Todays Latest Updates: 28 July 2026

Biojet/SAF: France: Axens announced the launch of the ERA project (Ethanol to Refuel Aviation), France’s first industrial-scale Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production unit based on advanced bioethanol. With a planned capacity of 50,000 tonnes per year, the facility—currently in the process of site selection in France—is expected to start operations in 2030. The ERA project further strengthens Axens’ industrial commitment to the transition toward low-carbon mobility, alongside the NACRE project (an advanced bioethanol production facility at the Lacq site, which has obtained its construction permit) and the MACARON project (a battery materials production facility in Valenciennes, for which a construction permit application has recently been submitted). Link 28/07/2026.

Biomaterials: United Kingdom. Celtic Renewables announced that Evonik is using Celtic Renewables’ bio-butanol to produce ECOHANCE Soft BOL, a sustainable emollient for cosmetics and personal care products. Celtic Renewables’ bio-butanol is derived entirely from locally sourced feedstocks, including whisky pot ale and rejected potatoes, at their biorefinery in Scotland. The cosmetics sector faces an immense challenge reducing its Scope 3 emissions. Currently, fossil-based chemicals are used in a range of cosmetic applications, with everything from face creams to lip gloss including them as active ingredients in the manufacturing process. Link 28/07/2026.

Hydrogen: New Zealand. CullBeck, which launched in 2025, claims its hydrogen-based steelmaking process drastically reduces production time and costs, while eliminating carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Designed for titanomagnetite ores, which are abundant in New Zealand and the Asia-Pacific region, the technology replaces the conventional blast furnace with a green hydrogen-based direct reduction process. The company start-up has raised NZ $20m ($11.6m) with plans to bring new hydrogen direct reduced iron (DRI) technology to market. Link 28/07/2026.

Policy: Japan. Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) have proposed a policy requiring the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in aviation fuel supplied at major airports, beginning in fiscal 2030. The mandate will initially cover seven airports with the highest refuelling volumes, including Narita and Haneda airports. To support the transition, the government will examine financial assistance for airlines using SAF from fiscal 2030. It is also considering introducing a uniform charge on air passengers to help finance the higher cost of the fuel. Link 28/07/2026.