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The Innovation Award Bio-based Material of the Year 2016 was awarded to three firms for their innovative materials: Belgium’s Orineo BVBA for its Touch of Nature™ filled bio-based resin for stimulating biomaterials, and Germany’s Evonik Nutrition & Care GmbH for a sophorolipid-type biosurfactant, and Covestro Deutschland AG for Impranil®eco, a bio-based waterborne polyurethane dispersions for textile coatings.
The competition—sponsored by InfraServ GmbH & Co. Knapsack KG, a service provider for the planning, construction and operation of plants and sites—focused on new developments in the bio-based economy. The winners were selected at the ninth International Conference on Bio-based Materials in Cologne, Germany. Some 200 participants, mainly from the industry and representing 25 countries, met in Cologne to discuss the latest developments in the sector; 24 companies presented products and services at the exhibition.
Covestro Deutschland AG’s Impranil®eco bio-based waterborne polyurethane dispersions for textile coatings raises the content of renewable resources in polyurethane dispersions (PUDs) up to 65 percent. This makes new levels of sustainability possible for PU synthetic materials (footwear, garment, accessories, and it is now possible to produce coated textiles with high performance and low content of fossil-based raw materials in each layer.
The award website has more information on the nominated candidates and winners.