Novamont opens a commercial-scale BDO biorefinery in Italy with technology of Genomatica

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The cornerstone of the bioeconomy model of Novamont is the biorefinery integrated in the local area dedicated to the production of bioplastics and biochemicals from renewable sources. This biorefinery concept is focused on the territorial regeneration through setting up innovative agroindustries in rural zones. Today, Novamont takes another step forward in the way to build its forward-looking approach. Today, it is the inauguration ceremony in Bottrighe (Rovigo, Italy) of the Mater-Biotech plant, 100% owned by this Italian company (see press release of Novamont).

Figure 1. BDO plant of Novamont in Bottrighe (extracted from Novamont web page)

The plant is the result of the regeneration of the former BioItalia/Ajinomoto site in Adria and represents worldwide the first dedicated industrial plant that can produce 1,4-butanediol (BDO) directly from sugars, through fermentation processes. The new facility uses Genomatica’s GENO BDO™ process technology to convert sugars into BDO and will produce 30,000 tons of renewable BDO per year, 70% more than the original target of 18,000 tons. Novamont invested 100 million euros to build the plant. Up to 300 people were employed during construction and 70 people are employed at the plant. The biorefinery is up and running now and is expected to reach full production rate in 2017 (see press release of Genomatica).

BDO produced by the plant enables Novamont to deliver its fourth-generation of Mater-Bi bioplastics with greater sustainability. Mater-Bi is used to make biodegradable, compostable products such as fruit and vegetables bags, mulch film and coffee capsules. The products made with this new BDO will save an estimated 56% of greenhouse gas emissions compared to the use of conventional BDO.

The inauguration ceremony will be preceded by the international conference "Reconnecting economy and society through innovation - A new bioeconomy infrastructure for the regeneration of local areas". The conference discussed the broad topics of moving to a circular economy and the revival of industrial sites, with the Mater-Biotech plant as a leading example of creating new economic opportunities through innovation. Catia Bastioli, Novamont’s CEO, in her presentation "Biorefineries integrated in local areas to reindustrialise and decarbonise Europe" will outline how the support to the creation of bioeconomy infrastructure in terms of integrated biorefineries highly innovative and with full respect of the territories, can represent an opportunity to reconnect economy and society. Follow the live streaming of the conference here.

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