Chemical Industry News, Data & Insights

Biobased & Circular

The latest industry news on green and sustainable chemistry in Europe: investments, new projects, expansion plans and companies working on the decarbonization of the chemical industry.

Recent developments

Bio-based polymers advance

Avantium and Packamama signed a capacity reservation for plant‑based PEF to decarbonize wine packaging, complementing Packamama’s rPET bottles. Arkema’s new Rilsan® Clear unit in Singapore triples transparent bio-based polyamide capacity, and Mitsubishi Chemical’s DURABIO was adopted for automotive interior optics, signaling broader adoption of bio-attributed, recyclable high-performance polymers.

Circular materials scaling

Downstream packaging continued circularity gains: Colruyt introduced recycled polystyrene meat trays using Indaver’s Plastics2Chemicals chemical recycling for food‑grade styrene. Zeopore and BioBTX reported doubled BTX yields from waste plastics via tailored mesoporous zeolites. AGC and TRE demonstrated horizontal recycling of window glass waste to flat glass quality, assessing nationwide feasibility.

Green molecules and biomethane

Uniper and AM Green agreed on up to 500,000 t/y of RFNBO renewable ammonia, with first cargoes in 2028. Low-emission ammonia strategy was outlined by Yara, including a potential US investment with Air Products. Essar Future Energy announced a Gujarat bio-fuel complex; EnviTec Biogas expanded biomethane projects tied to LIQVIS LNG stations. Topsoe named a new CCO to steer SAF, e-fuels, and catalysts.

Certification and disclosure

Arkema extended ISCC PLUS to over 70% of coating sites, enabling global bio-attributed grades. thyssenkrupp earned CDP Climate A recognition and highlighted hydrogen, green methanol, ammonia, SAF, and carbon capture technologies. UPM reported A/A– CDP scores. The Port of Rotterdam launched Carbonbid to fund low-cost CO2e abatement, and Coolbrook featured in Global Cleantech 100.

Biological crop protection

BASF agreed to acquire AgBiTech, adding NPV-based biological insect control to its BioSolutions portfolio, strengthening positions in Brazil, the US, and Australia for lepidoptera management across soybean, corn, cotton, and specialty crops.

Latest trends, product updates, and discussions
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Owners & Investors

Top 5 companies involved as owner and/or investor in current and planned Biobased & Circular projects:

TotalEnergies TotalEnergies, INEOS INEOS, Air Liquide Air Liquide, BASF BASF, Moeve Moeve, Repsol Repsol, Shell Shell, Eni Eni, Lhyfe Lhyfe, and Perpetual Next Perpetual Next.

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