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#Sustainability

The nova-Institute establishes new Renewable Feedstock Department to lay the groundwork for industrial defossilisation

The transition from fossil-based to renewable carbon – sourced from biomass, CO₂ utilisation and recycling – is the cornerstone of a climate-neutral chemical industry. The nova-Institute’s new department is dedicated to providing the essential data, analyses and strategic roadmaps required to secure a reliable future feedstock supply and make this transition a commercial and ecological reality.


A holistic approach to the carbon feedstock revolution

The Renewable Feedstock department will offer comprehensive services covering the entire value chain, including:

Feedstock Supply & Analysis: Assessing the global and regional availability of all renewable carbon streams to build a robust foundation for the industry. This includes detailed potential analyses of biomass (sugar crops, starch crops, plant oils, lignocellulose, organic waste), CO₂ sources (biogenic and fossil point sources, Direct Air Capture), and recycled carbon (plastic waste, biogenic waste, municipal solid waste).

Market and system transformation: Conducting Material & Carbon Flow Analysis (MFA) to map the carbon economy, alongside market and cost analysis for renewable feedstocks and derived chemicals. A key service are feedstock transition & transformation pathways from specific feedstocks to key chemicals and polymers, supported by technology and innovation scouting for emerging conversion processes.

Strategic advisory services for supply chain resilience: Providing actionable insights on feedstock demand & competition, strategic sourcing, and comprehensive carbon footprint and sustainability assessments for feedstocks. To complete the holistic picture, additional support in regards to policy & regulatory impact analysis and guidance on certification of feedstocks to navigate the evolving legislative landscape.

“The mission of the renewable feedstock department is to shift the focus from ‘why’ to ‘how’, providing the concrete feedstock intelligence that businesses and policymakers urgently require to make significant strides towards defossilisation.” says Christopher vom Berg, Head of the Renewable Feedstock department.

The new department brings together a multidisciplinary team that combines deep scientific and economic expertise. It consists of physicist and nova-Institute founder Michael Carus, biologist Anke Schwarzenberger, agricultural economist Olaf Porc, and psychologist Verena Roberts, ensuring that the department’s work is rooted in both technical rigour and an understanding of market dynamics.

For more information, please contact Christopher vom Berg, Head of Renewable Feedstock Department: christopher.vomberg@nova-institut.de



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#Man-Made Fibers

The updated poster on biodegradable Polymers in various environments has been released

As part of the PerPlacsBio project, nova-Institute has updated its popular poster on the biodegradability of polymers in different environments. The updated version reflects current standards, certifications and the latest scientific findings. The poster can be used to assess biodegradable alternatives for use in agriculture and forestry, and it is now available in German for the first time.

#Recycling / Circular Economy

Advanced Recycling Conference 2026 to showcase innovations – Call for abstracts

The call for abstracts is now open for the Advanced Recycling Conference (ARC) 2026, taking place on 17–18 November 2026 in Cologne, Germany, and online. Europe’s leading platform for advanced recycling brings together hands-on solutions and cutting-edge research on recycling technologies for various waste streams like plastics, polymers, textiles or automotive, highlighting progress towards a circular renewable carbon economy.

#Recycling / Circular Economy

AI Circular Economy Conference 2026 fuels innovation at the intersection of AI and Circular Economy

The AI Circular Economy Conference 2026, organised by nova-Institute, brought together 116 participants from 15 countries in Cologne and online to explore the transformation of the chemical and materials industry supported and accelerated by artificial intelligence. During the two-day event, leading experts from industry, research, start-ups and the investment community discussed how AI can maximise the potential of renewable carbon creating efficient circular value chains. The conference featured 24 presentations and multiple panel discussions, highlighting the growing convergence of digital technologies and circular material systems. It demonstrated how artificial intelligence is progressing from the experimental stage to real industrial implementation within the circular economy.

#Research & Development

Pioneer of the first hour: Michael Carus steps down after more than 30 years from nova-Institute’s Management

After more than three decades at the helm, founder and CEO Michael Carus is set to step down as head of the Renewable Carbon division on 1 March 2026. Lars Börger as the new CEO, will take over this key position of the nova-Institute together with COO Linda Engel, while Carus will remain with the research and consulting company as a senior advisor and shareholder. This change takes place after a one-year transition phase, as planned.

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#Textiles & Apparel / Garment

Catalyst Club launches in Florence: Where conversations become catalysts for change

The first chapter of Catalyst Club debuted in Florence, bringing together creative directors, entrepreneurs, manufacturers, journalists and innovators from across the fashion and textile industry for an evening of dialogue, exchange and connection.

#Sustainability

Renewables lower energy prices and play key role to reduce vulnerability to fossil fuel supply shocks

Renewables lower energy prices and play key role to reduce vulnerability to fossil fuel supply shocks Boosting the use of homegrown renewable electricity is Europe’s best way to reduce its vulnerability to volatile international energy supplies and rising energy prices according to a European Environment Agency (EEA) assessment published today.

#Recycling / Circular Economy

HKRITA signs MoU with Jeanologia and Looptworks to establish the Green Machine Circular Textile Ecosystem

The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA) yesterday officially signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with two key global partners, Jeanologia and Looptworks, to establish the Green Machine Circular Textile Ecosystem – a first-of-its-kind collaboration to accelerate the large-scale recycling of blended textiles.

#Sustainability

Textile Exchange unveils agenda for 2026 conference in Vancouver

Textile Exchange has released the agenda for its 2026 Conference, which will take place from October 12–16 in Vancouver, Canada. Under the theme “The Implementation Era,” the event will focus on translating sustainability commitments into practical action and scaling solutions across businesses, supply systems, and landscapes.

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#Digital Printing

USColorworks expands digital platform with Kornit Atlas MATRIX and Atlas MAX PLUS solutions

Kornit Digital Ltd. (NASDAQ: KRNT), a global pioneer in sustainable, on-demand digital fashion and textile production, today announced that USColorworks, a North Carolina-based apparel decoration and fulfillment company specializing in custom and on-demand printing for retail and promotional markets, has expanded its Kornit digital production platform with the addition of Atlas MATRIX and Atlas MAX PLUS systems to deliver high-quality, on-demand apparel across cotton, blended fabrics and polyester.

#Functional Fabrics

CovationBio introduces two new bio-based innovations at Functional Fabric Fair New York

Covation Biomaterials LLC (“CovationBio®”) is showcasing its two new bio-based innovations, Xatryx® and Sorona® elasterell-p fiber, at this year’s Functional Fabric Fair in New York City, July 7–9, 2026. Attendees can visit CovationBio at Booth #404 to explore this next generation of bio-based performance materials.

#Research & Development

Geotextiles made from recycled materials: GREEN leads the way into the industry

For the industry, recycled materials are creating new opportunities in geotextile production. In the GREEN project, the Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence Circular Plastics Economy CCPE demonstrates that recycled polypro-pylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and high-density polyeth-ylene (HDPE) can be processed into nonwovens, fibers, and membranes that meet industrial requirements. This creates opportunities for use in existing production lines and new value chains in the geotextile market.

#Nonwoven machines

A Penteadora starts up ANDRITZ textile recycling and needlepunch nonwoven lines in Portugal

A Penteadora SA has successfully started up a complete mechanical textile recycling line and a needlepunch nonwoven line supplied by ANDRITZ at its production site in Unhais da Serra, Portugal. This investment enables A Penteadora to expand its industrial capabilities and develop a new generation of solutions based on pre- and post-consumer recycled textiles. The input materials originate from its own production waste and other textile waste streams. Both lines are fully operational, and the first products are expected to reach the market in July.

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