The six candidates for the innovation award ‘Bio-based Material of the Year 2019’ have been announced, with the winners to be selected at the 12th International Conference on Bio-based Materials in Cologne, Germany, on 15-16 May 2019.

The final candidates were whittled down from 21 to six new materials and innovative products by the conference advisory board. Following a short presentation by each candidate at the conference, the three winners will be voted for by conference participants and given the innovation award at the conference dinner buffet.

The candidates are:

Aakar Innovations Pvt. Ltd. (India): Anandi Eco+ – 100 per cent compostable sanitary pads.

CARBIOLICE SAS (France): EVANESTO – plastic additive that speeds up biodegradability and compostability of bio- or compostable plastics.

Golden Compound GmbH (Germany): HOMEcap – home compostable coffee capsules made out of sunflower seed husk.

Scion – New Zealand Forest Research Institute Ltd. (New Zealand): LIGATE – bio-adhesive technology.

Spinnova Oy (Finland): Spinnova – sustainable textile fibre made from cellulose.

Stora Enso (Finland/Sweden): Lineo – a renewable, non-toxic substance made from lignin extracted from wood that can be used as an alternative to fossil-based additives in applications such as resin.

You can find out more about the 12th International Conference on Bio-based Materials, including a programme, on the conference website.