Recap on FUELGAE articipation at the “Highlights of the bio-based industry” event

On the 2nd of December, FUELGAE participated at the “Highlights of the bio-based industry” in Vienna.

The event gathered more than 70 key Austrian stakeholders in the dynamic fields of biorefineries and the innovative use of renewable raw materials. This included innovators and researchers, policymakers, industry leaders and entrepreneurs to talk and discuss the future of bio-based raw materials and plastics. The variety of topics and the lively discussions once again demonstrated the relevance of this topic for industry, society and politics.

The event was hosted in Austrian Federal Economic Chamber and organised by the Association of the Austrian Chemical Industry (FCIO), the Austrian Society for Environment and Technology (ÖGUT), the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) and the Federal Ministry for Climate Protection, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation & Technology (BMK).

The speakers emphasized that the transformation towards a sustainable plastics industry has not only a technical but also a social dimension. Global plastics production will triple by 2050 and a variety of technologies is particularly important in order to make the chemical industry regenerative in the long term. This includes three essential pillars:

  • Recycling to reuse plastic materials.
  • Direct air capture and CCU (carbon capture and utilization) to extract carbon from the atmosphere.
  • Biomass as a renewable raw material source.

Lively panel discussion

The subsequent panel discussion turned out to be a highlight of the event. The audience raised numerous questions and ensured an intensive exchange. A central theme was the challenge of making sustainability attractive to consumers, who are currently often unwilling to pay higher prices. Communication was identified as key, but the participants also encountered the limits of what can be communicated in a media world of short attention spans.

The discussion showed that the bio-based industry not only needs technological innovations, but also new approaches in communication and consumer education to strengthen social acceptance.

FUELGAE booth at the Highlights of the bio-based industry

FUELGAE communication lead RTDS Association further represented the project with an exhibition booth. The FUELGAE booth showcased key project materials, including the flyer, the roll-up banner and the project animation. The FUELGAE responsible for project communication, Filoklis Pileidis from RTDS Association, informed stakeholders attending the EVENT about recent progress made in the project. He also outlined the next steps for FUELGAE for the upcoming years. Stephen Webb, CEO of RTDS Association presented also the project to the Austrian stakerholders.

The event once again made it clear that the bio-based industry plays a key role in the transformation to a sustainable economy. The projects presented, visionary keynotes and the lively discussion provided valuable impulses and suggestions for future development. It remains crucial to further expand the cooperation between science, industry and society in order to shape the transition to a regenerative future.

All photos © 2024 RTDS Association

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