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News from Abroad

E-COMMERCE STORE
Circa launches online platform for researchers

to source its bio-based levoglucosenone and

derivatives

Australia-based biotechnology 1,000 kgs per month
company, Circa Group, who pro- of LGO-based pro-
duces bio-based platform chemical ducts. Its develop-
levoglucosenone (LGO) from waste ing product portfolio
cellulose, has announced a new includes, flavours,
e-commerce shop (https://circa- bio-polymers, and
group.myshopify.com/) which en- bio-solvents includ-
ables LGO and some of its deriva- ing Cyrene, an al-
tives to be directly purchased for ternative to tradi-
research and discovery purposes. tional polar aprotic
solvents, which is
LGO is a building block with produced in one step
applications in a wide range of from LGO.
areas, such as pharmaceuticals, bio-
based polymers and the flavours & Circa is currently
fragrances industries. Until recent- setting up a new
ly, many LGO-based products were plant to produce
only available on a very small scale 1,000-tpa of Cyrene.
with little proven technology to Located in Eastern
synthesise them on a larger scale. France, engineering
work has recently
Circa’s prototype plant in Tas- begun and the estimat-
mania, Australia uses the patented ed commissioning
Furacell process to produce around date is end of 2022.

OLEOCHEMICALS
BASF reports progress in sourcing 100% certified

sustainable palm kernel oil

German chemical major and lead- gress reaching its ‘Palm Commit-
ing supplier of cosmetics ingredients, ment’, first published in 2011 and ex-
BASF, has launched the fourth edi- tended in 2015, procuring all oils only
tion of its ‘Palm Progress Report’ fea- from RSPO-certified sources by 2020.
turing figures for 2019. One of BASF’s In addition, BASF was able to achieve
key renewable raw materials is palm traceability for 90% of its global palm
kernel oil and its primary derivatives, footprint of 382,000-tonnes back to
which are mainly used to produce the oil mill level in 2019.
ingredients for the cosmetics, deter-
gent and cleaner industries, as well as The ‘Palm Progress Report’ fea-
in human nutrition. tures the company’s palm commit-
representing around 83.5% of the ment as well as palm sourcing policy
During the past year, the com- company’s total volume – a plus of and its approach to include small-
pany purchased 140,400-tonnes of almost 14% compared to 2018. With holder farmers and was first pub-
certified sustainable palm kernel oil, this, the company made further pro- lished for the year 2016.
Home, Personal & Institutional Care India November 2020 23