Natural Plastics

Cefic released on June 20 a policy document that gives European chemicals sector views on the bioeconomy in Europe. The three-page document, written by policy experts at the trade group, was presented today to EU policy experts from stakeholder groups, including the European Commission, in Brussels.

The paper outlines three clear dimensions of the bioeconomy in Europe that will impact the EU chemical industry: access to renewable feedstock, innovation and market- driven demand generation. On the feedstock topic, the paper notes that access to biomass and bio-based building blocks at global market prices is a key issue for a sustained and cost-effective bio-based industry in Europe. In order to be able to achieve Europe 2020 and the bioeconomy objectives, the European chemical industry calls for four market reforms including global open market competition to balance supply and demand as well as a level playing field with respect to biofuels.

Cefic points out that innovation will have a significant role in determining the success of the bioeconomy, through the ability of and investment from all the actors, both public and private, to go the full innovation cycle – from research to market deployment. Innovation breakthroughs can be achieved through “full scale demonstration projects and pilot lines throughout the value chain, for which public and private support will be absolutely essential.” Cefic sees innovation Public-Private Partnerships that are under development – Sustainable Process Industry through Resource, and Energy Efficiency (SPIRE) and BIO – can make an essential contribution to the bioeconomy’s agenda.

Cefic calls on EU authorities to base their drive towards the bioeconomy on sustainability criteria based on sound science and reliable data.

The paper concludes: "Although our industry will undoubtedly remain predominantly petrochemicals-based in the coming decades, there is potential for greater use of bio-based feedstock. Cefic has therefore, a high level of engagement in the development of the bioeconomy."

See the full paper: LINK

Source:  http://www.cefic.org

The Obama Administration announced its commitment to strengthening bioscience research as a major driver of American innovation and economic growth.  The National Bioeconomy Blueprint outlines steps that agencies will take to drive the bioeconomy—economic activity powered by research and innovation in the biosciences—and details ongoing efforts across the Federal government to realize this goal.

The bioeconomy emerged as an Administration priority because of its tremendous potential for growth and job creation as well as the many other societal benefits it offers. A more robust bioeconomy can enable Americans to live longer and healthier lives, develop new sources of bioenergy, address key environmental challenges, transform manufacturing processes, and increase the productivity and scope of the agricultural sector while generating new industries and occupational opportunities.

A growing U.S. population requires increased health services and more material resources including food, animal feed, fiber for clothing and housing, and sources of energy and chemicals for manufacturing. Recent advances in the biological sciences are allowing more and more of these needs to be met not with petroleum-based products and other non-renewable resources but with materials that are quite literally home-grown. Indeed, the convergence of biology with engineering and other sciences—including physics, chemistry, and computer sciences—is proving to have tremendous power to generate new scientific discoveries, new products,  new markets, and new high-skilled jobs. The benefits can be seen in every sector of the economy, from agriculture to healthcare and from energy production to environmental monitoring and stewardship. Biobased materials are also proving to be excellent and sustainable substitutes for hydrocarbon-based raw materials in a number of industrial and manufacturing processes.

Research is a key component, but it’s not enough to ensure a successful American bioeconomy. In the biomedical domain, public-private partnerships can help the Nation achieve the twin goals of improving health outcomes and reducing healthcare costs. Updated bioeconomy-related education and training efforts can better equip a 21^st century workforce with the skills needed to succeed in an increasingly competitive global arena.

And unnecessary or overly burdensome regulatory barriers must be removed to accelerate the advancement of bioinventions from laboratories to marketplaces while ensuring adequate attention to environmental and health concerns that may be raised by scientists’ new facility with biological systems. The Bioeconomy Blueprint outlines five strategic imperatives for a bioeconomy with the potential to generate new markets and economic growth:

1. Support R&D investments that will provide the foundation for the future bioeconomy.
2. Facilitate the transition of bioinventions from research lab to market, including an increased focus on translational and regulatory sciences.
3. Develop and reform regulations to reduce barriers, increase the speed and predictability of regulatory processes, and reduce costs while protecting human and environmental health.
4. Update training programs and align academic institution incentives with student training for national workforce needs.
5. Identify and support opportunities for the development of public-private partnerships and precompetitive collaborations—where competitors pool resources, knowledge, and expertise to learn from successes and failures.

Although progress is being made in all of these areas, the Blueprint calls upon Federal agencies to accelerate their efforts to harness the biological sciences for the benefit of the Nation.

Source:  http://www.whitehouse.gov

– Leading U.S. corporations announced today they are taking steps to create a new packaging trade organization. AMERIPEN will engage on public policies impacting the packaging value chain on topics related to packaging and the environment, and will represent the interests of the industry which includes raw material producers, packaging manufacturers, packaging users and fillers, retailers and material recovery
organizations. 

Corporate founders include The Coca-Cola Company, Colgate-Palmolive, ConAgra Foods, The Dow Chemical Co., DuPont Packaging & Industrial Polymers, Kellogg Company, MeadWestvaco (MWV), Procter & Gamble, Sealed Air Corporation and Tetra Pak Inc. 

Modeled after EUROPEN and INCPEN, the European and British counterparts, respectively, AMERIPEN will advocate packaging policy developments in North America focusing on measures that are environmentally and economically sound, as well as socially responsible.  AMERIPEN, with a material neutral approach, will encourage science-based decision-making on sustainable packaging initiatives and provide a point-of-view and guidance to policy makers and thought leaders on the value and role of packaging.  

“AMERIPEN will further enhance the packaging value chain’s commitment to continuously improving its sustainability  profile and reducing packaging waste,” said Joan Pierce, AMERIPEN President. “The organization will play an instrumental role in conveying this message to opinion leaders in North America and ensuring that participants in the packaging value chain have maximum scope to innovate, compete and operate in a resource-efficient way.” 

“Today, the complexity of environmental issues confronting packaging is greater than ever.  Having a voice to represent common industry views of these matters and help shape public policy is an absolute essential.  In Europe our experience with such an approach over more than 20 years has been positive and productive for industry. 
EUROPEN welcomes the formation of AMERIPEN, congratulates those who have led this initiative and recommends membership to every packaging value chain member,” said Julian Carroll, Managing Director of EUROPEN.

“With the emergence of extended producer responsibility and other potential packaging legislation in the coming years, this is a critical time for our industry to offer a compelling voice,” said Gail Tavill, AMERIPEN Vice-President. “We’re committed to providing necessary expertise and insight to ensure sustainable management of packaging throughout its life cycle.”

AMERIPEN will engage with thought leaders in the packaging industry including trade associations, academic institutions, NGOs and government agencies to facilitate relevant research and identify key data and standards to advance AMERIPEN’S mission.

Source: http://www.ameripen.org