Sustainable plastics are becoming increasingly more important in reducing CO2 emissions and environmental pollution. That makes it an interesting field of study for students on both sides of the German-Dutch border. It is therefore not surprising that two universities of applied sciences – NHL Stenden in Emmen in the Netherlands and the Hochschule Osnabrück in Germany – jointly established an exchange programme that familiarises students with circular plastics: the ‘Basic Principles of Plastics Technology’ study programme.

IST Green Chemicals has advanced plans for a plant in Terneuzen in the Province of Zeeland in the Netherlands, where bio-ethanol and chemicals will be produced from sugar beets. These can be used to produce bio-fuels, but can also serve as feedstock for green chemical building blocks. During a webinar on 25 March, organised by the DSD parent company IST Green Chemicals and the Wageningen University & Research (WUR) Application Centre for Renewable Resources (ACRRES), this topic was explored in-depth.

The world of the circular biobased economy has grown from a niche market to a broad, knowledge-driven industry in which major innovative players are active and enormous commercial interests are at stake. This calls for a broader view and a faster and more varied range of news. That is why Agro&Chemistry will go completely digital in 2021.