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Stohballen Visual 2

In-depth report

Biobased upcycling: From residual to resource

Organic residual and waste streams have considerable but often untapped potential as a resource for a sustainable bioeconomy. This dossier presents innovative research approaches to waste utilization.

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Handys

Success story

Recycling rare earths with peptides

In the PepTight project, researchers want to identify peptides that are able to filter special rare earths, known as lanthanides, from industrial water.

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Chimpanzee

Studies and statistics

WWF (2022): Living Planet Report

According to the World Wildlife Fund's (WWF) 14th Living Planet Report, declines in all observed populations of mammals, birds, fish, amphibians, and reptiles averaged 69% between 1970 and 2018.

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Verpackung

Product

Cushioning packaging

Not just since Corona has online trade been booming - and so has the demand for packaging and cushioning materials. A nature-based innovation now offers an alternative to conventional cushioning materials and turns the packaging industry into a circular economy.

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Preview Bioökonomie-Ausstellung

Bioeconomy Exhibition

The bioeconomy has rapidly developed in recent years. What has been accomplished in the last five years alone is truly impressive: Many bioeconomy products have become bestsellers. Bio-based start-ups have grown into medium-sized companies. And established, traditional industrial companies are integrating bio-based production steps into their existing structures.

The latest from the bioeconomy

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Ethanolanlage von Südzucker-Tochter CropEnergies in Zeitz

CropEnergies focuses on biobased chemicals

The first production plant for manufacturing renewable ethyl acetate from sustainable ethanol is to be built at the site of Südzucker subsidiary CropEnergies in Zeitz by 2025.

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Preisträgerin des Nachwuchspreises des Berliner Wissenschaftspreises an Dr. Anja Maria Wagemans (Mitte) durch Berlins Regierenden Bürgermeister Kai Wegner (links)

Award for research on meat substitutes

Food technologist Anja Maria Wagemans from TU Berlin has been awarded the Young Scientist Award of the Berlin Science Award for her research into novel biomaterials.

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weiße kleine Hohlzylinder aus geschäumtem Material

Starch based foam film

A research project aims to create an alternative to packaging materials made from fossil plastic.

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Die Parlamentarische Staatssekretärin Dr. Bettina Hoffmann übergibt den beiden Gründerinnen Anne Lamp und Johanna Baare den Förderscheck des BUM

Million euro funding for traceless

Bioeconomy start-up traceless materials receives 5 million euros from the German Federal Ministry for the Environment (BMU) to build a demonstration plant.

Interviews

Prof. Dr. Silvia-Vignolini

„Nature has always been an impetus for technical developments“

As director of the newly established Department of „Sustainable and Bio-inspired Materials“ at the MPIKG, Silvia Vignolini aims to research and develop materials with predominantly optical functions, following Nature`s example.

Worldwide strategies

The bioeconomy is gaining ground all over the world. A large number of countries have now adopted bioeconomy strategies - with various focus areas. You can find them in the following overview.

Read more

In the spotlight

Bioeconomy inside

Rührei auf einem Teller

Egg substitutes

Reports on egg factory farms and the health condition of hens has spoilt some people's appetite for eggs. But eggs without chicken – is that possible? Innovative plant-based products conquer the market.

What was the per capita consumption of eggs in Germany 2022?

Less than that. About "1 egg a day" does not hold true in Germany.

Correct!

Zahnseide-Spender aus Biokunststoff

Dental floss

Originally, dental floss was made of natural silk. In the 1940s it was gradually replaced by the synthetic material nylon. Nowadays, products made of bioplastic continue to drive the evolution of dental floss.

How much dental floss does every German use on average per year?

Unfortunately not. But this is the recommended amount.

Correct

Tampon

Tampon

Conventional disposable tampons are made of up to 90% plastic - and are therefore not only harmful to the environment but also to the health of those wearing them. A new tampon offers a sustainable alternative.

1 hectare of fertile land is needed to grow 3.5 tons of soybeans. What area is needed for the same amount of algae?

In fact, there are significantly fewer.

Correct.

Leder, Lederimitat

Imitation leather

Leather is as much in demand as it is controversial - although the chemically preserved animal skin is robust and versatile, its production takes place at the expense of animals, humans and the environment - not so with a new, plant-based imitation leather.

Per ton of dry material harvested, hemp stores how much CO2?

Not correct.

Correct.

Lachs

Salmon

Anyone who loves fish can now leave it in the ocean and go for a slightly different salmon - made from pea protein instead of fish, 3D printed instead of caught.

Most of the salmon eaten in Germany today comes from aquaculture.

How many kilograms of salmon are consumed in Germany each year?

Unfortunately, this is wrong.

Correct.