The latest news about safe, sustainable and bio-based materials and products

Vireo Advisors Celebrates Earth Day: Our Commitment to Sustainability

As Earth Day dawns, we are reminded of the profound significance of our planet's health and the imperative to safeguard it for future generations. Our commitment to enabling a safer and more sustainable economy is unwavering.

Bio-Based, Events, Environment, ESG, Safety, Sustainability, Commercialization, Cultured Meat, Food Innovation, Innovation, LeadershipFiona CaseApril 19, 2024Earth Day, Sustainability

Sustainably Protecting Marine Concrete

Biomineralization can provide a route for sustainably protecting marine concrete: an example of a possible biobased solution for serious commercial challenge that aligns with Vireo’s mission to move our world towards a safer and more sustainable future.

Bio-Based, Environment, Innovation, SustainabilityFiona CaseMarch 1, 2024new sustainable materials

An End to Greenwashing in Europe?

The European Parliament has overwhelmingly approved a new directive that will require sustainability claims to be backed by third-party verification and restricts the use of ecolabels in European member states to those based on official certification schemes and scientific evidence.

Bio-Based, ESG, EnvironmentFiona CaseJanuary 16, 2024

Climate change is a real business risk that can be managed.

In recent weeks we have seen U.S. Senators call climate change ‘ideology’, but overwhelming evidence reveals climate change as a real business risk – one that can, and must, be managed. At Vireo, we are working to gain market and regulatory acceptance of biobased, recycled, and advanced technologies that lower these risks.

Commercialization, Sustainability, Bio-Based, Environment, ESG, Leadership, Markets, Risk AnalysisFiona CaseMarch 13, 2023

New, open-access book highlights opportunities in the forest bioeconomy

Forest Bioeconomy and Climate Change examines how forests, forestry, and forest-based solutions can contribute to the development of a climate- neutral, circular-bioeconomy paradigm.

Environment, Cellulose, Sustainability, PolicyLeslie HockmanOctober 20, 2022forest bioeconomy, Forest Bioeconomy and Climate Change, climate- neutral, circular-bioeconomy, climate-smart forestry, EUComment

European Commission publishes draft proposal to restrict microplastics

This proposal could prohibit the use of microplastics in cosmetics, cleaning products, pesticides, and more--covering sources of microplastics that are preventable.

Environment, Leadership, Policy, Regulation, SafetyLeslie HockmanOctober 11, 2022microplastics, European Commission, microplastics in cosmetics, microplastics in cleaning products, microplastics in pesticides, Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) Committee, amending Annex XVII to the REACH Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006, synthetic polymer microparticlesComment

The road ahead for synthetic chemicals

A new European Commission roadmap reveals future directions for chemical regulation in Europe including maintenance of a rolling list of chemicals considered for risk management measures and grouping of chemically similar substances.

Bio-Based, Environment, Policy, Safety, Risk AnalysisFiona CaseMay 23, 2022synthetic chemicals, European Commission, EU, petroleum, bio-based materials, regrettable substitution, Restrictions Roadmap under the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability, REACH, REACH Registry of Intentions, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substancesComment

Landmark study extols the environmental benefits of novel foods in European diets

How can the world rise to the task of providing healthy and nutritious diets to feed more and more people, in a way that also improves the sustainability of food systems?

Cultured Meat, Environment, Sustainability, Food InnovationPatricia HodgkinsonApril 29, 2022Mazac, Incorporation of novel foods in European diets can reduce global warming potential, water use and land use by over 80%, novel foods, European diets, global food systems, sustainability of food systems, global warming, future foodsComment

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): A Call to Action to End Poverty and Protect our Planet

The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a call to action to end poverty and protect our planet. At Vireo Advisors we continue to support safe commercialization of these sustainable alternatives

Cultured Meat, Environment, Guidance, Bio-Based, Food Innovation, SustainabilityFiona CaseApril 21, 2022EarthDay2022, UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)Comment

Plastic Pollution Gets Personal

For the first time plastic particles have been found in human blood. A paper published by authors from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam in the open access journal Environment International on March 24 reports measurable levels in the blood of 17 out of 22 healthy volunteers.

Environment, Safety, Commercialization, Risk Analysis, Regulation, PolicyFiona CaseApril 7, 2022plastics pollution, plastic particles in human blood, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Environment International, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), polystyrene, Pyrolysis, gas chromatography, Discovery and quantification of plastic particle pollution in human bloodComment