December 2, 2024

ÄIO attended the Sustainable Chemicals Conference & Expo 2024 – A Platform for Innovation and Collaboration

The Sustainable Chemicals Conference & Expo, held during Sustainable Industry Week, brought together leaders in renewable and circular chemical solutions. This premier event showcased cutting-edge technologies across the supply chain, offering a unique opportunity for networking and knowledge exchange.

Highlights from Day 1

The conference kicked off with an insightful talk by Matt Brockewell from The Carbon Trust, focusing on reducing scope 3 emissions in supply chains, such as raw materials, packaging, and transport. A key example highlighted ethanol production from wood feedstock instead of food-based sources.

Talks from Sean Wright (Sphera) and Mara Boitz (Carbon Minds) emphasized the significance of scope 3 emissions, which can account for up to 76% of emissions in the chemical industry.

The CBE-JU stand featured projects like SWEETWOODS (Fibenol), Viabond (Latvijas Finieris), and CIRCLE (Triple W), showcasing real-world products and innovative solutions. Attendees engaged in fruitful discussions about these projects and their market journeys.

The day also included productive meetings with companies like Avecom, DAB.bio, and Lignopure. Discussions with Wienke Reynolds from Lignopure highlighted the journey of raw materials, like birch biomass, into high-value products such as Lignobase for the cosmetic industry. Insights on co-development with industrial partners further enriched the dialogue.

Highlights from Day 2

Day 2 opened with a panel discussion on collaboration for achieving net zero, focusing on recycling and its relevance to the automotive sector, tying into the DEBICO project.

One standout presentation, Exploring Green Chemistry Alternatives: Spotlight on Fermentation Chemicals, by John Shaw (Itaconix) and Marija Jovic (Pre Scouter), explored the growing potential of fermentation chemicals as disruptors in green chemistry. While fermentation chemicals currently make up only 10-15% of market production, their future potential is immense. Challenges such as productivity, quality control, and regulation were addressed, with examples from leading companies like Genomatica, Evonik, and LG Chemicals.

Itaconix’s work on itaconic acid for hair styling polymers resonated strongly with ongoing efforts at BIONEER, emphasizing the importance of balancing sustainability and performance without transferring economic burdens to consumers.

The event also featured innovative sustainable packaging solutions derived from lignin, recycled plastics, PLA, olive pomace, and even CO2 (INGA), showcasing the breadth of possibilities for a greener future.

This vibrant conference proved to be a hub for groundbreaking ideas and collaborations, pushing the boundaries of sustainability in the chemical industry. Stay tuned for how these insights will shape future developments in BIONEER!