B&C® Biobased and Sustainable Chemicals Blog

On November 25, 2025, the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB) announced the publication of a discussion paper entitled “The Future of Science: A Playbook for Accelerating American Innovation.” According to NSCEB, the paper is “the first in a series of fresh analyses” that NSCEB will publish following the publication of its final report and action plan for Congress in April 2025. The paper represents observations from NSCEB, drawn from consultations with a range...

On November 21, 2025, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that it is making $7 million in payments available to advanced biofuel producers nationwide through its Advanced Biofuel Payment Program, a provision of the One Big Beautiful Bill. USDA states that the funding is aimed at increasing the production of American-grown biofuels. According to USDA, the Program supports expanding the production of advanced biofuels by paying advanced biofuel producers for finished advanced...

The American Chemical Society (ACS) and Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®) are pleased to present “31st Annual Green Chemistry Challenge Awards: New Categories and Expanded Opportunities,” on December 4, 2025, from 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (EST).  2026 marks the 31st year that the ACS and partners have spurred American innovation by soliciting, evaluating, selecting, and amplifying remarkable chemical products and processes through the highly coveted Green Chemistry Challenge Awards...

On November 18, 2025, Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and Ted Budd (R-NC) introduced the Biomanufacturing Excellence Act, which would promote U.S. leadership in biotechnology and strengthen domestic biopharmaceutical manufacturing. Coons’ November 18, 2025, press release states that “[b]iotechnology will shape how the United States defends itself, secures its food supply, and cures life-threatening diseases.” According to the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology’s (NSCEB)...

On October 14, 2025, BB-REG-NET, a United Kingdom (UK) regulatory science network for biobased and biodegradable materials, published a report entitled “Addressing Persistent Plastic Pollution: The Case for Biodegradable Solutions.” Alder BioInsights conducted a literature review of the evidence around the presence, impact, and persistence of microplastics in the open environment due to the use of biodegradable materials. The report documents evidence from case studies in agriculture,...

The European Bioeconomy Alliance (EUBA) announced on October 1, 2025, the release of an expert paper from the nova-Institute entitled “Benefits of Using First-Generation Biomass for Food, Fuels, Chemicals and Derived Materials in Europe: Science-based Argumentation Paper.” According to EUBA’s October 1, 2025, press release, using first-generation agricultural biomass (i.e., crops like cereals, sugar, and oil plants) to produce biobased energy and materials in Europe results in important...

On October 22, 2025, the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) announced the availability of a report entitled The Climate Technology Progress Report 2025: Advancing Biobased Technologies in the Bioeconomy, which finds that biobased technologies, such as the conversion of food waste into fuel, could reduce reliance on fossil fuels, lowering greenhouse gas emissions and helping countries combat climate change. UNEP states that as technical innovation is making biobased technologies more...

Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) announced on October 2, 2025, that he led over 45 Senate and House colleagues in urging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to issue a final rule on imported Renewable Identification Numbers (RIN) and hold firm on the proposed biomass-based diesel volumes. As reported in our June 18, 2025, blog item, the proposed rule would reduce the number of RINs generated for imported renewable fuel and renewable fuel produced from foreign feedstocks. The bipartisan,...

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced on September 29, 2025, that it determined that MON 95379 Lepidopteran-Protected Maize (corn), which was developed using genetic engineering to produce two insecticidal proteins to protect against feeding damage caused by target lepidopteran pests, is no longer considered regulated. 90 Fed. Reg. 46546. APHIS states that its determination is based on its evaluation of information and data...

The American Chemical Society (ACS) has begun accepting nominations for the 2026 Green Chemistry Challenge Awards. The awards are intended to promote the environmental and economic benefits of developing and using novel green chemistry. They recognize novel green chemistry technologies that reduce or eliminate the use of hazardous substances, use less energy and water, and improve the sustainability of products while demonstrating economic benefits. Although the awards were established in 1996...