In Germany, six candidates were nominated for the Innovation Award “Bio-based Material of the Year 2018” by nova-Institut GmbH. The award is granted each year to the young, innovative bio-based chemicals and materials industry for finding suitable applications and new markets for their products. The “Top 6” candidates include Spain-based AIMPLAS for their bio-based and biodegradable nets for green beans, Finland-based Arctic Biomaterials Oy for their PLA reinforced with glass fibre that erodes back to harmless minerals in composting environment, Norway-based Borregaard for creating Exilva, the world’s first commercially available cellulose fibril, Belgium-based Cardolite Corporation for their Cashew nutshell residual-based blocking agent, Germany-based Rhenoflex GmbH for developing Rx 35, a rice husk filled, thermoplastic material for easy handicraft work, and USA-based Ohio Soybean Council, collaborating with Roof Revivers, for creating Roof Maxx, a soybean-based roof material sealer.
Three winners will be elected by conference participants at the “11th International Conference on Bio-based Materials”, 15-16 May 2018 in Cologne, Germany, and each winner will receive a prize.