Newsletter/ nawaros^® 08/03

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Content

A Bed on Sunflowers
Biowaste Bags in Straubing
Natural Fibre Reinforced Plastics
Biogas from Renewable Raw Materials
Funding of Insulating Materials
News from the Competence Centre
Biomass Days of the Regions 2003
Forests and Wood, 2003

A Bed on Sunflowers
Support Award for Renewable Resources - Ernst Pelz Award

The Bavarian Minister-President Dr. Edmund Stoiber awarded the Ernst-Pelz-Preis 2003 (i.e. the 'Ernst Pelz Award 2003') and the Förderpreis Nachwachsende Rohstoffe 2003 (i.e. the 'Support Award for Renewable Resources 2003') in the Bavarian State Chancellery in Munich on July 24th, 2003.
Both awards were presented for the tenth time this year. For the third time Minister-President Stoiber had personally invited to the ceremony in Munich. About 200 guests accepted the invitation, among them also former winners of the award.
The Ernst Pelz Award was presented to Dr. Arno Strehler from Buchloe-Honsolgen. In his laudatory speech Dr. Stoiber looked back on Dr. Strehler's beginnings: After the first oil crisis in 1973 he had already considered it necessary to base our future energy supply on regenerative energies to a greater extent, taking the view that biomass was essential for that. Especially the large amount of constructional improvements in small combustion plants could be attributed to Dr. Strehler's works. Stoiber called Strehler's lecture and training activities legendary, particularly the free weekly information event started in 1992.
The Support Award for Renewable Raw Materials 2002 of the Bavarian State Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Forestry was presented to the company Metzeler Schaum GmbH from Memmingen. Dr. Klaus Schamel, the manager of the old but innovative Bavarian company, accepted the award for the development, production and marketing of a world novelty - the Rubex® Nawaro mattress. In contrast to conventional products, one of its main components is made of sunflower oil.
"If someone had told me a few years ago that highly comfortable mattresses made of sunflower oil would soon be available, I honestly had doubted the trustworthiness of this person," the Minister-President said. After the presentation of the first samples at the beginning of the year 2001, the large-scale production has been running since autumn 2001.
Both prizes have got a purse of 10,000 Euro each and have been annually awarded since 1992 by the Bavarian Minister of Agriculture and Forestry. The Support Award for Renewable Raw Materials was created to give prominence to pathbreaking products or product groups. It is presented to companies or persons that have rendered outstanding services to innovations.
The Ernst Pelz Award was endowed by Peter Pelz in memory of his father. According to the statutes, the award honours "personalities who distinguish themselves [...] by an outstanding personal commitment in order to promote domestic renewable raw materials and who feel obliged to liberal-humane values."
Information: C.A.R.M.E.N., Carmen Weber, e-mail: cw@carmen-ev.de

The distribution of compostable biowaste bags is finished (see nawaros® 04/2003). All households in the city and in the district of Straubing with a biobin received a starter kit with 20 compostable biowaste bags on the basis of starch. So they had the opportunity of testing the innovative product. Now 130 persons were interviewed about their experience with the biowaste bags and the inlet bags.
Explanations were provided with every starter kit so that the population is well informed. 85 per cent of the users could tell the difference between a conventional plastic bag and the biowaste bags. The compostability, decomposability, and the starch content were mentioned.
85 per cent of those questioned used a collection bin that is emptied every 2.5 days on average. 75 per cent of those questioned tried the ten-litre biowaste bags for the collection bins in the kitchen. 15 per cent also knew the inlet bag for the big biowaste bin which was gratuitously distributed to property managements. Regarding the recycling of the bags, there is no considerable difference between the city and the rural areas.

80 per cent of those interviewed spoke enthusiastically about the biowaste bags, considering them as clean, practical, and hygienic. There were negative comments, however, on the fact that the bags were too short for many types of containers and tended to tear due to the low material strength. It was less criticised that the bags tore when emptying the bins but that they were pierced by sharp or hard biowaste components. More than half of the users are willing to buy the biowaste bags and to pay 16 cents per bag. This willingness is a little lower in rural regions, though.
The results of the opinion poll are used to come up to the users' demands. Furthermore, the findings are part of the project evaluation and help to take the decision whether the compostable bags will be permanently integrated into the disposal system of the Zweckverband Abfallwirtschaft Straubing Stadt und Land (ZAW-SR) ('waste management union of the city and the region of Straubing').

Further information: C.A.R.M.E.N. e.V. and Zweckverband Abfallwirtschaft Straubing Stadt und Land (ZAW-SR), Äußere Passauer Str. 75, 94315 Straubing, Germany, Tel.:+49-9421-9902-0, e-mail: info@zaw-sr.de (http://www.zaw-sr.de).

Natural Fibre Reinforced Plastics

Up until now, the search for reliable index data, price information, and model components for the use of natural fibre reinforced plastics has been very difficult. A team of four research and development partners now aims at realising a data base and information system in the course of a project that is funded by the Fachagentur Nachwachsende Rohstoffe e.V. (FNR) ('Agency of Renewable Resources'). On the web site http://www.n-fibrebase.net the first modules of the data base for natural fibres and natural fibre reinforced plastics are already online. In addition to that, the N-Fibre-PriceBase allows for the first time a currently updated insight into the price trends of hemp and flax fibres for industrial use.

Information: http://www.n-fibrebase.net

Biogas from Renewable Raw Materials

The operators of biogas plants increasingly use renewable raw materials. However, the quality of substrate deliveries is often inadequately controlled. With the plants becoming larger and larger and the suppliers less known, it is advisable to conclude substrate supply contracts.
C.A.R.M.E.N. has published a ten-page guideline on "Renewable Raw Materials in Biogas Plants - Possible Contents of Supply Contracts". Plant operators can choose from the brochure what is important for them to include it then into a contract. They should nevertheless consult a lawyer.

Ordering: Free under http://www.carmen-ev.de -> Infos & Links -> Nachwachsende Rohstoffe -> 2.5. Gasförmige Brennstoffe, or by mail at a price of 7.50 euros (VAT and p&p included) from C.A.R.M.E.N., Schulgasse 18, 94315 Straubing, Germany, Tel.: +49-9421-960-300; Fax -333. Contact person is Robert Wagner, e-mail: rw@carmen-ev.de

Funding of Insulating Materials

The funding regulation "Insulating materials made of renewable resources" increases the attractiveness of products such as flax, hemp, straw, or wool in future.
In spite of their good properties, the price of natural insulating materials contributes to the fact that their market volume does presently not exceed 5 per cent of the 29 million cubic metres of insulating products that are used in construction in Germany.
In order to increase the attractiveness and popularity of these alternatives made of renewable resources in the field of sound and heat insulation and to reduce their price, the German Ministry for Consumer Protection, Food and Agriculture subsidises the new funding regulation "Insulating materials made of renewable resources".
The Fachagentur Nachwachsende Rohstoffe (FNR) ('Agency of Renewable Resources') is in charge of putting the regulation into practice. The Fraunhofer-Institut für Bauphysik ('Fraunhofer Institute for Construction Physics') has now worked out a positive list so that a product survey is available to housebuilders. Apart from products, this survey provides information on insulating properties and funding categories.
In order to be included into the list, products have to meet certain criteria according to the requirements of the market launch programme. Insulating materials made of renewable resources must, for example, have a valid national general permission of the civil construction supervision or a European technical approval. The proportion of natural raw materials must at least amount to 75 per cent. The products have to meet fire and heat protection regulations. They must be absolutely safe in terms of health.
Products made of used paper/cellulose, jute, sisal, or coconut fibres and wood can presently not be funded within the framework of the market launch programme "Insulating materials made of renewable resources".

Information: Fachagentur Nachwachsende Rohstoffe e. V. (FNR), Tel.: 03843/6930-0, Fax: -102, e-mail: info@fnr.de (http://www.naturdaemmstoffe.info).

News from the Competence Centre

On July 31st, 2003, the Schulungs- und Ausstellungszentrum (SAZ) ('Training and Exhibition Centre') of the Competence Centre for Renewable Raw Materials in Straubing was officially opened. Henceforth, information events for experts, industry, trade and agriculture, decision-makers, investors, politicians, consultants, authorities, interested citizens and schools will be held here. In the ground floor of the building, the permanent exhibition "Renewable Raw Materials - The Plant and Its Utilisation" was jointly arranged by the Technologie- und Förderzentrum (TFZ) ('Technology and Promotion Centre') and C.A.R.M.E.N. In the upper floor there is a lecture room with modern equipment for up to 200 persons.

In the course of the opening ceremony, Ministerialdirektor Anton Adelhardt, Office Head of the Bavarian Ministry of Agriculture, awarded the Bavarian Lion of the Ministry of Agriculture to Dr. Arno Strehler, Technology and Promotion Centre, Straubing. For years, the 63-year-old scientist Strehler had done his utmost to promote the energetic use of biomass, Adelhardt said in his laudatory speech. Especially with starting his research work 30 years ago, Strehler had contributed a large share to secure Bavaria's present leading position in this field.

The Bavarian Lion was a symbol of courage, strength, perseverance, tenacity, and - not least - a noble attitude, Adelhardt pointed out. The research department Strehler had built up at the former Landesanstalt für Landtechnik ('State Office for Agricultural Engineering') laid the foundations for the present Technology and Promotion Centre in Straubing. The success of Stehler's work is also proven by the number of doctoral and diploma theses and publications written in his department. More than 120 research projects with a volume of approximately 13 million euros were carried out under his direction.

Information on the exhibition: C.A.R.M.E.N., Monika Benz, e-mail: mb@carmen-ev.de

Biomass Days of the Regions 2003

The preparations for the fifth Europe-wide action week on renewable raw materials are already in full swing. From September 9th, 2003, onwards, the C.A.R.M.E.N. exhibition "Within the Cycle of Nature - Natural Materials for Modern Society" will present more than 600 exhibits in the entrance area of the European Parliament in Brussels for one week. This C.A.R.M.E.N. exhibition is under the patronage of Franz Xaver Mayer, Member of the European Parliament and agricultural spokesman.
In the course of a Parliamentary Evening on September 9th, 2003, Professor Dan Asplund from Finland, the President of the European Biomass Association (AEBIOM), is going to explain the viewpoint of this organisation on the subject of bioenergy. Afterwards, the Bavarian Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Josef Miller, will be dealing with possible applications of biomass and the significance of the Biomass Days.
Acting as deputy for the patron of the Biomass Days, Loyola de Palacio del Valle-Lersundi, Karl Kellner, New and Renewable Energy Sources Department Head, European Commission, is going to open the C.A.R.M.E.N. exhibition and to announce the Biomass Days of the Regions 2003.
From September 28th to October 5th, 2003, producers, funding bodies and research institutions dealing with renewable raw materials will provide on-the-spot information to the general public about the economic and ecological potential of these raw materials and their products in numerous European regions. More than 200 participants are already registered with C.A.R.M.E.N. at present. The list of events is to be found on the internet under http://www.biomasse-tage.org and is continuously updated. Since most non-German participants are from Slovenia so far, an announcement poster is printed in Slovenian language for the first time.
The Competence Centre for Renewable Raw Materials in Straubing will take part in the Biomass Days with an "Open Day" on September 28th, 2003. The Technical University of Munich, the Technical College of Weihenstephan, the Technology and Promotion Centre, and C.A.R.M.E.N. will provide comprehensive information on possible applications and potentials of biomass to all who are interested.

Information: C.A.R.M.E.N, Karl Hanglberger, e-mail: kh@carmen-ev.de (http://www.biomasse-tage.org).

Forests and Wood, 2003

The Zentrale Markt- und Preisberichtstelle (ZMP) ('Central Market and Price Reporting Agency') published the market report "Forests and Wood" for the year 2003. The up-to-date year book is intended for all those who need comprehensive and reliable information on market trends of forest and wood products. It offers also diagrams and an index.
The market report gives statistical data on the markets for forest and wood products in Germany. It provides detailed information on the cutting and selling of raw timber, on raw timber proceeds and prices.
The year book is complemented by a CD-ROM which allows access to the complete database of the 192 pages and tables of the book.

Information: Zentrale Markt- und Preisberichtstelle (ZMP), Bonn, Germany, Tel.: +49-228-9777-173, Fax: -179, e-mail: service@zmp.de (http://www.zmp.de).