Nathalie Marcela Cerón, from DAN*NA, speaks in this interview about their main role in CATCO2NVERS project and how they are working on the development of Life Cycle assessments (LCA)....
Novamont is an Italian company and a global leader in the bioplastics sector and the development of biochemicals. It promotes a shift from a product-based economy to a system economy by enhancing local resources and redesigning application sectors to minimize environmental and social costs. Rooted in Montedison’s research, Novamont integrates chemistry, environment, and agriculture. With four production sites, four research centers, and international offices, it acquired BioBag International in 2021. The company holds 1,400 patents and invests heavily in research and innovation.
LEDA is a Polish company, established in 2016 and based in Łódź, specializing in the design and production of biobased foams and NIPU (non-isocyanate PU) foams for various applications, including construction, vertical gardens, and other industrial sectors. The company is committed to promoting national industry by manufacturing customized foam blocks entirely in Poland.
In addition, LEDA integrates advanced technological solutions to enhance sustainability and production efficiency. The company employs 3D printing technology to optimize manufacturing processes and reduce environmental impact. A key innovation is the use of recycled filaments derived from production waste, reinforcing LEDA’s dedication to sustainable waste management and material reuse.
LEDA is also actively involved in European research projects such as Biomotive, Frontsh1p, and Safercoat, contributing to the upscaling and advancement of NIPU foaming technology. As part of CATCO2NVERS LEDA participates in the validation of lactic acid (LA), FDME, and CCFAMEs as building blocks for the synthesis of biopolymers such as PLA, PEF, and NIPUs. Collaborating with partners LEDA helps define the required purity levels of these components and ensures their suitability for biopolymer production.
Sustainable Innovations is a Spanish consultancy firm that provides innovative services to a wide range of sectors across Europe: bio-based industry, energy, industry 5.0, circular economy and advanced materials, among others. The core competencies offered by Sustainable Innovations are structured in two main pillars which bridge the gap between the ideas and the market. On one hand, the R&D management area offers expertise in grant writing, project integration, and advisory services. On the other hand, we are involved in EU project execution, leading several tasks revolving around communication, exploitation, and project administration.
DAN * NA (Artificial Nature S.L) is a bioengineering company dedicated to the development and production of biomaterials and bioplastics with high added value, for the microelectronics, regenerative biomedicine and sustainable agriculture sectors. Using bio-based materials as raw materials such as plant derivatives or organic waste. Through the combination of molecular technology, green chemistry and Artificial Intelligence, we bring to the market a highly efficient biobased material in energy consumption and CO2eq emissions. DAN * NA, certified as an innovative SME by the Ministry of Science and Innovation, and with the environmental and social impact company seal by the SHIP2B foundation, manages its impact through its digital platform based on the control and management of the LCA and LCC. Offering the market, apart from its biomaterials, a personalized digitization service for the management of the LCA and LCC.
DAN * NA’s mission is to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable technology materials.
Wageningen Research (WR) is part of Wageningen University & Research (WUR), with the aim to explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life. With approximately 30 locations around the world, 6,000 staff members and 11,000 students, Wageningen UR is a world leader in the BioEconomy domain. An integral way of working and cooperation between the exact sciences and the technological and social disciplines are keys to its approach. Using our multidisciplinary understanding of the application of chemistry, biotechnological processes, biorefining strategies, and sustainable value chain development to the conversion of biobased feedstocks, we are developing new routes for the production of advanced biofuels and biochemicals, and develop innovative materials that are strong, sustainable and marketable. Our research helps clients to launch competitive, innovative products made from renewable raw materials. The development and application of high-efficiency and sustainable refinery processes that use high-potential agro-residues/wastes, process residues/wastes, and sustainably grown biomass feedstocks, instead of fossil resources is a major focus area within WR’s R&D portfolio.
AVA Biochem (AVA) is a specialty chemicals company and produces the premium platform chemical 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) from renewable biomass. Biochem-1, the first industrial plant for the production of 5-HMF from biomass is located in Muttenz, Switzerland where AVA Biochem is headquartered. The company delivers to the pharmaceutical, food, and fine chemical industry as well as to research customers around the globe to support the development of novel, bio-based products, and solutions in a wide range of applications. AVA Biochem aims to use its game-changing production process to achieve market leadership in the production of 5-HMF.
Recently the company has added 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) to its product portfolio. The company is a subsidiary of AVA Biochem AG, Zug, and is located in Muttenz, Switzerland, where the worldwide first bio-based industrial plant for the production of 5-HMF is operated. As a renewable alternative to petroleum-based materials, 5-HMF is used in a broad range of applications in the chemical, pharmaceutical, and food industries. Currently, AVA Biochem is finalizing the engineering for an 8,000t plant. Once large-scale production has been achieved, 5-HMF has become a crucial building block for novel packaging materials such as Polyethylene Furanoate (PEF) as well as biobased resins and adhesives.
The University of Twente (UT) is a young, entrepreneurial research university. Together, 3,300 scientists and professionals carry out ground-breaking research, bring about socially relevant innovation, and provide inspiring teaching for more than 9,000 students. To us, entrepreneurship comes second nature. The university’s business park (Novel T), encourages and assists entrepreneurs to start new companies. Research ultimately combines scientific excellence with a sharp eye for economic and societal impact: the UT is highly successful as a business generator, with over 50 new spin-off companies annually. MESA+ is one of the world’s top institutes in nano- and microtechnology. About 500 researchers (of which about 300 PhD students and post-docs) work together on cutting-edge energy research, with a focus on collaborative interdisciplinary research.
Since the incorporation of Evyap in 1927 in Erzurum in Turkey, the company’s founder Mehmet Rıfat Evyap wanted to produce quality goods, as he started his adventure with one of the most natural symbols of cleaning; soap. Today, within the framework of that basic principle; products produced with the latest technology are offered to everyone. With an unchanging quality level in various categories like soap, shower-gels, shampoo, shaving products, skin care creams, scented cosmetics, baby diapers and toothpaste; Evyap became an irreplaceable part of life.
EVYAP performs an important part of the soap and personal care product exports of Turkey and transports its name to more than 100 countries.
Evyap has been manufacturing in 3 different countries compatible with European standards and besides it has built the world’s biggest Oleochemistry Plant in Malaysia. Evyap, with innovative studies and investments, cares to use natural resources in a productive way. Owing to its strong Research & Development Center, Evyap has been working on the personal care and cleaning products in a customer-oriented way. With more than 3,000 employees, Evyap is one of top 100 industrial corporations of Turkey and makes “contracted production” with world’s leading brands.
Alchemia-nova GmbH is based in Vienna, Austria, dedicated to technology development, consulting, research and innovation, education, training and dissemination in the fields of circular economy, resource recovery, phytotechnology, biobased industry, biogenic substitutes for fossil-fuel products, valorisation of waste streams, development of cascading utilisation strategies for renewable and secondary resources and sustainable buildings. They ultimately seek to contribute to a more sustainable future through the transformation of linear production-consumption patterns into closed-loop processes. ALCN draws on over 20 years of grassroot and policy-level expertise and experience in the application of circular economy principles and the innovation and implementation of nature-based solutions within many national (research funds and direct consultation for Austrian ministries) and EU projects (H2020, LIFE, FP7, FP6). They employ around 30 persons in their three organisations based in Austria and Greece. Their collaboration network spans over all European countries to China, Southeast Asia, South Africa, Kenya, MENA countries and South America.
The nova-Institut für politische und ökologische Innovation GmbH (NOVA) is a private and independent institute founded in 1994. For the last two-and-a-half decades, NOVA has been globally active in all matters surrounding the use of alternative and renewable carbon feedstocks for a sustainable production within the chemical and associated industry – feedstock availability, techno-economic and environmental evaluation, market research, dissemination, standardisation and labelling, project management and policy frameworks.
NOVA is working on the use of bio-based raw materials, carbon streams from off-gases and also the area of recycling, especially chemical recycling, to reduce the carbon footprints from the industry and to guide these to a circular and carbon-neutral production. Additionally, NOVA also is working on topics within the more general field of sustainability, climate change and circular economy.
Hysytech srl is a pioneer company in the field of process engineering and in the design and construction of turn-key plants for fuel chemical processing, energy production and environmental treatment. Hysytech srl provides specialized engineering solutions and services on chemical processing, energy, power generation and environmental treatment. Hysytech is always looking to develop and provide new technology to clients on short and medium-term opportunities through continuous work and challenging development. The company has based its business model on innovation and expertise in finding innovative solutions for chemical processing and energy generation. Hysytech’s experience and technological background covers several fields: from process synthesis to industrial catalysis, from process optimization for renewable energy production to environmental treatment. Thanks to several years’ experience of its engineers as European researchers, Hysytech srl sets its activity on technological transfer from university to industries, producing day by day R&D for industrial customers and research centres.
PERSEO Biotechnology was born as an engineering and biotechnology company specialized in the development of processes for the conversion of the organic fraction of waste into new value-added products: biofuels, bioenergy and bioproducts, using the company’s own patented technology and know-how. In addition, PERSEO offers technological collaboration services and expansion of its own or co-developed processes, as well as complementary services to evaluate the viability and scalability of biotechnological processes. PERSEO has a demonstration plant with a processing capacity of 25 T / day of organic waste, as well as the necessary infrastructures to control the process. PERSEO Biotechnology’s mission is to contribute to the circular economy through the technological transfer of the PERSEO Bioethanol® process, promoting and enhancing the implementation of industrial waste management processes that reduce its environmental impact.
Avantium is a leading chemical technology company and a forerunner in renewable chemistry. Together with its partners around the world Avantium develops efficient processes and sustainable products made from bio-based materials. Avantium offers a breeding ground for revolutionary renewable chemistry solutions: from invention to commercially viable production processes.
The Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC) is the largest public research institution in Spain, with around 11,000 employees, of which almost 6,000 are scientists. The CSIC is made up of 120 institutes distributed throughout the country distributed in three global areas: Life, Society and Matter and is the first institution in Spain in the generation of patents, to which more than 20% of the national scientific production is attributed. The research group in charge of the proposal, MatSusAppl, is focused on the preparation of materials with high technological impact for environmental applications, specifically focusing its research on the development of new materials with applications in heterogeneous catalysis, sensors, adsorption, and separation of gases.The University of Twente
FUNDITEC is a private non-profit organization created in 2003, as an R+D+i Centre for two key sectors: Advanced Materials and Cybersecurity. Its mission is to offer applied research and technology services in the field of advanced materials and cybersecurity that can improve the profits and sustainability of its clients. It has a team, with more than 15 years of experience in technical execution and project management, made up of highly qualified engineers, chemists, doctors and scientists with extensive experience in the development of products, processes and prototypes.
FUNDITEC’s capabilities within the Advanced Materials area cover lines of research such as: nanotechnology, coatings and resins, biomaterials, agri-food solutions, food technology, catalysis and photocatalysis processes, water treatment and waste recovery.
Johnson Matthey is a UK based speciality chemicals company focused sustainable technologies to solve some of the biggest challenges facing the planet and its people. Indeed, more than half of Johnson Matthey’s products have a direct environmental benefit. With core competencies in catalysis, precious metals, fine chemicals and process technology. The company employs over 15,000 people worldwide in over 30 countries; around 10% of those work in an R&D function. Johnson Matthey’s principal activities are the manufacture of autocatalysts, heavy duty diesel catalysts and pollution control systems, catalysts and components for fuel cells, catalysts and technologies for chemical processes, fine chemicals, chemical catalysts and active pharmaceutical ingredients and the marketing, refining, and fabrication of precious metals. Within the syngas market, Johnson Matthey’s reputation is synonymous with world leading catalysis. We develop, manufacture and supply our range of KATALCO catalysts and related process technology and services for the efficient conversion of natural gas or naphtha to ammonia, methanol and hydrogen. Johnson Matthey also offers both technology and catalysts for the manufacture of Gas to Liquids via the Fischer-Tropsch process. Johnson Matthey’s participation in this project will be through the
Johnson Matthey Technology Centre (JMTC) based at Sonning Common and Cambridge in the UK. These facilities acts as a focal point for the development of new technologies into emerging market applications.
CARTIF is a technology centre dedicated to research and development of R+D+i projects. Its main function is to generate technological knowledge and offer innovative solutions to companies, so that they can improve their processes and systems and, consequently, their final products and services. It is an innovative and horizontal centre, which covers a wide spectrum of scientific disciplines, which differentiates it from other technological centres of a more vertical and specialized nature. This allows it to meet the needs of companies from very diverse sectors, helping them improve their competitiveness and create new business opportunities, evolve and adapt to a constantly changing market. CARTIF maintains the same values and objectives with which it was born in 1994, the main one being to contribute to the development of its economic and social environment, through the use and promotion of technological innovation through research. Its research team, made up of more than 180 people, has the ability to anticipate the needs of society, the business world and academia.