The economic and environmental benefits of bio-based and biodegradable products and materials Dr Jen Vanderhoven Chief Operating Officer, Bio-based and Biodegradable Industries Association (BBIA)
Talk summary As greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise, driven by human consumption, so does the temperature of the planet. This is causing disease, food shortages, fuel poverty and a loss of biodiversity. We simply cannot afford to keep digging up fossil resources and releasing more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. The transition towards bio-based and biodegradable products and materials offers significant economic and environmental benefits. These materials, derived from renewable biological sources like plants, algae, or microorganisms, have the potential to replace traditional fossil-based products and contribute to a more sustainable and circular economy. These solutions will help to tackle global challenges and to create opportunities in the production of agri-foods, chemicals, materials, energy and fuel, as well as in health and the environment.
Biography Jen graduated from the University of Sheffield, with a first-class Masters of Biological Sciences in 2004 and a PhD in Biochemistry in 2007. Over a 20-year progressive career in biotechnology, spanning both higher education and the commercial sector, Jen has held roles in R&D, sales and marketing, business development, and business change and transformation. Jen is the COO of the Bio-based and Biodegradable Industries Association (BBIA), that champions the industrial bioeconomy to accelerate the development and adoption of bio-based and biodegradable materials and products through advocacy, collaboration, and education. Jen also runs her own consultancy, FREY, providing expert advice to clients in the biotech sector.
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