Northern Netherlands the cradle of sustainable biobased

Biobased materials are made from renewable raw materials. Some examples of these renewable raw materials are starch, sugar, cellulose, lactic acid, proteins or micro-organisms. 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 …

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 …

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). From 2025, this will also apply to large companies not currently covered by the NFRD. In addition, listed SMEs, insurance companies and credit institutions …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

Chemical Recycling

Plastics are an essential part of our daily lives. Because of this, about 30 million tonnes of plastic waste is collected every year in Europe. Roughly 85% of this is incinerated, exported or sent to a landfill. This is not only a waste of our precious resources, but it also contributes heavily to our global …

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 …

The Northern Netherlands is the stepping stone for green chemistry innovations

Source: Chemport Europe, maart 2022 The Northern Netherlands is becoming increasingly important for the green chemistry industry. Under the name Chemport Europe, developments follow in rapid succession. Sustainable factories, pioneering schools and facilitating governments are building unique value chains, where far-reaching cooperation is the key. Next month Avantium will start building the world’s first commercial …

The Processing of Biobased Plastics – Part 4: PHAs

In the previous parts of this series, we introduced the current market of bioplastics, the generally available methods of processing and a deep dive into the processing characteristics of one of the most widely available polymers: PLA. We will continue this trend by providing in depth information about PHA, which is a biodegradable polymer with …

The Processing of Biobased Plastics – Part 3: PLA

In the previous two parts of this series, we introduced the current market of bioplastics and the generally available methods of processing. This information provides a concrete basis for a deep dive into the processing characteristics of specific bioplastics, such as PLA. Polylactic acid (PLA) is a thermoplastic polyester that is biodegradable under certain circumstances. …

Legislation and certifications for plastic packaging material

To achieve a circular economy, it is important to increase the amount of recycled plastic waste. Positive: this quantity is increasing. Less positive: it is not rising fast enough. The main point of the EU’s waste policy is to follow circular principles. Recycling is one of the main ways to reduce the consumption of primary …

Innovation track business – Recyclable 3d printing resins

Together with Vincent Voet of NHL Stenden Lectureship of Sustainable Plastics, we are working on the design of a research project on circular 3D printer ink. Within this research project, the focus is on recyclable photopolymer resins made from biobased sources for use in 3D Printing and other thermosetting applications. These photosensitive resins are suitable …

Symposium Roadside-Grass: The New Gold

This symposium is intended for farmers, municipal and provincial policy makers, nature organizations and water authorities. In cooperation with farmer Pieter van der Valk, the Ministry of I&W and Wageningen University, the intermediate state of affairs is taken with regard to composting in the region. In addition to plenary sessions, workshops will provide handouts to …