All Knowledge & Insights By Date

? White House, "Report to Congress on Implementation of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA); Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002; and the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008" ? Biome Bioplastics, "Biome Bioplastics Leads £3m Sustainable Chemicals Development Programme" ? NetComposites, "Bayer MaterialScience Wins "Bio-based Material of the Year 2015" Innovation Award" ? USDA Blog, "Smart Federal Partnerships Build...

Iowa Senate bill SF 350: the Renewable Chemical Production Tax Credit Program was introduced in March 2015, and is awaiting review in the Ways & Means Committee. If passed, the legislation will allow producers of renewable chemicals in Iowa to claim a five cent per pound tax credit, with a maximum credit of $1 million for businesses operating in Iowa for five years or less, and a maximum credit of $500,000 for businesses operating in Iowa for more than five years. Chemicals must have at...

The Oil Price Information Network (OPIS) spoke with BRAG's Richard E. Engler, Ph.D., Senior Policy Advisor with B&C, regarding the application of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to oils made from algae feedstocks and other non-traditional bio-materials. The resulting article, "TSCA Nomenclature May Be Barrier for Advanced Biofuels," from the OPIS Ethanol & Biodiesel Newsletter is excerpted below, and reprinted in full at the link with permission from OPIS. TSCA...

? 3LB Media, "Arla Food Eko Brand Organic Milk Now in Tetra Rex® Bio-Based" ? Washington State University, "Researchers Use Plant Oils for Novel Bio-Based Plastics" ? The Hill, "Clinton Meets with Ethanol Representatives" ? The Hill, "Former Obama Advisor Suggests Changes to Ethanol Mandate" ? Business Wire, "NexSteppe Demonstrates Dedicated Biomass Crops at Commercial Scale" ? Phys.Org, "Tobacco Plants May Boost Biofuel and Biorefining...

? Kuraray, "Kuraray Expands into Bio-Based Barrier Materials Notice Concerning the Acquisition of Australia-Based Plantic Technologies Limited" ? Biotechnology for Biofuels, "A Microbial Platform for Renewable Propane Synthesis Based on a Fermentative Butanol Pathway" ? Environmental and Energy Study Institute, "Agricultural, Environmental Groups Find Common Ground in Minnesota" ? Bloomberg BNA, "Governors Say Biofuels Group Listed Them as Members Without...

Biobased and Renewable Products Advocacy Group (BRAG®) member Elevance Renewable Sciences, Inc. (Elevance) was named a 2015 New Energy Pioneer award winner by Bloomberg New Energy Finance on April 13, 2015. Elevance CEO K'Lynne Johnson accepted the award on behalf of the company. Bloomberg New Energy Finance recognized Elevance and nine other companies as revolutionizing the energy sector in potential scale, innovation, and momentum. Elevance's recent introductions include the...

The Oil Price Information Network (OPIS) spoke with Richard E. Engler, Ph.D. , Senior Policy Advisor for Bergeson & Campbell, P.C., regarding the application of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to oils made from algae feedstocks and other non-traditional bio-materials.  The resulting article in the OPIS Ethanol & Biodiesel Newsletter is reprinted below, with permission from OPIS. TSCA Nomenclature May Be Barrier for Advanced Biofuels Any...

The April 7, 2015, Bloomberg BNA Daily Environment Report story "Innovation Outpacing Regulatory Systems; Modernized TSCA, New Data Said to Help," reported on "21st Century Understanding of Chemicals," a congressional briefing hosted by the American Chemical Society (ACS) Science & the Congress Project.  Lynn L. Bergeson’s comments at the congressional briefing were quoted.   The Environmental Protection Agency has taken eight times longer to approve new nanoengineered...

Syngenta, "Third Iowa Ethanol Plant to Use Syngenta Enogen® Corn" Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership, "Transport Energy Task Force" Institute of Food Research, "New Project to Develop Biofuels From Paper Waste" Mitsubishi Chemical, "MCC Develops World's First Bio-Based High-Performance Polycarbonatediol Starting Full-Scale Market Development and Sales" Cell Press, "Red Macroalgae as a Sustainable Resource for Bio-Based Products" The University of Texas at Austin, "Engineers Develop New Yeast Strain...

On March 19, 2015, the White House published an Executive Order signed by President Obama that would further a preference for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) BioPreferred products. Planning for Federal Sustainability in the Next Decade sets new greenhouse gas (GHG) emission targets for federal agencies to reach by 2025 and increases renewable energy use and building efficiency, while reducing fleet emissions in the federal government. The new targets would reduce total GHG emissions by 26...

? Dragonair, "Dragonair Biofuel Flight Highlights Cathay Pacific Group Commitment to Long-Term Sustainable Development" ? Business Wire, "Ergon Biofuels Enters into Comprehensive Service Arrangement with Gavilon" ? Business Wire, "Pittsburgh Expands Use Of Optimus Technologies' Biofuel Conversion Systems" ? Media Release, "Byogy Partners with Brazil's Agricultural Research Center EMBRAPA to Import Select Agave to Brazil to Validate High Crop Sugar and Fiber Yields to Produce Aviation Biofuels...

On March 13, 2015, the National Academies issued Industrialization Of Biology: A Roadmap To Accelerate The Advanced Manufacturing Of Chemicals, a 143-page report prepared in response to a request from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) to "develop a roadmap of necessary advances in basic science and engineering capabilities, including knowledge, tools and skills" to accelerate the advanced manufacturing of chemicals using biological systems. Thirteen...

On March 10, 2015, Senators Tom Udall (D-NM) and David Vitter (R-LA) introduced the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, a bipartisan bill that would reform the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). The bill has 15 co-sponsors -- seven Democrats and eight Republicans. The bill builds on the proposed Chemical Safety Improvement Act offered by Senator Vitter and the late Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) in 2013. According to the overview provided on Senator Udall's webpage,...

? Ethanol Producer Magazine, "E15's Big Dance" ? Confederation Of European Paper Industries, "Newly-Formed Bioeconomy Alliance Calls for EU Action" ? Market Wired, "BIOX Announces First Quarter Results" ? PR Web, "ALECO® Introduces BioClear™ Vinyl Stripping, the First and Only Vinyl Stripping Product Made in the USA from Renewable Plant Sources" ? Press Release Rocket, "Increasing Demand for Healthier, Greener & Cleaner Products Drives the Global Renewable Chemicals Market, According to a...

REGISTER FOR ABLC 2015 The Advanced Bioeconomy Leadership Conference 2015 (ABLC 2015), to be held March 11-13, 2015, at the Capital Hilton in Washington, D.C., is the gathering point for top leaders in the Advanced Bioeconomy -- bringing together the entire spectrum of advanced fuels, chemicals, and materials CEOs and senior executives, business development, R&D leaders, strategic partners, financiers, equity analysts, policymakers, and industry suppliers. Kathleen M. Roberts, Executive...

The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) is now accepting nominations for the George Washington Carver Award and the Rosalind Franklin Award, both recognizing leadership in the field of industrial biotechnology. Nominations are being accepted through February 26, 2015, and the recipients will be presented with the awards at the BIO World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology from July 19-22, 2015, in Montreal. The Biobased and Renewable Products Advocacy Group (BRAG®) is proud to once again...

On February 17, 2015, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) published in the Federal Register a Notice of Open Meeting for the Biomass Research and Development Technical Advisory Committee (the Committee). The Committee plans to meet on March 5, 2015, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and March 6, 2015, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Marriott Wardman Park in Washington, D.C. The agenda includes updates on the Biomass Research and Development Initiative, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and DOE...

? Domestic Fuel, "New President for Poet-DSM Joint Venture" ? Packaging Europe, "The Future of Corrosion Protection with Nature's Best" ? Biobased Industries Consortium, "Newly-formed Bioeconomy Alliance Calls for EU Action" ? eLife Sciences, "Expanding Xylose Metabolism in Yeast for Plant Cell Wall Conversion to Biofuels" ? ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, "A New Class of Bio-Based Paper Dry Strength Agents: Synthesis and Characterization of Soy-Based Polymers" ? Business Standard,...

REGISTER FOR ABLC 2015 by Friday, February 13, 2015, for discounted rates. The Advanced Bioeconomy Leadership Conference 2015 (ABLC 2015), to be held March 11-13, 2015, at the Capital Hilton in Washington, D.C., is the gathering point for top leaders in the Advanced Bioeconomy -- bringing together the entire spectrum of advanced fuels, chemicals, and materials CEOs and senior executives, business development, R&D leaders, strategic partners, financiers, equity analysts,...

? HeraldOnline.com, "Scarcity of Non-Renewable Resources Will Open-up Huge Opportunities for the Global Bio-Ketones Market by 2019: TechNavio" ? Biomacromolecules, "A Bio-Based Alternative to the Diglycidyl Ether of Bisphenol A with Controlled Materials Properties" ? Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, "Researchers Produce Two Biofuels from a Single Algae" ? CNN Money, "Gevo Announces Proposed Public Offering of Common Stock and Warrants" ? Oceanus Magazine, "Jet Fuel from Algae?" ? Newswise,...

On January 27, 2015, BASF left the research and development (R&D) collaboration with Novozymes and Cargill that it had joined in 2012. Novozymes and Cargill have worked to develop a process to produce biobased 3-hydroxypropionic (3-HP) and acrylic acid from renewable materials since 2008. In BASF's absence, the two remaining companies are looking for a third partner for the project. The R&D project has already produced 3-HP in pilot scale and converted 3-HP to glacial acrylic acid and...

The 6th Annual Next Generation Biobased and Sustainable Chemicals Summit took place this week in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Summit was co-located with the InformEx Fine and Specialty Chemical Conference, which provided expanded programming and exposure to a larger audience. Senior executives from Verdezyne, Elevance Renewable Sciences, Lanzatech, Succinity, Novasep, Corbion Purac and more joined with researchers, financiers, and feedstock providers to discuss current developments and challenges...

By Richard E. Engler, Ph.D. In 2014, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and American Chemical Society Green Chemistry Institute® (ACS GCI) renewed their Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), continuing the partnership centered on the Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award. The award cycle returned to its original schedule with the 2015 ceremony set to coincide with the Green Chemistry & Engineering Conference, as it had until 2013. This year the conference will be held on...

On January 16, 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) granted a petition from the Biobased and Renewable Products Advocacy Group (BRAG®) to add "biodiesel" as a chemical category for partial reporting exemption at 40 C.F.R. Section 711.6(b)(2)(iv) under the Chemical Data Reporting (CDR) rule and will be proceeding with a direct final rule to be published later in January. The approved biodiesel category on the partial reporting exemption list will include the following...

Click here for a PDF version of the memorandum. 2015 will be a very interesting year. There are two overarching considerations that will make the year more difficult to predict than merely assuming most of this year's issues will simply be extensions of past issues, with a few new initiatives sprinkled in. First, the new Republican majority in the Senate will change the dynamic between the Executive and Legislative branches. Second, the Obama Administration will begin its lame duck status as it...

? Geneco, "UK's first ever bus to run on human and food waste launched" ? PR Web, "UPC, Myriant and Sojitz Jointly Develop Bio-succinic Acid Based Plasticizers" ? VTT Technical Institute of Finland, "VTT developing an environmentally friendly alternative for polystyrene" ? The Advertiser, "BP to close biofuel plant in Jennings" ? Packaging Digest, "Will there be a run on bio-based packaging materials soon?" ? Power Engineering, "Rivertop Renewables Begins Construction of Commercial Plant" ? NPR,...

Nominations for the 2015 Presidential Green Chemistry Awards are now being accepted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Nominations for the awards are due December 31, 2014, and the final awardees are expected to be announced in July 2015. The Awards cover six categories: academic; small business; greener synthetic pathways; greener reaction conditions; designing greener chemicals; and climate change. EPA allows companies to re-submit past nomination packets as long as the...

Many of the top policymakers, leaders, and stakeholders in the bioeconomy gathered in San Francisco this week for ABLCNext. The Biobased and Renewable Products Advocacy Group's (BRAG®) Executive Director Kathleen Roberts participated in the opening panel of the conference, "US Elections, What Happened, What Now," where she and other trade group leaders discussed likely impacts on the bioeconomy with the swing toward Republicans in federal and state races. Regarding the outlook...

DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) recently announced three new subtopics related to bioenergy under its SBIR and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs: * Design and Fabrication of Solids Handling for Biomass Conversion Systems -- Grant applications are sought for designs, prototype equipment, and procedures that enable continuous biomass solids handling at a cost ten percent lower than currently available. * Low-Cost Coatings for Advanced Thermal...

Article Featured in Industrial Biotechnology Lynn L. Bergeson, Managing Partner of Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®) and Of Counsel with the Biobased and Renewable Products Advocacy Group (BRAG®), Charles M. Auer of Charles Auer & Associates, LLC, and Oscar Hernandez, Ph.D. of Oscar Hernandez & Associates, LLC, have published "Creative Adaptation: Enhancing Oversight of Synthetic Biology Under the Toxic Substances Control Act" in the October...

On October 21, 2014, the Biobased and Renewable Products Advocacy Group (BRAG®) submitted petitions to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requesting that biodiesel fuel manufacturers be granted the same Chemical Data Reporting (CDR) exemptions that petroleum-based diesel manufacturers already receive. BRAG made its petitions through two mechanisms allowed under Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) rules. BRAG's petitioning of EPA was reported in the Bloomberg BNA Daily...

During the next state legislative session, which begins in January, Iowa's Economic Development Agency will reportedly seek approximately $20 million in new incentives for companies that use chemicals derived from ethanol production to produce biobased products. The Agency reportedly believes sufficient incentives exist to promote biofuel development in Iowa. This new incentive would be needed to help further the biobased economy in the State. More information on this effort is available in...

October 16, 2014, was a banner day for green chemistry in the nation's capital with the 2014 Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge awards ceremony, and the Green Chemistry Market Roundtable preceding it. The roundtable included representatives from industry, including the 2014 award winners; EPA and other federal agency officials; and others involved with green chemistry and biobased chemicals and products. BRAG Executive Director, Kathleen Roberts, and Bergeson & Campbell, P.C.'s...

Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®) and The Acta Group (Acta®) are proud to be sponsors, presenters, and/or exhibitors at a select number of special events this Fall that will present focused education and guidance on key issues: WEBINAR -- Regulation of Nanotechnology: Practical Information for Industry, Researchers and Other Stakeholders, October 16, 2014, 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. (EDT) This webinar, presented by the Air & Waste Management Association (A&WMA), will...

The Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs (DMEA) has launched the first edition of a Biobased Packaging catalogue that was compiled by Wageningen UR Food & Biobased Research. The catalogue came about as a result of companies becoming interested in the development and application of bioplastics, especially in the wake of products like the well-known "plant bottle" from Coca Cola. The Biobased Packaging catalogue, published in Dutch, presents a review of the options for using...

On September 25, 2014, Biobased and Renewable Products Advocacy Group (BRAG®) member Malama Composites, Inc. (Malama) announced that its biobased rigid urethane foams won the PortTech Los Angeles Entrepreneur Pitch Competition "Most Innovative Technology" Award while competing against almost 100 other clean technology companies. The foams are part of Malama's groundbreaking, non-toxic, biobased product line which is "cost and performance competitive with petroleum-based...

With the draft initial Priority Product Work Plan now released, it is important for manufacturers, importers, and retailers of consumer products in the categories listed by DTSC in the Work Plan to understand and address any issues. The upcoming Safer Consumer Products Summit, of which BRAG is a proud sponsor, will bring together DTSC staff, brand owners, chemical companies, and industry associations to discuss these developments in sessions including: * "Strategies and Tactics in Response...

Biobased and Renewable Products Advocacy Group (BRAG®) members BASF Corporation (BASF) and Nozoymes announced another milestone in their development of acrylic acid production from renewable raw materials. According to the September 15, 2014, announcement, these two BRAG members, along with Cargill, have successfully converted 3-hydroxypropionic acid (3-HP) to glacial acrylic acid and superabsorbent polymers. This work is a result of the August 2012 joint agreement between BASF, Novozymes,...

BRAG affiliate Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®) is a sponsor of the Prop 65 Clearinghouse Green Chemistry Conference on September 16, 2014, at the Merchants Exchange Building in San Francisco, California. B&C's James V. Aidala will take part in the panel discussion "TSCA Update: Regulatory Life Beyond This Year's Stalled Legislation," and B&C's Lisa R. Burchi will participate in the "Supply Chain: New Pushes by Retailers" session. Other...

On August 19, 2014, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that the Agency is investing $25 million to support 247 businesses throughout the country under the Value-Added Producer Grant program (the program). The program was reauthorized under the 2014 Farm Bill. It is designed to "[help] agricultural producers grow their businesses by turning raw commodities into value-added products, expanding marketing opportunities and developing new uses for existing products."...

On August 5, 2014, Genomatica announced that it will be focusing on developing complete process technologies for the biobased production of major nylon intermediates -- including hexamethylenediamine, caprolactam, and adipic acid (HMD, CPL, and ADA). A copy of Genomatica's press release on this announcement is available online.

On August 1, 2014, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued a final rule on "Guidelines for Designating Biobased Products for Federal Procurement." A copy of the rule is available online. The rule is effective on September 2, 2014. Under the rule, wood products will become eligible under USDA's BioPreferred Program, which was created under the 2002 Farm Bill. The rule removes language that excluded mature markets from the program. This change will open up the program to the...

This week, DOE hosted its seventh annual biomass conference. This year's conference focused on "Growing the Future Bioeconomy." Over 500 attendees from throughout the country and around the world gathered in Washington, D.C. to discuss challenges and opportunities facing the industry. Keynote speakers included U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), David Danielson, Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy from DOE, and Kate Brandt from the Federal Environmental...

On July 30, 2014, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced that it will provide a total of $11.3 million in funding to support DOE's Clean Energy Manufacturing Initiative. The money will go to two projects designed to help facilitate and promote the production of "cost-competitive, high-performance carbon fiber material from renewable, non-food-based feedstocks, such as agricultural residues and woody biomass." Under the projects, the Southern Research Institute of Birmingham,...

As lignin supplies rise on the back of growing cellulosic feedstock utilization, commercialization opportunities of up to $242 billion are emerging in 13 select chemicals, according to a July 10, 2014, news release from Lux Research. Lignin, a component of lignocellulosic biomass and a common byproduct stream from cellulosic conversion processes, has a potential market worth of $242 billion across 13 select products alone, but commercialization of these lignin-derived chemicals such as BTX (a...

In a July 9, 2014, press release, the European Union (EU) announced the launch of seven public-private partnerships, established under the EU's new research funding program Horizon 2020. They represent a total investment of € 19.5 billion into research and innovation over the next seven years, where the EU contribution of € 7.3 billion will unlock a € 12.2 billion investment from the private sector and the Member States. The press release is available online. These...

In a July 16, 2014, announcement, Evonik stated it has closed on an equity investment in Biosynthetic Technologies, LLC (BT), a specialist in biobased lubricants headquartered in Irvine, California. BT has developed and manufactures a new class of biobased synthetic oils called estolides that are used primarily in the passenger car motor oil and industrial lubricant sectors. Field trials have shown that the technical characteristics of the biobased synthetic oils made by BT are exceptionally...

On July 14, 2014, EPA announced recipients of funding to develop and commercialize innovative, sustainable technologies to address current environmental issues. Among the recipients were the following companies pursuing biobased products: * Sustainable Bioproducts, LLC, Bozeman, Montana, for Direct Conversion of Municipal and Agricultural Wastes to Biodiesel and Ethanol Utilizing a Unique Extremophilic Fungus. * Environmental Fuel Research, LLC, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for Biofuel Production...

On July 1, 2014, BRAG members and a number of representatives from EPA held a very productive meeting to discuss specific issues regarding biobased substances and the Chemical Data Reporting (CDR) Rule. To take part in future meetings such as this, contact BRAG Executive Director Kathleen Roberts, kroberts@bc-cm.com, for information on joining BRAG.  

Learn how to pre-screen new chemicals using EPA's models and methods during this hands-on, three-day workshop co-hosted by BRAG, EPA, and George Washington University (GWU) School of Law. You will learn about a variety of tools, methods, and models that can be used to assess the hazard and potential exposure of chemicals early in the development process and anticipate regulatory action before submitting the chemical to EPA for review. Sustainable Futures (SF) graduates can be eligible to...