Biobased and Renewable Products Update
March 29, 2018
USDA Publishes Biobased Economy Report
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released its report on the economic impact of the biobased economy. The report, titled “Indicators of the U.S. Biobased Economy,” reviews data from 2011 and 2016 to analyze trends in the agricultural, bioenergy, renewable chemicals, and policy sectors. According to the analysis, the renewable chemicals and biobased products sector contributed 4.22 million jobs and an economic value of $393 billion to the U.S. economy in 2014. Between 2014 and 2016, the number of products certified under the UDSA Biopreferred® program increased from 1,800 to 2,900. The analysis was commissioned by the USDA Office of the Chief Economist and prepared jointly by the Energy and Natural Resource Research Cluster at East Carolina University and the Supply Chain Resource Cooperative (SCRC) at North Carolina State University.
Indonesia Announces Appellate Victory Against EU AD Duty On Biodiesel
According to documents from the European Union (EU), the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled that the EU must remove anti-dumping (AD) duties on biodiesel imports from 13 Argentine and Indonesian producers. Importers will be able to claim back duties that were paid in the past. While the companies that challenged the measures are no longer subject to AD duties, the duties still apply to companies not covered under the legal challenge. The EU initially appealed the September 2016 ECJ ruling to annul the duties but later dropped the appeal. In addition to ECJ, the World Trade Organization has ruled against the EU AD duties, which were established in 2013. Indonesia intends to challenge the biodiesel duties established in the U.S. and to continue expanding biodiesel subsidies to cover palm oil blended fuels for use by the mining and power sector.
Neste Delivers First Batch Of Renewable Propane
On March 19, 2018, Neste, a member of the Biobased and Renewable Products Advocacy Group (BRAG®), announced the delivery of its first batch of 100 percent renewable propane to SHV Energy. Neste is operating the world’s first large-scale renewable production facility in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. The new facility, that primarily produces Neste MY Renewable Diesel, purifies and separates renewable propane from the sidestream gases. The refinery is capable of producing 40,000 tonnes of propane per year. The renewable propane can be used in a variety of existing applications, including transport, commercial heating, and retail leisure cylinders, without modifications to existing gas applications technology. SHV Energy will market the propane as BioLPG and sell it to customers across Europe.
BioLogiQ Receives USDA BioPreferred Certification
On March 20, 2018, BioLogiQ, Inc. announced that its NuPlastiQ® GP biopolymer received certification under the USDA BioPreferred program. NuPlastiQ is a 100 percent renewably-resourced, plant-based resin that is blended with traditional plastics to reduce fossil-based plastic use and greenhouse gas emissions. The thermoplastic resin is produced using BioLogiQ’s proprietary process for converting high crystalline starch into a low crystalline (mostly amorphous) plastic. The starch is derived from potato waste following processing to produce potato chips and French fries.
The BioPreferred program is a USDA initiative to increase the purchase and use of biobased products through mandatory purchasing requirements for federal agencies and contractors, and voluntary product certification and labeling. The USDA Certified Biobased Product label is designed to help consumers identify biobased products containing a verified amount of renewable biological ingredients.
Other News
AkzoNobel, “AkzoNobel Specialty Chemicals’ 2018 Imagine Chemistry Challenge Generates 150 Innovative Business Ideas”
Enerkem, “Enerkem Makes A Major Breakthrough By Producing A New High-Octane Biofuel”
Fast Company, “This USDA Lab Is Turning Billions Of Pounds Of Almond Waste Into Beer, Plastic, And Power”
Electrolux, “Electrolux Builds The World’s First Bioplastic Concept Fridge”