The green chemistry in Emmen is getting a boost from the province of Drenthe and the municipality of Emmen. Both parties invest 200,000 euros, the company network Suspacc supplements that amount to almost half a million euros.
In the Green Chemistry Cluster in Emmen, companies, educational institutions and governments work together to develop green and circular chemistry. For example, research is being conducted into how polyester from waste clothing and carpet waste can be recycled and whether sugars can be a substitute for petroleum in the manufacture of plastic. In order to further develop these types of projects, the province and municipality are once again making money, after the same investment was made last year.
Grow
According to the parties involved, the investments are bearing fruit. Investment by companies, with the help of EU grants, has increased from €2 million to €14 million over the past six years. The green chemical sector in Southeast Drenthe accounts for 350 full-time jobs.
“It is good to see that the developments of companies in the green chemistry and related manufacturing industry in Emmen continue to grow,” says de Emmer alderman Guido Rink. “We can further strengthen these developments by making connections with education, for example in the Regiocampus.”
Drenthe deputy Henk Brink is also happy with the developments in the sector. “The companies in the cluster provide groundbreaking innovations that contribute to the development towards a circular economy within and beyond our national borders,” he says. “The province of Drenthe is investing 200,000 euros in the Green Chemistry Taskorce to further strengthen the cluster in South-East Drenthe in the coming period.”
The task force is of great importance to the companies of Suspacc (Sustainable Polymer and Chemicals Cluster). It forms the connecting link between companies, education and governments.