Plants need nitrogen to grow. Conventional agriculture therefore mostly relies on artificial fertilizers, which can pollute the ecosystem and the environment. In organic farming, synthetic fertilizers are prohibited. A recent study by the IGZ shows that fertilizers made from human urine produce just as good results in vegetable cultivation as established fertilizers for organic farming.
Artificial turf fields made from biobased materials
It is not only Bundesliga clubs that rely on artificial turf for their playing surfaces. Smaller clubs also prefer the low-maintenance and weather-independent material and are making the necessary investments. There are already around 9,000 artificial turf pitches in Germany. But these have so far been based on fossil raw materials and contribute to microplastics entering the environment. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has calculated that artificial turf pitches in Europe are responsible for 16,000 tons of microplastics in the environment every year.
With enzymes to biobased lipopeptide surfactants
Whether in cosmetics, detergents or cleaning agents: Surfactants can be found in many products. Today, however, the molecules should not only be more effective and skin-friendly than in the past, but also biodegradable and produced from renewable raw materials. Researchers in the LipoPep joint project have taken up these challenges. Under the leadership of TH Köln, research has been conducted over the past three years into how renewable raw materials from native plants such as lupins, sunflowers and rapeseed can be used to produce surfactants.
CO2 as raw material for polyester fibers
Polyesters are an important class of plastics for the textile industry. Until now, however, fossil raw materials were needed for their production. In the joint project "Threading CO2," 17 partners from seven European countries have joined forces to create an alternative. They want to produce monoethylene glycol, the starting material for polyester PET, using CO2 from industrial waste gases as a raw material.
Potentials of precise plant cultivation
Field robots that weed and determine the nutrient content in the soil, or drones that detect plant diseases: modern field technology with highly sensitive sensors and cameras have already made work in agriculture more efficient and sustainable. However, the technologies used in so-called precision crop farming usually operate in isolation. Due to such isolated solutions, data is lacking and the actual benefits are difficult to evaluate. The DigiMax-PA project aims to change this.
Covestro: Towards bio-based aniline
Aniline is an important component in the production of the plastic polyurethane, which is used for numerous everyday products such as mattresses or insulating materials. Until now, the chemical has been produced mainly on the basis of petroleum. Covestro, as one of the world's leading aniline producers, is breaking new ground. The Leverkusen-based materials manufacturer wants to produce the important chemical from plant biomass. The foundations for this were laid in recent years as part of the Bio4PUR and Bio4PURPro projects.
Dental floss
The nylon threads and disposable packaging for commercially available dental floss are made from petroleum and usually end up in the trash after use. In the search for more sustainable, yet vegan alternatives, manufacturers are developing products made from bioplastics.
Sustainable hydrocarbons from biomass
The decision to phase out coal has been made. From 2030, no more coal is to be mined in Germany. Regions like the Rhineland must therefore rethink. With the BioeconomyREVIER, the NRW state government has already set the course for a bio-based and sustainable economy in 2020. However, in order to drive structural change forward, corresponding innovations from research and development must be put into practice as quickly as possible.
Recycling synthetic polymers with enzymes
Plastics are versatile and durable - but it is precisely their durability that poses a problem: petroleum-based plastics decompose only incompletely or not at all, thus polluting the environment. However, it is not yet possible to do without plastics altogether. That's why researchers around the world are looking for ways to recycle petroleum-based plastics. So far, only a small portion of the world's plastic waste is recycled. By identifying new biocatalysts, researchers have now paved the way for sustainable recycling of plastic waste.