Dear Readers,
In 2018, China banned the import of foreign plastic and electronic waste. This news revealed one of the dirty secrets of the Western world’s garbage—that much of our trash is actually often shipped elsewhere, a little-known fact until China’s ban made headlines. In his astonishing and sobering new book, *Waste Wars: The Wild Afterlife of Your Trash*, Alex Clapp summarizes what wealthy Western countries did next. Many just located desperate new buyers—or unguarded borders—and continued to insist it was recycled. Within months, Greek garbage began appearing in Liberia. Italian garbage was destroying the beaches of Tunisia. Dutch plastic was overwhelming Thailand. Poland created a special police unit to patrol because waste from Germany was crossing its borders. The consumer trade—and its accompanying waste and recycling trade—is enormous. It is estimated that the global trade in waste is larger than the global arms, timber, and wheat trade combined. And not only is the waste trade enormous and growing, it is only marginally legal in most places. While a country like Thailand imposed an admirable ban on plastic waste starting in 2025, many others have not. Recycling and waste are the backbone of the 21st-century consumer economy. Without the yellow trash can, Coke bottles end up somewhere. Without the ability to “recycle” an old and slow smartphone, it becomes less practical to buy new electronics. See the full article in the attachment.
According to the Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (BAFA), a total of just under 2.1 million tons of biodiesel/HVO were used to blend diesel fuel in Germany in 2024, approximately 20.6% less than the previous year, despite the statutory greenhouse gas reduction requirement increasing from 8% to 9.35% compared to 2023. During the same period, bioethanol consumption increased by 5.1 tons to 1,256.7. The UVOP market data are attached.
Many KW readers know a lot about the 15 percent ethanol blends (E15), which have long been proposed and long rejected in the US. Even though higher ethanol blends are commonplace elsewhere around the world.
It’s sustainable. E15 reduces greenhouse gas emissions. It’s renewable.
It’s affordable. Cheaper at the pump. Higher octane for less money. Better for engines and better for the household budget.
It’s reliable. Approved for 96% of cars. Lab-tested. Recommended by regulators.
It’s available. Billions of liters. Millions of tons of feedstock. The infrastructure is ready.
So why does adoption seem so patchy? Why does political momentum keep stalling? Sure, established companies are always skeptical of any change, and sometimes they are influential. Horse breeders weren’t for cars. Paper mills weren’t for the internet. But elsewhere, the future was there, and very fast. Why not for E15? Finally, prices are adjusted, the technology is in place, the raw materials are available and affordable. The producers have the products. Retailers are happy when customers are satisfied. It couldn’t be better. This is the true moment of the bioeconomy, according to the traditional analysis, which we can summarize as follows. Technological Maturity Approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) since 2011 for all vehicles built in 2001 or later – over 96% of the passenger car fleet. Comprehensive testing by the Department of Energy, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and national laboratories on fuel systems, durability, and emissions. More information on E15 will follow in KW 16.
In light of recent public speculation regarding ISCC EU certifications for waste-based biofuels, ISCC sought clear and factual information following a constructive face-to-face meeting with the European Commission (EC) in Brussels on April 4, 2025. It stated that false information from a meeting of the EU Committee on the Sustainability of Biofuels, Bioliquids, and Biomass Fuels on March 26, 2025, had become public. The discussions at the meeting were confidential, according to the rules of procedure. https://www.iscc-system.org/news/update-on-the-recent-discussions-around-iscc-eu-certifications-forwaste-based-biofuels/
Transport and Environment (T&E) has published a briefing on growing concerns about the use of palm oil mill effluent (POME) in EU biofuels, highlighting potential fraud and inconsistencies in reported quantities as part of the shift to waste-based alternatives. According to T&E, over the past decade, EU biofuel policy, which initially promoted palm oil-based fuels, has shifted toward the use of waste materials such as used cooking oil, animal fats, and palm residues, such as palm oil mill effluent (POME). While these changes aim to reduce deforestation associated with biofuel production, there are concerns about the legality of some biofuel imports. A recent report by T&E reveals worrying trends in the use of POME in EU biofuels. It suggests that reported quantities exceed feasible, raising suspicions of fraud. https://www.transportenvironment.org/
Neste has begun producing SAF at its renewable products refinery in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The refinery has been converted to allow Neste to produce up to 500,000 tons of SAF annually, increasing Neste’s global SAF production capacity to 1.5 million tons (approximately 1.875 billion liters) per year. www.neste.com/news/neste-started-producing-sustainable-aviation-fuel-saf-at-its-renewables-refinery-in-rotterdam-the-netherlands
Wheat production in India is expected to exceed the record estimate of 115 tonnes due to good harvest conditions and increased acreage. “Given the current harvest conditions, wheat production is definitely expected to exceed the forecast 115 million tonnes, which is a record even given the current harvest conditions,” said Ratan Tiwari, director of the Indian Institute of Wheat and Barley Research. Tiwari explained that while daytime temperatures in some parts of key wheat-growing regions are a few degrees above normal, cooler nighttime temperatures are favoring crop ripening. Furthermore, there have been no reports of yellow rust this season, the report stated. https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-wheat-production-record-high-115-million-metric-tonnes-9878895/
CVC DIF, the infrastructure strategy of leading global private markets manager CVC, has agreed to acquire 49% of BALANCE Erneuerbare Energien (BALANCE), the biogas subsidiary of Leipzig-based gas company VNG AG (VNG). The investment in BALANCE will be made through the DIF Infrastructure VII (DIF VII) fund and will support the ongoing growth of the business. https://www.cvc.com/media/news/2025/cvc-dif-and-vng-ag-strengthen-the-future-of-balance-through-a-growth-partnership/
MAN Energy Solutions recently signed a framework agreement with COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry Co., Ltd. (CHI) for future collaboration on decarbonization retrofit projects. The new framework agreement envisions the conversion of existing vessels to operate on new alternative fuels such as methane, methanol, and ammonia—all fuels that can be sustainably produced through Power-to-X processes. MAN Energy Solutions will supply advanced engine retrofit technology and digital energy efficiency solutions, while CHI will contribute its extensive EPC (engineering, procurement, and construction) expertise to large-scale ship conversion projects. https://www.man-es.com/company/press-releases/press-details/2025/04/09/cosco-extends-strategic-cooperation
Warradarge Energy Pty Limited announced a strategic partnership with ASX-listed Fenix Resources Limited whereby Fenix’s wholly owned transport logistics company, Newhaul Pty Limited and HW Richardson Group Ltd’s wholly owned technology company, CH2NGE Fuel Technologies will work with Warradarge Energy to trial dual-fuel hydrogen technology to reduce the carbon footprint of Fenix’s haulage operations in Western Australia’s Mid-West region. https://warradarge.com.au/lib/hdl6z5/Warradarge–HWR-Fenix-Announcement—Release-Version-m97w1c8t.pdf
BASF and Forestal de Atlántico S.A. (Spain) have signed an Early Disclosure Agreement (EDA) to advance the production of e-methanol (eMeOH) through carbon capture solutions. As part of this strategic partnership, BASF has been selected to provide its proprietary OASE® blue technology for the efficient removal of CO2 from flue gases to Forestal’s groundbreaking Triskelion project in Galicia, Spain. The Triskelion project is expected to bring about groundbreaking change with a planned capacity of 156 tons of e-methanol per day. The CO2 captured from the exhaust gases of power generation turbines will be converted into e-methanol by reacting it with renewable hydrogen, representing an innovative approach to more sustainable fuel production. https://www.basf.com/basf/www/global/en/media/news-releases/2025/03/p-25-047
The joint venture between Braskem and SCG Chemicals has signed a letter of intent to purchase ethanol from Thai company Mitr Phol Bio Fuel for its new bioethylene plant. This agreement secures Braskem Siam’s raw material supply and reaffirms its commitment to contributing to the development of the local ethanol value chain. https://www.braskem.com.br/usa/news-detail/braskem-siam-and-mitr-phol-bio-fuel-sign-letter-of-intent-for-ethanol-supply-for-upcoming-bio-ethylene-plant-in-thailand
European Energy announced that it has produced the first batch of industrial-grade e-methanol at its Power-to-X plant in Kassø, Denmark. This follows the previous production of crude e-methanol and marks the next step in the commissioning of what the company claims will be the world’s largest commercial e-methanol plant. Designed, built, and commissioned by European Energy’s Power-to-X division, the plant uses renewable electricity and biogenic CO2 to produce carbon-neutral e-methanol, supporting the decarbonization of high-emitting sectors such as shipping and chemical production. The latest batch achieved an audited purity above the industry standard of 99.85%, making it suitable for industrial use, according to European Energy. https://shipandbunker.com/news/emea/792066-european-energy-nears-full-e-methanol-production-with-first-batch-produced
Qantas and Airbus have jointly committed to invest AUD$15 million into Climate Tech Partners (CTP), a leading climate-focused venture capital fund, to support their shared ambition to accelerate the development of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and other aviation decarbonisation technologies. The announcement was made in Sydney by Airbus Chief Sustainability Office Julie Kitcher and Qantas Chief Sustainability Officer Fiona Messent. https://www.startupdaily.net/topic/climate-tech/qantas-and-airbus-tip-15-million-into-vc-climate-tech-partners-for-aviation-emissions-reduction-startups/
The US Trade Representative attacked India and Thailand via the social media platform X, accusing the two countries of unfair trade practices against the US. India bans ethanol imports because it is a major producer and currently blends 20% ethanol into gasoline from its own reserves. This proportion is to be increased in the future. Thailand, on the other hand, does not have an import ban but has not issued an import license for fuel ethanol since 2005. The US Trade Representative also reprimanded eight other countries and trading blocs for their allegedly unfair trade practices. https://www.aninews.in/news/world/us/amid-trump-tariffs-us-trade-representative-highlights-need-to-secure-market-access-for-us-fuel-ethanol-in-india-thailand20250408091806/
The Senators Chuck Grassley and Amy Klobuchar are leading a bipartisan group of 16 senators calling on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to restore the integrity, stability, and growth of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and the U.S. biofuels sector by increasing the Renewable Volume Obligation (RVO) for biomass diesel and advanced biofuels. The EPA under Biden has set RVOs at levels that do not reflect market conditions and production prospects, contributing to the closure of biodiesel plants in the Midwest, the senators said. https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-klobuchar-lead-bipartisan-lawmakers-in-urging-trump-administration-to-restore-rfs-integrity-promote-stable-growth