The German company AMSilk has developed a process that enables bacteria to produce the protein that spiders use to spin their threads. These ten steps can turn spider silk into a blouse
Microbiome
Probiotics: Spore solution
Evonik’s latest probiotic feed additive not only keeps poults healthy; its use in poultry farming makes an important contribution to the fight against antibiotic resistance. How Ecobiol® Pro is produced and why it benefits people around the world
Hydrogen
A Fine Advantage
Green hydrogen is seen as a great hope for the energy sector in the future. A team from Evonik has put a pilot plant into operation in which new high-performance membranes for water electrolysis are now being produced on a large scale. These hold the key to more cost-efficient production of green hydrogen, which industry needs as a building block for decarbonization, and for energy independence as well
Circularity
Cracked Plastic
More plastic is to be recycled worldwide. Pyrolysis, which is the liquefaction of plastic waste, creates new possibilities here. Evonik offers additives and technologies that improve the quality of pyrolysis oil in a manner that makes it suitable for the production of polymers
Pharma
Perspective on RNA therapeutics, LNPs, and what comes next
Synthetic messenger RNA has revolutionized the development of medicines. While the focus has so far been infectious diseases, attention is now also turning to cancer and rare diseases. A key factor lies in the delivery systems
Lipid Nanoparticles
An Ecosystem for Lipid Nanoparticles
Why Evonik established a presence in Vancouver and Cambridge: to be close to cutting-edge science, innovative startups, and the next breakthroughs in RNA delivery
Biosolutions
Smooth As Silk
Silk has fascinated mankind for thousands of years. Now the precious fiber can be redefined biotechnologically. Together with the company AMSilk, Evonik uses fermentation to manufacture the precursor for a high-performance fiber modeled on nature
Health & Wellbeing
Take a Closer Look
Take a moment to explore Evonik’s innovative solutions—for contact lens wearers and beyond.
Evonik’s latest probiotic feed additive not only keeps poults healthy; its use in poultry farming makes an important contribution to the fight against antibiotic resistance. How Ecobiol® Pro is produced and why it benefits people around the world
Circularity
Cracked Plastic
More plastic is to be recycled worldwide. Pyrolysis, which is the liquefaction of plastic waste, creates new possibilities here. Evonik offers additives and technologies that improve the quality of pyrolysis oil in a manner that makes it suitable for the production of polymers
Hydrogen
A Fine Advantage
Green hydrogen is seen as a great hope for the energy sector in the future. A team from Evonik has put a pilot plant into operation in which new high-performance membranes for water electrolysis are now being produced on a large scale. These hold the key to more cost-efficient production of green hydrogen, which industry needs as a building block for decarbonization, and for energy independence as well
Hydrogen
“We need more planning security”
The market for green hydrogen is developing more slowly than expected in Germany and Europe. Dr.-Ing. Ann-Kathrin Klaas from the Institute of Energy Economics at the University of Cologne explains how government regulation and innovative technology can help ensure things pick up speed again
Circularity
One more round
In chemical recycling of plastics, the quality of the resulting pyrolysis oil is crucial. The purer the product, the more opportunities it offers for further processing. This is how the cycle works.
Mercury—A Metal in Motion. Today, due to its toxicity to humans, it is largely confined to niche applications. In the past, it was used not only in thermometers but also in the making of remarkable mirrors—a technique Steffen Noack initially had to teach himself.
“This Blue Is Divine!”
A blue with a history spanning more than a thousand years, made unique by brominated compounds: For the Ptil Tekhelet Association in Jerusalem, it is indispensable for producing the Jewish prayer shawl in the traditional way—the only organization in the world that does so. Physicist and electrical engineer Baruch Sterman explains the background.
"We want to build the most accurate clock in the world"
Time is no longer measured solely in human dimensions. Atomic clocks control and regulate time more accurately than humans ever could. The Vienna University of Technology now wants to go one step further and base clocks on the atomic nucleus.
Hydrogen from the biorefinery
At the Evonik site in Rheinfelden, on the border with Switzerland, hydrogen is produced in an unconventional way.
INTERVIEW
Circularity
"High-quality feedstock is essential "
As the circular economy takes shape, pyrolysis is viewed in the plastics sector as a promising pathway to repurpose mixed or contaminated plastic waste. In this interview, Nirav Shah, Global Director Re-refining & Re-cycling at Evonik, explains where this development stands today.
Hydrogen
“We need more planning security”
The market for green hydrogen is developing more slowly than expected in Germany and Europe. Dr.-Ing. Ann-Kathrin Klaas from the Institute of Energy Economics at the University of Cologne explains how government regulation and innovative technology can help ensure things pick up speed again
Interview
"Climate change mitigation must be fun"
Climate change mitigation and nature conservation are currently having a hard time: The economy is weakening, the geopolitical situation is fragile, and major players such as the United States are pulling back. Climate researcher Mojib Latif and conservationist Myriam Rapior discuss the consequences for global warming and biodiversity loss
Interview
“Things Don’t Look Bad for Europe”
Compared to Chinese competitors, European companies often find it difficult to bring innovations to market quickly. Jörg Wuttke, long-standing head of the European Chamber of Commerce in Beijing, explains how European companies can catch up—and why Europe can benefit from the discord between China and the USA
Mobility
Why Europe Lags in EV Shift
According to Maximilian Fichtner, it’s only a matter of time before gasoline- and diesel-powered vehicles will be replaced by electric cars. In this interview, the renowned battery expert explains why Chinese storage technology is faster and more powerful—and why Europe is in danger of missing the boat
The German company AMSilk has developed a process that enables bacteria to produce the protein that spiders use to spin their threads. These ten steps can turn spider silk into a blouse
Biosolutions
Smooth As Silk
Silk has fascinated mankind for thousands of years. Now the precious fiber can be redefined biotechnologically. Together with the company AMSilk, Evonik uses fermentation to manufacture the precursor for a high-performance fiber modeled on nature
Care & Cosmetics
Where the Race Is Hard—but the Care Is Soft
A research and development team in Shanghai has created a new cosmetic emulsifier for the Chinese market. Its desired performance is based on a byproduct of rice production.
Biosolutions
Spicy solution: Some like it hot
What sounds like a culinary experiment is applied science for animal nutrition. Natural heat from chili could help prevent nutrient deficiencies in cows during early lactation and under summer heat stress.
Care & Cosmetics
Ahead of the Trend
Long before sustainability became a societal trend, Evonik introduced the first enzymatically produced emollients to the market. Today, they are in high demand in the cosmetics industry.
Consumables
Good Scent, Good Feel, Good for the Environment
Tony Liu and his team have developed a transparent fabric softener for the Asian market that eliminates the use of solvents. After intensive research and development, they achieved a breakthrough: a particularly eco-friendly and cost-effective product.
Care & Cosmetics
“We share the same vision”
L’Oréal is the world’s leading cosmetics manufacturer. Guillaume Climeau, the company’s Head of Business Development and Alliance Management for R&I Open Innovation, explains what sustainability and the tripartite collaboration with Abolis and Evonik mean for L’Oréal.
Care & Cosmetics
Cultivating relationships
Cosmetics don’t just make us look and feel good, they are increasingly eco-friendly too. Through innovation, partnerships and acquisitions, Evonik is reinforcing its focus on biobased ingredients and sustainable production. Now, with beauty giant L’Oréal, the company has invested in the French startup Abolis, which uses biotechnology to produces molecules for care products.
Biosolutions
Benefiting from the Tree of Life
The fruit of the African baobab tree serves as an important source of income for the local population and provides broad benefits beyond Africa—as a superfood and as an ingredient in skin and hair care products.
Nutrition
New Source of Natural Nutrients
Veramaris' algae oil is a sustainable source of valuable omega-3 fatty acids. Initially, several hurdles had to be overcome. However, the team was not discouraged by these challenges. Today, Veramaris is one of the fastest-growing biosolutions at Evonik.
