One of the many aspects of fighting climate change is working to overcome the chemical industry’s dependence on fossil fuels. Replacing gas and oil with renewable carbon within the existing structures of the chemical industry is a key element. In order to achieve said transition, there must be innovation, the development of new processes, building blocks and materials; which means rethinking the chemistry and materials.
Demand is quickly growing for ready-to-use fossil-free sustainable material solutions with a low carbon footprint. Innovative brand owners are keeping an eye out for such solutions, in particular those that will soon reach the mainstream.
Nova-Institute (organiser) and Covestro (sponsor) would like to award three particularly exciting and promising solutions with the innovation award “Renewable Material of the Year 2022”. The nominees work to contribute to replacing fossil carbon from the ground. Innovations could be submitted until 15 March, and 31 were received. After an arduous selection process, the Advisory Board and the Nova experts chose the six most exciting ones and nominated them for the award.
The “Renewable Material of the Year 2022” Nominees are:
- Borregaard (NO) – Exilva® fibrillated cellulose
- Eastman (US) – Material-to-Material Molecular Recycling Technologies
- Lactips (FR) – Plastic Free PaperTM with CareTips® – a Natural Polymer to Rethink Plastic
- Origin Materials (US) – Technology Platform for Producing Carbon Negative PET
- Twelve Benefit Corporation (US) – Electrochemical CO2 Transformation to Chemicals and Materials
- VERBIO Vereinigte BioEnergie (DE) – VerBioChem Ethenolyis Platform for Renewable Chemicals.
The winner will be announced as one of the highlights of the “Renewable Materials Conference”, 10–12 May in Cologne, Germany, with 60 confirmed speakers and more than 400 expected participants. On the second conference-day, the nominated companies will present their products and all conference participants, on site and online, will vote for the three winners.
