BioRefineries Blog

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Yield10 Bioscience has announced recent advances in the development of Camelina as a platform for the production of PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoates) bioplastics directly in the seed. Press release: “ Yield10 Bioscience Announces Recent Advances in the Development of Camelina as a Production Platform for PHA Bioplastic ”, 08/03/2022. Figure 1. Yield10 Bioscience announces advances in the production of PHA directly in Camelina seeds Those advancements include: - 2021 Field Test results: In 2021 Yield10 tested the two prototype PHA (C3014 and C3015) producing spring Camelina lines at sites in the U.S. and Canada. Results showed that C3015 lines produced PHA at the 6 percent level as measured as a percent of seed weight, consistent with results observed in field tests conducted in 2020. - 2022 Seed Scale up Plan: Field work completed during 2021 supports the Yield10’s decision to begin seed scale up of prototype PHA spring Camelina lines. Permitting is underw...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Next Generation Manufacturing Canada (NGen, not-for-profit organization that leads Canada’s Advanced Manufacturing Supercluster) has announced 6 M$ in collaborative funding for a project, coordinated by Genecis Bioindustries Inc. (Genecis, Canadian biotechnology company), to develop, scale and integrate a novel biotechnology platform to transform food waste into sustainable bioplastics. Press release: “ Genecis Receives Funding from NGen to Scale Sustainable Bioplastic Production from Organic Waste ”, 27/07/2021. Figure 1. The demonstration project will occur at the StormFisher Resource Recovery Centre in Drumbo (Ontario) designed to recycle discarded packaged food and municipal green bin waste Genecis, in partnership with StormFisher (a developer and operator of organic waste and clean energy solutions), will integrate a demonstration-scale technology unit with an anaerobic digestion (AD) plant to convert organic waste feedsto...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS. The Spanish startup Venvirotech , focused on the production of polyhydroxyalkanoate-type bioplastics (PHAs) from organic waste, has closed a financing round of 11 M€. The new funds will allow Venvirotech to accelerate its growth plan in Spain and expand its workforce. News in Cinco Días: “ La española Venvirotech capta 11 millones para lanzar en enero un bioplástico biodegradable ”, 13/07/2021. Figure 1. PHA pellets, a type of biodegradable polyesters produced by bacteria (image taken from the Venvirotech website) The operation, one of the largest in the biotechnology sector in Spain so far this year, has been led by an industrial investor, whose name has not been disclosed, and has included the participation of a group of six business angels, the family office of the Gassó family and Giribets 2000. The company, created in 2018, has raised to date 15 M€. The company has a double business model: - Management of organic waste from companies ...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Biopolymer producer Danimer Scientific plans to invest 700 M$ in expanding their Bainbridge manufacturing operations, nearly quadrupling their workforce in Decatur County (Georgia, USA). Press release: “ Danimer Scientific Planning $700 Million, 400-Job Expansion in Decatur County ”, 29/03/2021. Related post: “ Bacardi unveils new biobased bottle made from Danimer’s Nodax PHA ”, 03/11/2020. Figure 1. Danimer Scientific is planning 700 M$ expansion in Bainbridge manufacturing operations Headquartered in Bainbridge for over a decade, Danimer currently employs more than 100 people in southwest Georgia. Danimer expects to construct an additional 2,000,000-square-foot facility near their current 25-acre campus, located at 140 Industrial Boulevard in Bainbridge. The company will hire for technical positions and careers in production, maintenance and management. Applications for Danimer’s biopolymers include additives, aqueous coatings,...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. The court of Bologna has announced an auction sale of PHA maker Bio-On's assets. “ Bio-on SpA bankruptcy auction documents ”. Related posts: - “ Bio-on inaugurates its first biopolymers production plant in Italy ”, 25/06/2018. - “ Hard times for Bio-on ”, 04/11/2019. Figure 1. Night shot of Bio-On`s facility in Castel San Pietro Terme near Bologna Bio-on, an Italian company focused on the bioplastic sector, inaugurated its first owned plant designed to produce 100% natural and biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) in 2018. The production hub is located in Castel San Pietro Terme just outside Bologna in an area of 30,000 m2. On 24 October 2019, Bio-on announced that the headquarters and administrative, operational and secondary units of the company had been subject to searches and probative seizure of documents, as part of an investigation for false corporate communications and manipulation of the market. Its employees made ef...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Dutch bioplastics specialist Helian Polymers BV has announced a new partnership with South Korea based CheilJedang BIO (CJ BIO). The joint goal of this cooperation is to develop high added value solutions based on polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA). Press release: “ Helian Polymers cooperates with CheilJedang BIO to bring biodegradable PHA based 3D printing filament to the market ”, 23/02/2021. CJ BIO is a supplier of fermentation based bioproducts for animal and human nutrition with 11 manufacturing facilities in six countries. Moreover, CJ BIO has developed biobased chemicals and bioplastics as long-term vision to expand its product line to white biotechnology business since 2010. CJ BIO states that is the only company to produce amorphous PHA with unique properties such as rubbery and transparency.  Helian Polymers has been active in bioplastics ever since 2007, as well as trading in color concentrates and additives on an internat...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS.  Bacardi , the world’s largest family-owned spirits company, has unveiled plans to use a new sustainable bottle by 2023. Petroleum-based plastics used by Bacardi today will be replaced by Danimer Scientific ’s Nodax™ PHA.  Press release: “ Bacardi first in fight against plastic pollution with 100% biodegradable spirits bottle ”, 21/10/2020.   Figure 1. Bacardi unveils new biodegradable bottle made from Danimer Scientific’s Nodax™ PHA (taken from the press release)   The new biodegradable bottle will replace 80 million plastic bottles (3,000 tons of plastic) currently produced by Bacardi across its portfolio of brands every year. This move is possible thanks to its close collaboration with Danimer, a leading developer and manufacturer of biodegradable products. By the way, Danimer has recently entered into a definitive merger agreement with Live Oak Acquisition Corp .  Danimer’s Nodax™ PHA is a biopolymer which deriv...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS.   Five water boards ( Brabantse Delta , De Dommel , Hollandse Delta , Scheldestromen and Wetterskip Fryslân ), STOWA (Foundation for Applied Water Research), Paques (technology company focused on biological wastewater and gas treatment) and HVC (sustainable waste and energy company) have signed an agreement to build a pilot plant in Dordrecht (Netherlands) for the production of PHBV, a biodegradable and sustainable bioplastic.  Press release: “ Pilot plant for the production of uniquely degradable bioplastic has started ”, 30/9/2020.   Figure 1. The cooperation partners from left to right: Theo Schots (Brabantse Delta), Leo Stehouwer (Hollandse Delta), Gert van Kralingen (Scheldestromen), Paul Koemans (De Dommel) (replaced Jan Verhoeven), Otto van der Galiën (Wetterkip Fryslân), Stephan Bocken (Paques), Joost Buntsma (STOWA), Ronald Hopman (HVC). They are standing above the active bacteria of the wastewater treatment, which wi...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. RWDC Industries Limited (RWDC), a Singapore-based biotech start-up focused on biopolymer production, have announced the closing of a 133 M$ two-stage Series B funding round. RWDC will use the funding to significantly increase its production capacity and meet growing demand for polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). Press release: “ RWDC Industries Raise US $133 Million In Series B Funding Round ”, 5/5/2020. Figure 1. Solon (PHA brand of RWDC) is certified by TÜV AUSTRIA to be fully biodegradable in soil, water and marine conditions (taken from the company website) Co-founded by CEO Dr. Daniel Carraway and Executive Chairman Roland Wee, RWDC develops innovative and cost-effective biopolymer material solutions based on PHAs. PHAs are naturally generated by microbial fermentation of plant-based oils or sugars. Primarily produced today from used cooking oil, Solon (PHA brand of RWDC) is certified by TÜV AUSTRIA to be fully biodeg...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS. Kaneka Corporation has completed the expansion project of the manufacturing facility (Takasago Manufacturing Site) of its biobased and biodegradable copolymer polyhydroxybutyrate–hexanoate (PHBH) as scheduled. The completion ceremony was held on December 17th. Press release: “ カネカ生分解性ポリマー PHBH® 　年産 5,000 トンのプラントが竣工 ”, 19/12/2019. Figure 1. PHBH production plant (extracted from the press release) Location Takasago (Hyogo Prefecture). Capacity expansion From 1,000 tons/year to 5,000 tons/year (5 times). Product Polyhydroxybutyrate–hexanoate (PHBH). Branch name: Kaneka Biodegradable Polymer PHBH®. Investment 2.5 billion yen (about 20 M€). Kaneka Biodegradable Polymer PHBH®: - is 100% biobased; - certified as biodegradable in seawater (it obtained the “OK Biodegradable MARINE” certificate in September 2017 from Vincotte); - registered as “Food Contact S...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS. Bio-on, one of the leading companies of the PHAs (polyhydroxyalkanoates) market, is not having an easy time at the moment. The investigation for false corporate communications and manipulation of the market of the Bologna Public Prosecutor endangers the business continuity of Bio-on. Its employees are committed to sustain the PHAs technology development project despite the difficult corporate moment. Last press releases about the Bio-on crisis: - “ http://www.bio-on.it/immagini/comunicati-finanziari/CS_BIO-ON_29_10_19.pdf ”, 29/10/2019. - “ http://www.bio-on.it/immagini/comunicati-finanziari/CS_BIO-ON_24_10_19.pdf ”, 24/10/2019. Figure 1. PHA production plant in Castel San Pietro Terme   The Italian company, focused on the bioplastic sector and listed on the AIM segment of Borsa Italiana , opened a commercial PHA production plant in Castel San Pietro Terme in the summer of last year . The site is also the headquarters ...

Type of post: NEWS. Bio-on , an Italian company focused on the bioplastic sector and listed on the AIM segment of Borsa Italiana, has just inaugurated its first owned plant designed to produce 100% natural and biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) in Italy (see press release , 20/6/2018). The new facility is also the headquarters of CNS division laboratories (Cosmetic, Nanomedicine & Smart Materials) which employ over 20 researchers and can test new carbon sources from agricultural waste to produce new types of biodegradable bioplastic. Figure 1. Bio-on inaugurates its first PHAs production plant in Italy Location The new production hub is located in Castel San Pietro Terme just outside Bologna in an area of 30,000 m 2 . It has 3,700 m 2 covered space and 6,000 m 2 land for development. It occupies no new land (there was a former factory on the site) and is powered by electric energy generated by an advanced trigeneration plant. ...