illustrated the processing of a variety of plastics that are currently available in said market. Earlier we covered one of the most widely available plastics, namely PLA, and now we thread upon a similarly widely …

Donate your poop here!

Our colleague Sven Jurgens, the innovation-booster ”Biomass” at Circular Friesland gives a pitch about serious shit! Human poop is a lost link in the food chain, while you can also see it as useful fertiliser: just like in the past. Donation to the food cycle – April 1st Frisian administrators were queuing up for a …

CSRD: Impact measurements are becoming a license-to-operate in the near future

The EU’s new CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive) aims to make organisations more competitive and resilient while at the same time stimulating a more holistic sustainability-mindset. The CSRD was published by the European Commission in mid-2021 and will replace the current NFRD (Non-Financial Reporting Directive) starting on the 1st of January 2024. The NFRD explains …