Ecohelix at EUBCE Conference
Ecohelix CEO and founder, Petri Oinonen participated in EUBCE, the 31st European Biomass Conference and Exhibition in Bologna in the first week of June. EUBCE is the largest biomass conference and exhibition in the world, bringing together the greatest minds and latest advancements in biomass with the aim of accelerating research and market uptake across the globe.
There were over 2000 participants in this year´s EUBCE event, coming from both academia and industry. Idea is to share and discuss groundbreaking ideas, technologies, applications and solutions for the sourcing, production, and utility of biomass. In recent, the event has been complemented by the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking efficacy at identifying innovation, stimulating investment, and mobilising the bio-based industry sector.
Representing VEHICLE Project
Petri represented VEHICLE project and the outcomes at the conference. VEHICLE is Bio Based Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI JU) under the European Union´s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program. Objective of the project is to valorise extensive quantities of hemicellulosic and cellulosic sugars from lignocellulosic biomass into high-value end products.
Outcomes of the project have been remarkable.
- There has been a successful demonstration of the valorisation of the low value sugar streams, with six demonstrators for the value chains of Biorefineries - Chemical company - Polymer producer – Converter - Brand owner. Additionally
- Six new bio-based building blocs produced: MEG, MPG, diols, diacids, glucosone and fructose.
- Five new bio-based materials produced: compostable bioplastics, bio-MEG, bio-MPG, non-food-based biopolymers and bio-based biodegradable polyesters
- Seven new bio-based consumer products created: Bio-PET for plastic bottles and bio-polyesters for films in packaging material; film for extrusion paper coating & thermoformed trays ; antifreeze / de-icing fluids for aircrafts; unsaturated polyesters for sheet moulding compounds, bulk moulding compound; heat transfer fluids for engine protection and for solar panels; new stabilizer for ASA emulsification
- Eight technologies were brought to a higher TRL level for closing the gaps in bio-based value chains
Project will come into closure and the summary of the project will be presented in a VEHICLE project meeting in Örnsköldsvik on 20th of June.
EUBCE Manifesto
Participants of EUBCE conference committed to sign EUBCE Manifesto. This manifesto urges the Member States and European Commission to seriously consider make more concrete decisions and actions driving the development to slow down the global warming. There are ways to reduce the usage of fossil-based materials usage and increase the usage of renewables to contribute to the positive change. By setting a clear end-date of 2050 for fossil fuel extraction, industries can realize their full potential for a transition to become an integrated part of carbon neutral and sustainable bioeconomy.
You can sign the petition here.
