Pollution, climate change, depletion of traditional feedstocks, and intensification of the world-wide population density, thus increasingly stringent energy and food demands, call for the development of truly sustainable industrial processes and practices.

 Biomass valorization is taking a hold of the scientific community as the renewable alternative to fossil resources for the sustainable production of fine and bulk chemicals.  In particular, the chemical processing of biomass can open a wide range of possibilities for new platform chemicals and materials, including materials, fuels, and pharmaceuticals.

This is where the HUGS consortium finds inspiration: easily harvested plants and their by-products can find a suitable place in the chemical industry, largely increasing the future’s sustainability.  In collaboration with the N.I.C.E. conference 2018, the HUGS consortium will host five sessions on different strategies for a truly sustainable development. The consortium’s efforts are focused on the safe development of new (catalytic) processes for biomass conversion and new bio-based materials for a variety of applications including catalysis, polymers and adsorbents.

Sustainability is a joint global effort, ranging from political to scientific development.  Focusing on the science, we hope to inspire, discuss and develop with you a greener and brighter future.