Paper production from plant fibres - 20/01/2021 In one cycle: ecopaper, energy and fertiliser made from Silphium perfoliatum How much do consumers care about exactly how their paper packaging is made and what it is made of? It doesn't really matter, does it, as long as paper packaging is "eco"? Actually, that's not entirely true, because trees need to be felled even for producing recycled paper. An alternative could be paper made from Silphium perfoliatum or cup plant, a flowering plant species in the Asteraceae family. Together with partners, a…https:////www.biooekonomie-bw.de:443/en/articles/news/one-cycle-ecopaper-energy-and-fertiliser-made-silphium-perfoliatum
Biobased building materials - 14/01/2021 Chitin for the development of sustainable materials for use in the construction and other industries Pliable and robust, light and stable - it sounds like an ideal material for the construction and many other industries. A team of researchers at the University of Stuttgart is researching what purposes the naturally good properties of chitin can serve.https:////www.biooekonomie-bw.de:443/en/articles/news/Chitin-for-the-development-of-sustainable-materials-for-use-in-the-construction-and-other-industries
Press release - 04/01/2021 Fungus as a sound absorber As healthy and tasty as mushrooms might be, they are good for much more than just the dinner plate. The Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety and Energy Technology UMSICHT has now teamed up with the Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics IBP to investigate the use of fungus-based materials for the fabrication of eco-friendly sound absorbers.https:////www.biooekonomie-bw.de:443/en/articles/pm/Fungus-as-a-sound-absorber
Press release - 21/12/2020 How Do We Want to Run Our Economy and Production? The wastewater treatment plant is turned into a vegetable farm, bio-based substances recovered from waste are being utilized to prevent oxidative spoilage in food packaging or provide environmentally-friendly and safe water-repellent coatings on functional textiles. In the EVOBIO project coordinated by Fraunhofer IGB, 19 Fraunhofer Institutes are working on solutions for a sustainable economy.https:////www.biooekonomie-bw.de:443/en/articles/pm/How-Do-We-Want-to-Run-Our-Economy-and-Production
Press release - 30/10/2020 Seaweed as a Sustainable Source of Raw Materials EU research project with the participation of the University of Hohenheim searches for new, sustainable food additives and packaging materials from seaweeds and seagrasses.https:////www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/Seaweed-as-a-Sustainable-Source-of-Raw-Materials
Press release - 28/08/2020 Bayreuth researchers develop new biomaterials from spider silk New biomaterials developed at the University of Bayreuth eliminate risk of infection and facilitate healing processes. These nanostructured materials are based on spider silk proteins. They prevent colonization by bacteria and fungi, but at the same time proactively assist in the regeneration of human tissue. They are therefore ideal for implants, wound dressings, prostheses, contact lenses, and other everyday aids.https:////www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/preventing-infection-facilitating-healing-bayreuth-researchers-develop-new-biomaterials-spider-silk
Press release - 21/08/2020 From Biopaste to Bioplastic A viscous biopaste that is easy to process, solidifies quickly and is suitable for producing even complex structures using the 3D printing process has been developed by a research team headed by Prof. Dr. Marie-Pierre Laborie from the Chair of Forest Biomaterials at the University of Freiburg. The wood-based biodegradable synthetic could potentially be used in lightweight construction, amongst other things.https:////www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/biopaste-bioplastic
Degradable biopolymers - 29/05/2020 Bioplastics make wood cycles more sustainable Innovative technologies and bacteria can transform wood residues into sustainable bioplastic packaging. Before bioplastics are broken down into CO2 and water in an environmentally friendly way, they can thus lead lives as products in the cosmetics industry, for example.https:////www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/bioplastics-make-wood-cycles-more-sustainable
Press release - 19/03/2020 New Circular Economy Action Plan: no circular economy without bioeconomy "European Bioplastics (EUBP) welcomes the new Circular Economy Action Plan (nCEAP). It’s an ambitious step forward to transform Europe into a circular economy”, says François de Bie, Chairman of European Bioplastics. “As EUBP, we especially endorse the European Commission’s (EC) commitment to support the ‘sustainable and circular bio-based sector through the implementation of the Bioeconomy Action Plan’”https:////www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/neuer-aktionsplan-fuer-die-kreislaufwirtschaft-keine-kreislaufwirtschaft-ohne-biooekonomie
Article - 21/10/2019 Plant pots made of natural fibres – "bio", no ifs or buts Plastic plant pots are not good for the environment; strictly speaking, they should not even be disposed of in recycling bins. Alternatives such as coconut fibre pots are compostable, but not pollutant-free and not "bio" at all. The Karlsruhe-based company Fiber Engineering has developed a truly ecofriendly way to grow plants: pots made of hemp or grass, which are preserved with biological components and decompose completely within a…https:////www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/pflanztoepfe-aus-naturfasern-bio-ohne-wenn-und-aber
Article - 10/07/2019 More than just a nut – new products for the bioeconomy Plants are often used for one particular purpose only. However, walnut trees have much more to offer than just delicious nuts. The AlpBioEco project is studying the potential of walnut trees for the bioeconomy and how the potential can be exploited commercially. The international team of researchers is also focusing on apples and herbs.https:////www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/mehr-als-eine-harte-nuss-neue-produkte-fur-die-biookonomie
Press release - 07/05/2019 Orthoses and prostheses made of bio-based plastics In a research project, the Fraunhofer Institute for manufacturing engineering and automation (IPA) and the company Tecnaro and d dealt with orthoses and prostheses made of bio-based materials. You developed suitable organic polymer compounds, it produced prototypes and tested them.https:////www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/orthoses-and-prostheses-made-of-bio-based-plastics
Dossier - 04/03/2019 Sustainable textiles Baden-Württemberg is known for innovation in textiles and for playing a decisive role in the development of sustainable textiles for the future both in the clothing and the booming technical textile sectors. Companies and research institutes are focused on making the entire textile value chain from raw materials, production and useful life to disposal more sustainable than ever before.https:////www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/dossiers/sustainable-textiles
Article - 11/02/2019 Natural biopolymers - the sustainable almost-all-rounders Wood pulp as well as hemp and flax are renewable raw materials that can be processed into fibres of a new performance class using innovative technologies. They are environmentally friendly and help to solve waste problems. Products and processes for these fibres of the future are being developed at the DITF Denkendorf. They are suitable for textile and technical applications.https:////www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/natural-biopolymers-the-sustainable-almost-all-rounders
Article - 10/01/2019 Stocktaking and recommendations for action: the BBAW’s fourth gene technology report In the new gene technology report, the interdisciplinary working group of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences (BBAW) takes stock of gene technology developments in Germany during the past few decades, and discusses the societal, legal and ethical challenges associated with these technologies in the future. The report is highly topical due to the controversy surrounding the ruling of the European Court of Justice on CRISPR/Cas9 genome…https:////www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/stocktaking-and-recommendations-for-action-the-bbaws-fourth-gene-technology-report
Press release - 19/07/2018 Fraunhofer CBP supplies lignin for biobased materials Using ultrapure lignin from the lignocellulosic biorefinery at the Fraunhofer Center for Chemical-Biotechnological Processes CBP in Leuna, researchers at the Technical University of Hamburg-Harburg (TU HH) have produced lignin-containing aerogels and processed high-porosity insulating boards with excellent insulation properties. The lignin was recovered from beech residual wood at the Fraunhofer CBP using the Organosolv process.https:////www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/fraunhofer-cbp-supplies-lignin-for-biobased-materials
Article - 05/07/2018 Sustainable building construction: municipalities go wood The days when forests died off in Germany are over. This is not only excellent news in terms of carbon storage. Using wood also helps us avoid carbon dioxide emissions. More and more cities rely on timber constructions, which have long been used in the high-tech sector. The HolzProKlima competition has massively promoted sustainable building construction in Baden-Württemberg, highlighting what it can offer in terms of climate protection.https:////www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/sustainable-building-construction-municipalities-go-wood
Bioplastics - 03/05/2018 LIGNOSIT - using lignin in value-added products The environmental footprint of petroleum-based plastic products does not look good. Alternatives for plastic production involving renewable raw materials are now being sought. Wood is experiencing a renaissance. Prof. Dr. Marie-Pierre Laborie, who holds the Chair of Forest Biomaterials at the University of Freiburg, and her team are researching the potential use of lignin, the natural glue in wood.https:////www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/lignosit-using-lignin-in-value-added-products
Press release - 18/01/2018 Wood for clothing, reducing microplastics in our seas: VAUDE participates in the TextileMission research project Together with various partners from environmental associations, the scientific community and the textile industry, VAUDE has launched the TextileMission research project. The goal is to find solutions that will reduce the environmental impact of microplastics released when synthetic apparel is washed. VAUDE is excited about the initial successful developments. https:////www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/wood-for-clothing-reducing-microplastics-in-our-seas-vaude-participates-in-the-textilemission-research-project
Article - 15/01/2018 PULaCell: inspiring wood construction with biobased polyurethane The aim of the joint three-year "PULaCell" project funded by the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) is to develop biobased reinforcing profiles for solid wood construction materials. As part of the project, several research institutes and industrial companies are developing biobased, cellulose fibre-reinforced polyurethane profiles that will make future wood-based materials stronger. https:////www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/pulacell-inspiring-wood-construction-with-biobased-polyurethane
Article - 04/12/2017 Textiles: water-repellent thanks to fungal proteins Outdoor lovers and athletes love them: water-repellent jackets and trousers. However, many consumers are unaware that the chemicals used to functionalise the textile surface often pollute the environment. Organic fluorine compounds (perfluorocarbons = PFC) are usually added to textiles to make them water-repellent. Scientists at the Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB and the Hohenstein Group are researching an…https:////www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/textiles-water-repellent-thanks-to-fungal-proteins
Article - 15/11/2017 From biomass to diesel Using the power of microbes: biochemists from Leipzig and Tübingen use the combined power of microbes and electrolysis to produce fuels from organic material. This new process uses electricity from renewable resources to produce diesel from organic waste and green cuttings, amongst other things, and can therefore also be used for storing wind and solar energy. https:////www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/from-biomass-to-diesel
Bioeconomy in construction and architecture - 25/10/2017 Development of innovative, ecological construction materials and methods at the University of Stuttgart The Baden-Württemberg construction sector is currently experiencing a similar boom to the one that occurred in 1996. Between January 2016 and January 2017, low interest rates and uninterrupted demand for housing has led to an increase in orders of almost 10%1. A shift from conventional building materials to biobased building materials and products would likely also support the transition to a bioeconomy in this economic sector. The Institute for…https:////www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/development-of-innovative-ecological-construction-materials-and-methods-at-the-university-of-stuttgart