From the farmer's field to your compost heap: how
bioplastics will reduce waste
French press release:
http://www.europabio.org/upload/documents/150104/press_release_fr.pdf
Dutch press release:
http://www.europabio.org/upload/documents/150104/press_release_nl.pdf
Brussels, January 15th 2004:
Today the Royal Belgian Academy Council of Applied Science (BACAS)
publishes a report showing how biological production processes (white
biotechnology) can create the sustainable products that are good for people,
planet and profit. The reports says white biotechnology is becoming a main
contributor to green chemistry, where renewable resources such as sugars or
vegetable oils are converted into a wide variety of fine and bulk chemicals,
pharmaceuticals, biocolorants, solvents, bioplastics, vitamins, food additives,
biopesticides, enzymes and biofuels such as bioethanol and biodiesel. "We
welcome the Academy's report which we hope will better inform politicians
and the public about how industrial biotech products offer significant
ecological benefits and frequently show technical performance benefits," says
Hugo Schepens, Secretary General of EuropaBio, the European association
for bioindustries.
Bioplastics - a case in hand...
Bioplastics, for example, made from sugars or vegetable oils rather than from
fossil resources such as petroleum, can be easily discarded with the rest of
organic waste and left to decompose on the compost heap, eliminating the
need for expensive recycling or waste disposal by burning or landfill. If
bioplastics were used in Europe to meet our disposable packaging needs, this
might reduce waste by 15 million tons per year, representing a volume
equivalent to that of about 20,000 olympic swimming pools. Moreover, instead
of filling up our landfills, valuable compost would be generated, to the benefit
of our gardens and agriculture.
Other white biotech products...
Today, almost all antibiotics and a large part of our pharma drugs are made
by fermentation processes, as are vitamins, organic acids, amino acids,
ethanol, sweeteners, enzymes, etc.
White biotechnology has turned into a key competitiveness factor for the
chemical industry. Europe is the world's most important chemicals producer,
employing about 1.7 million people in some 25,000 chemical companies. At
present, about 5 % of all products from the chemical industry involve
biotechnological processes and this percentage is expected to jump to
between 10 - 20 % by the year 2010 and further increase thereafter. The
penetration of industrial biotechnology is largest in the segment of fine
chemicals, where it is expected to reach 30 to 60% by 2010.
From renewable raw materials...
Industrial biotechnology typically uses renewable raw materials such as sugar
beets, wheat or corn instead of fossil resources such as petroleum, natural
gas and coal. "Whereas the price for fossil resources such as petroleum will
continue to go up, agricultural raw materials are becoming increasingly
cheaper. Contrary to common belief, we have now reached the point where
renewable raw materials are only half as expensive as their fossil
counterparts. The only limitation is the technology to efficiently convert these
renewable raw materials into useful products and industrial biotechnology is
the key technology in that respect" says Dr Wim Soetaert, Ghent University,
one of the report's authors.
As for energy and petrol ...
About 85% of our energy needs come from fossil resources, one of the main
contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. "Kyoto now obligates us to reduce
our greenhouse gas emissions by 2010. This means that in the next 6 years,
Belgium needs to reduce its emissions by about 14% to meet the Kyoto
target," says Dr Soetaert. Renewable energy can play a key role in that
respect. Up to now renewable energy sources cover only 5.8% of the total
energy consumption in the EU. Car fuel accounts for the EU's greatest
dependence on fossil fuels. The Commission wants biofuels to make up
5.75% of total engine fuel consumption in Europe by 2010. Today that
percentage is just 0.3%. Agricultural crops (biomass) could again replace
fossil fuels, and be converted in biorefineries into bioethanol, biogas or
biodiesel. Bioethanol is obtained from sugar beet, wheat or corn by
fermentation and can be used in mixtures with petrol by normal cars.
Biodiesel is produced from vegetable oils such as rape seed oil and can be
mixed without any problem with normal diesel fuel.
"To meet the Commission aims, some 9.3 million tons of bioethanol will need
to be produced in Europe in 2010, requiring about 3.7 million ha of wheat and
sugar beet. This figure should be compared with the 5.6 million ha of set aside
farmland, for which the EU pays farmers to produce absolutely nothing," says
Dr Erick Vandamme, Ghent University, and co-author of the report. "Industrial
biotechnology can contribute significantly to the sustainable development of
our society and at the same time create new markets for common agricultural
crops."
What recommendations?
In view of the strategic importance of industrial biotechnology for the future of
Europe and Belgium, and the lack of a consistent policy in this area, the
Academy proposes a number of policy recommendations directed towards
industry, European and national authorities.
The Academy stresses that industrial biotechnology is an application-oriented
and multidisciplinary scientific domain that integrates several disciplines such
as microbiology, chemistry, molecular biology, biocatalysis, fermentation as
well as environmental and engineering sciences. The development of this
technology should be promoted by applied research programmes that bring
together these disciplines and are specifically directed towards industrial
biotechnology.
The academy particularly points at the difference with the US that is presently
investing heavily into industrial biotechnology research programs: "Europe is
not doing enough to develop this new technology and the European chemical
sector may quickly lose the dominant position it still enjoys today". A number
of other political and fiscal measures, such as detaxation of bio-fuels are
particularly urgent in all European countries.
The Academy recommends the creation of a "technology platform for
industrial biotechnology", both at national and at European level. This should
include all stakeholders in order to develop a long-term vision and strategy for
industrial biotechnology. This must ensure that the European Commission,
the national governments, the industry and the academic world can cooperate fruitfully towards the common goal: the sustainable development of
our society.
Belgium to take the initiative...
The Belgian University of Ghent was the first to successfully discover plant
genetic engineering; Belgium now wants to lead the way on white
biotechnology. Belgian Minister for the Economy, Energy, Foreign Trade and
Science Policy Fientje Moerman, supports the creation of a Belgian
Interdisciplinary Platform for Industrial Biotechnology (BIPIB)...
"This is excellent news. It will help the Belgian chemical industry to adopt the
latest technologies and so keep the sector as one of the leading industries in
our economy" says Dirk Carrez, Secretary General of BelgoBiotech, the
Belgian Biotechnology Industry association which is part of Fedichem (the
Belgian Chemical Industry Association). "Let's also hope that other member
states will follow Belgium's lead and forge links with scientists who are able to
develop the cutting edge industrial biotechnology processes that we need."
For further information, contact
Press pack can be downloaded from
http://www.europabio.org/pages/news/ne_150104.asp
Adeline Farrelly
EuropaBio
Main Tel : +32 2 735 0313 Direct Tel: +32 2 739 1174 Mobile: +32 475 93 17
24
e-mail: a.farrelly@europabio.org website: http://www.europabio.org
Dr. Wim Soetaert
Ghent University
Tel. +32 92 64 60 83
Fax +32 92 64 62 31
e-mail : wim.soetaert@UGent.be
Dr. Dirk Carrez
BelgoBiotech
Tel: +32 2 238 98 47 Fax: +32 2 231 13 01
Email: dcarrez@fedichem.be
Notes to Editors
About the Royal Belgian Academy Council of Applied Science
The Royal Belgian Academy Council of Applied Science (BACAS) is a
steering committee created by the Belgian academies of science (Académie
royale des Sciences, des Lettres et des Beaux-Arts de Belgique and
Koninklijke Vlaamse Academie van België voor Wetenschappen en Kunsten.
http://www.cfwb.be/arb/home.htm
www.kvab.be
About EuropaBio
EuropaBio, the European Association for Bioindustries, has 35 corporate
members operating worldwide and 23 national biotechnology associations
representing some 1200 small and medium sized enterprises involved in
research and development, testing, manufacturing and distribution of
biotechnology products.
www.europabio.org
About BelgoBiotech
BelgoBiotech was created in 1992 as a professional section within Fedichem
(The Federation of the Belgian Chemical Industries), and represents the most
important biotech companies in Belgium.
http://www.belgobiotech.be
Further resources on white biotechnology
EuropaBio resource page
http://www.europabio.org/pages/white_biotech.asp
Bioprocesses can be route to sustainable future, say studies
http://www.europabio.org/pages/ne_wb_100403.asp
BelgoBiotech web site
http://www.belgobiotech.be/code/page.cfm?id_page=45&lang=EN
OECD report - the application of biotechnology to industrial sustainability
http://oecdpublications.gfi-nb.com/cgibin/OECDBookShop.storefront/EN/product/932001061P1
Adeline FARRELLY
Communications Manager
EuropaBio
Avenue de l'Armée, 6
Legerlaan, 6
B - 1040 Brussels
Tel : +32.2.735 03 13
Mob: + 32 475 93 17 24
Fax : +32.2.735 49 60
email : a.farrelly@europabio.org
Website : www.europabio.org