Outreach Activities of the Dutch Bioeconomy Hub
Bioplastics from Sugar Beets – the Video
In March 2020 the video of our Dutch regional bioeconomy hub was published! In this movie we follow the valorisation process from sugar beets to the intermediate product of PLA (Poly Lactic Acid) and the 3D printing techniques to process PLA into different bioplastic products. In the Emmen region, various facilities and initiatives have been started for new biobased applications based on sugars extracted from plants. Emmen is specialized in the production of biobased yarns, for example for use in horticulture.
Watch the second episode of our bioeconomy video series by clicking on the link!
Sustainable Plastics & Materials Expo – Emmen
The Dutch hub will participate in the first Chemport Sustainable Plastics and Materials Expo, organized in the North of the Netherlands. The expo was originally planned for April, but will be postponed to November due to corona virus. This large, international event will take place in Emmen. The focus is on bio-based and circular economy. The expo focuses on two main objectives:
- Realizing business opportunities in circular & bio-based chemistry by creating new collaborations and interacting networks;
- Showing, stimulating and promoting the northern circular & bio-based chemical sector (Chemport Europe: Chemical Cluster Emmen & Chemical Cluster Delfzijl and the Circular Friesland Association).
Next to the conference and the Exhibition for professionals, there will be 2 domes set up, in the middle of the City Center of Emmen, to inform the general public about the subject and the ambitions and developments of Emmen. BLOOM will be present in one of the domes and will present a Gallery Walk and the movie about Emmen. In the Gallery Walk BLOOM will inform people about the bioeconomy by using the Key Messages and the visuals made by the project team. We will also present the definition of the Bioeconomy and we will show the valorisation routes of 3 types of biomass: wood, sugars and fibres, by showing the intermediate products and the potential applications in a wide range of consumer products.
Outreach activity: Masterclass
We will have our Masterclass on 8th or 15th June (to be confirmed) in Emmen. The target group is the tourist and recreation sector, to inform about the perspective of bioeconomy and to support them by exploring the possibility to use biobased alternatives. There will be a Bus tour along 3 sights:
- The visitor center of Staatsbosbeheer, the National organisation on forestry and nature management. There will be an introduction on biomass production and valorisation.
- The regional cultural heritage Center, masterclass by Harriëtte Bos (Wageningen Research) will present the perspectives of the bioeconomy and the BLOOM project
- A sustainable campsite; Masterclass of Jan Jager, NHL Stenden. The regional perspective of biobased economy and innovations
The bus will finish at NHL Stenden where a market place will be held. Different BLOOM outreach materials, like the gallery walk and the movie, will be shown. Four entrepreneurs will have a pitch with their ideas on bioeconomy
Remco Kranendonk, Wageningen University & Research
