Bio-based Material of the Year announced
Coffee waste filled bio-based resins, a new biosurfactant and bio-based dispersions for textile coatings have been named the winners of the nova-Insitute’s Bio-based Material of the Year.
The decision was announced at the International Conference on Bio-based Materials in Cologne yesterday (5 April).
Six companies developing new applications and markets for bio-based products (those derived from living organisms), which have had (or will have) a market launch in 2015 or 2016, were nominated by the conference’s advisory board and experts from nova-Institute. Each nominee introduced its innovation in a short 10-minute presentation to the audience. The three winners were elected by the participants of the conference and announced at the Innovation Award Ceremony.
Winners
The winners were the Belgian company Orineo and German companies Evonik Nutrition & Care and Covestro.
1) Orineo BVBA: Touch of Nature™ – Filled bio-based resin for stimulating biomaterials
Orineo has developed a new range of biomaterials based on coffee grounds, which it says contributes 80 per cent of a cup of coffee’s waste. The biomaterials are designed for a 20 years’ lifetime. Branded as Touch of Nature™, the range also uses cork stoppers, berry seeds and olive leaves to obtain a range of colours and patterns based on nature. They are available commercially allowing liquid bio-based formulations to be used in producing floors, tabletops and furniture based on waste streams.
2) Evonik Nutrition & Care GmbH: REWOFERM® SL 446 – Novel biosurfactant
REWOFERM® SL 446 is a biosurfactant made by fermentation with a natural, non-genetically modified yeast using European sourced sugar and oil feedstock. It has a low carbon footprint and is completely biodegradable. It is compliant with European Ecolabel requirements and it also behaves as a super-mild surfactant to the skin.
Evonik says that the application can replace petro-chemically based surfactants, boosting the foaming and the grease removal of washing liquids.
3) Covestro Deutschland AG: Impranil®eco – Bio-based waterborne polyurethane dispersions for textile coatings
Impranil® eco is a bio-based waterborne polyurethane dispersion for textile coatings. Covestro says the application will make new levels of sustainability possible for PU synthetic materials such as footwear, garments and accessories, making it possible to produce coated textiles with high performance and low content of fossil-based raw materials in each layer.
The application can be used in every layer of the production of synthetic materials or coated textiles and is not in direct competition with the food chain.
The International Conference on Bio-based Materials is an event designed for companies working in the field of bio-based chemicals and materials. 200 participants, mainly from the industry and representing 25 countries, met in Cologne to discuss the latest developments in the sector. Discussions at the event revolved around unexpected impacts of the low oil prices and a less favourable political framework on the bio-based economy.
More information on the International Conference on Bio-based Materials and award winners can be found at the conference’s website.
