bioCircular Loop

Melina Gerdts

bioCircular Loop is the podcast about success stories, innovation and newest developments in the European circular Bioeconomy. It aims to educate, inform and inspire listeners with content about how circular bioeconomy presents the answer to humanity's greatest societal challenges, especially climate change and resource depletion. The podcast hosts the people that are driving this industrial bio-revolution, each episode deep-dives into a different organisation, industry and technology.

  1. A Pitch Perfect Miniseries | #6 From barrel to butanol: making green chemicals with whiskey waste ft. Celtic Renewables

    6H AGO

    A Pitch Perfect Miniseries | #6 From barrel to butanol: making green chemicals with whiskey waste ft. Celtic Renewables

    Recorded live at the Pitch Perfect Bioeconomy event in Brussels, this episode features Martin Tangney, Founder & President of Celtic Renewables, one of Europe’s most established bio-based scale-up stories. Celtic Renewables takes biological residues from the Scottish whisky industry and turns them into high-value, low-carbon chemicals like acetone and butanol, the essential building blocks used in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food production, and everyday products. Less than 10% of what leaves a distillery becomes whisky. The rest? Untapped carbon. Celtic’s mission is simple: defossilize the chemical industry by squeezing more value out of what already exists above ground. In this episode, Martin shares: How a university research project became a commercial biorefineryWhy the biggest leap in scaling is from lab to pilotThe role of Biobase Europe in scaling 1,000xWhy surrounding yourself with complementary skills is everythingThe hard truths about funding, risk, and “everyone wants to be first to be second”Why founders need resilience, but also balanceOne of the strongest takeaways: Don’t build a pier. Build a bridge. Get to the promised land, even if it’s not perfect. This is a candid conversation about scaling industrial biotech, reframing “waste” as resource, and why change is the real driver of the bioeconomy. This episode is powered by Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant.

    17 min
  2. A Pitch Perfect Miniseries | #5 Blast furnaces & bacteria: scaling bio in heavy industry ft. ArcelorMittal

    4D AGO

    A Pitch Perfect Miniseries | #5 Blast furnaces & bacteria: scaling bio in heavy industry ft. ArcelorMittal

    Recorded live at the Pitch Perfect Bioeconomy event in Brussels, this episode features Kristof Verbeeck, Business Development at ArcelorMittal Belgium, on what it actually means for heavy industry to bet on bio-manufacturing. ArcelorMittal Ghent is a 5-million-ton steel plant and the largest industrial CO₂ emitter in Belgium. Eight years ago, they decided to do something radical: build Europe’s first large-scale gas fermentation plant inside a steel mill, turning waste carbon monoxide and hydrogen into ethanol. Meet Steelanol.  On paper, it made perfect sense: Higher-value product instead of flaring gasesAvoided CO₂ emissions under the EU ETS systemA potential cornerstone in the company’s decarbonization roadmapIn reality? Scaling first-of-a-kind industrial biotech inside heavy industry is complex, technically and politically. We talk about: Why the EU ETS was central to the business caseHow changing regulation reshaped market accessThe challenge of certification under the Renewable Energy DirectiveWhat it takes to commission 550m³ fermenters at industrial scaleWhy innovation speed and regulatory speed are often misalignedThe plant is built. It runs. Ethanol has been produced. But technical scale-up and regulatory frameworks still need to align for the model to fully deliver. Kristof shares candid insights into corporate risk-taking, regulatory uncertainty, and what startups should know before approaching heavy industry: validate your technology, understand corporate roadmaps, and don’t oversell. This episode is a real-world look at what happens when decarbonization moves from strategy slides into steel and concrete. This miniseries is powered by Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant and Pitch Perfect Bioeconomy.

    14 min
  3. A Pitch Perfect Miniseries | #4 Paving the way to scale: the fungal future of roads ft. Visibuilt

    4D AGO

    A Pitch Perfect Miniseries | #4 Paving the way to scale: the fungal future of roads ft. Visibuilt

    Recorded live at the Pitch Perfect Bioeconomy event in Brussels, this episode features Line Kloster Pedersen, Founder & CEO of Visibuilt, and one of the boldest ideas we’ve seen on the bio-based stage this year.  Visibuilt is developing the world’s first fungal binders for road construction, replacing fossil-based bitumen and highly polluting cement with mycelium, nature’s own underground binding network. Yes, you read that right. They’ve already built the world’s first mycelium bicycle parking lot in Denmark. We talk about: Why asphalt and concrete are massive climate problemsHow mycelium can bind rocks at low temperaturesCutting fossil dependency and energy use in constructionUsing local agricultural and forestry side streamsWhat it really takes to scale biotech into heavy industryLine shares how a run around the lakes of Copenhagen sparked the idea — and how Visibuilt has since raised €4.7M, built a team of 18, and is now raising a €4.5M seed round to move from manual production to modular scale. This is bioeconomy in action: science leaving the lab and entering infrastructure. If more than 60% of the roads in 2050 haven’t been built yet, the question is simple: Why should they be fossil-based? This episode is powered by Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant.

    10 min
  4. A Pitch Perfect Miniseries | #3 Bioreactors don't do beta versions and why tech VCs are out of their league with bio ft. Capricorn Partners

    5D AGO

    A Pitch Perfect Miniseries | #3 Bioreactors don't do beta versions and why tech VCs are out of their league with bio ft. Capricorn Partners

    Recorded live at the Pitch Perfect Bioeconomy event in Brussels, this episode features Rob van der Meij, Partner at Capricorn Partners, on what it really takes to scale bio-based innovation. The key message? Scaling bio is not like scaling software. As an investor who has helped grow multiple tech-driven companies, Rob breaks down why process development is the most underestimated factor in bio-based scale-up. In digital, you can iterate fast. In bio-based manufacturing, scale-up is sequential, capital-intensive, and often more art than science. We dive into: Why process data matters more than pitch decksWhy rushing scale can destroy valueWhy MVP thinking doesn’t work in industrial biotechWhen equity, grants, debt, and government-backed loans make senseWhy the right investor mix is critical in early phasesIn bio-based industries, 90% of the cost is defined in the first 10% of a capital project. Speed matters, but pushing at the wrong moment can cost years. For founders and investors navigating long R&D cycles, heavy CapEx, and patient capital, this is a grounded conversation about reality versus hype. If you’re building in the bioeconomy, this episode is a must-listen. This episode is powered by Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant.

    16 min
  5. A Pitch Perfect Miniseries | #2 Breaking Down the EU’s Bioeconomy Strategy: From Policy to Scale ft. EU Commission

    5D AGO

    A Pitch Perfect Miniseries | #2 Breaking Down the EU’s Bioeconomy Strategy: From Policy to Scale ft. EU Commission

    Recorded live at Pitch Perfect Bioeconomy in Brussels (24–25 November 2025), this episode features Agata Kotkowska from the European Commission on the new EU Bioeconomy Strategy and what it really means for scaling bio-based innovation in Europe.  The message is clear: Europe has the science, the infrastructure, and the know-how. What’s missing? Speed. With China, the US and India accelerating investments in bio-manufacturing, competitiveness is no longer abstract, it’s urgent. The new strategy focuses on: Scaling from lab to deploymentBuilding real lead markets (construction, biochemicals, textiles, biorefineries)Ensuring sustainable biomass useStrengthening Europe’s global positionBut this isn’t just about policy papers. It’s about simplifying regulation, aligning investors and innovators, and treating the bioeconomy as a serious growth engine, not a side topic. If Europe wants to lead, business as usual won’t cut it. This episode is powered by Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant.

    13 min
  6. A Pitch Perfect Miniseries | #1 Lab to fab to geopolitics: Europe’s Bioeconomy at a crossroads ft. CBE-JU

    5D AGO

    A Pitch Perfect Miniseries | #1 Lab to fab to geopolitics: Europe’s Bioeconomy at a crossroads ft. CBE-JU

    Recorded live at Pitch Perfect Bioeconomy in Brussels, this episode features Nicolo Giacomuzzi-Moore, Executive Director of CBE JU, on Europe’s competitiveness in scaling bio-based innovation from lab to market  Ten years ago, the bioeconomy was niche. Today, it’s backed by EU strategies, public-private partnerships, and large-scale demonstration funding. Europe has successfully helped companies overcome the first valley of death, moving from research to first industrial plants. But the real challenge remains: commercial scale. We unpack how Europe compares to the US and China, why access to capital is the missing link, and how regulatory clarity, standards, public procurement, and the European Investment Bank could unlock the next phase of growth. There’s no silver bullet. The key is alignment, between policy, finance, and market demand. If you’re building, investing, or shaping policy in the bio-based economy, this conversation is for you. This episode is powered by Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant.

    17 min
  7. #20 No cows were harmed in the making of this episode ft. Qorium

    11/17/2025

    #20 No cows were harmed in the making of this episode ft. Qorium

    In this episode of the BioCircular Loop podcast, host Melina Gerdts discusses the advancements in the European circular bioeconomy, focusing on cellular agriculture and lab-grown leather. She interviews Michael Newton, CEO of Qorium, a Dutch startup pioneering lab-grown leather production. They explore the differences between European and American entrepreneurship ecosystems, the innovative processes behind lab-grown leather, and the sustainability and ethical implications of this technology. In this conversation, Michael Newton discusses the challenges and innovations within the leather industry, particularly focusing on sustainability and efficiency. He shares insights on scaling operations at Qorium, the cultural differences between the US and Europe in startup ecosystems, and offers advice for European founders. The discussion also highlights the significant environmental impact of Qorium's leather alternatives compared to traditional methods. Useful links QoriumDutch Startup Qorium Bags $25M to bring Lab-Grown Leather to MarketEntrepreneurship ecosystem theory Pitch Perfect Bioeconomy in Brussels

    51 min
  8. #19 Biorevolution for democratic resilience ft. IFIB2025 & Mario Bonaccorso

    11/10/2025

    #19 Biorevolution for democratic resilience ft. IFIB2025 & Mario Bonaccorso

    In this episode of the bioCircular Loop podcast, host Melina Gerdts recaps the 2025 edition of the International Forum for Industrial Biotechnology (IFIB) with Mario Bonacorso, the organizer and Director of the Italian SPRING cluster. They explore the topics discussed, highlighting the importance of circular bioeconomy in addressing global challenges such as climate change, waste management, and geopolitical dependence. The conversation emphasizes the need for collaboration, innovation, and effective communication to promote the bioeconomy as a viable solution for a sustainable future. This conversation delves into the pressing need for action in the bioeconomy sector, highlighting the importance of coherent regulatory frameworks, investment opportunities, and the role of clusters in fostering innovation. The speakers discuss the competitive landscape of Europe in the global bioeconomy, the challenges posed by overregulation, and the emerging trends that are shaping the future of sustainable practices across various industries. Personal insights into the evolution of the bioeconomy and the cultural shifts necessary for its growth are also shared. Useful links IFIB 2026il bioeconomista - keep up to date with bioeconomy newsSPRING - Italian cluster for circular bioeconomyEuropean Biosolutions CoalitionEU Bioeconomy Strategy 2025

    56 min
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About

bioCircular Loop is the podcast about success stories, innovation and newest developments in the European circular Bioeconomy. It aims to educate, inform and inspire listeners with content about how circular bioeconomy presents the answer to humanity's greatest societal challenges, especially climate change and resource depletion. The podcast hosts the people that are driving this industrial bio-revolution, each episode deep-dives into a different organisation, industry and technology.

Information

  • Creator
    Melina Gerdts
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    27
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 bioCircular Loop
  • Show Website
    bioCircular Loop