This year, Chemport Europe is once again hosting the Sustainable Industry Challenge. At a time when circularity and the carbon transition are becoming increasingly urgent, this challenge brings together companies with concrete innovation questions with innovators who provide solutions. The previous edition showed what such a meeting can set in motion.
International presentation
Take New Born Rubber from Grootegast. What for years was seen as difficult waste (vulcanized rubber) actually became the starting point of innovation for this northern Dutch company. Based on a patented method from the University of Groningen, New Born Rubber developed a technology that allows virtually all rubber waste streams, from car tires to technical rubber, to be broken down and reused as a high-quality raw material.
In 2023, the company participated in Chemport Europe's Sustainable Industry Challenge. Teijin Aramid had a concrete question: how can high-quality aramid fibers be recovered from conveyor belts, some as long as ten kilometers? Not a standard rubber issue, but a challenge that touches on chain closure and high-quality reuse of materials.
New Born Rubber won the challenge. Both parties are now working together on a pilot line and, with grant support, are working on further scaling up. The innovation even received an international stage during the World Expo in Osaka, where the Northern Netherlands presented itself as a region for circular and green chemistry.
According to project manager Remco van Leeuwen, the value is not only in the technology, but also in the network: 'We can do a lot ourselves and are not quick to ask for help. But the support of a good network makes a huge difference. Whether it's about funding, getting in front of the right people or speeding up processes.'
The support of a good network makes a huge difference.
Remco van Leeuwen Project Manager
Innovation requires a meeting
The rubber industry has long been immune from recycling pressures. The urgency to go circular is now growing rapidly, but the road to scaling up is stubborn. This requires both a long breath and cooperation in the chain. This is precisely where the strength of the Sustainable Industry Challenge lies.
Once again in 2026, companies are invited to submit a concrete innovation issue related to making their processes more sustainable. Chemport, together with ChallengeBase, will then look for innovative parties who will come up with concrete solutions. No non-committal idea competition, but a way to accelerate targeted innovation and create new collaborations.
Incubator of the carbon transition
The Sustainable Industry Challenge is part of Chemport Europe's broader ambition to position the Northern Netherlands as the world's first circular and green chemistry region. With a focus on the carbon transition, the ecosystem is working on innovations in bio-based feedstock, CO2 and circular plastics.
That transition requires not only technology, but also places where questions can be asked. Where companies share their innovation challenges. Where new players can catch on. Where an idea can grow from concept to application. The experience of New Born Rubber shows what can happen when such a question is put on the table. A concrete industrial challenge became the starting point of a new collaboration, international visibility and a next step toward scaling up.
At a time when circularity is no longer a choice but a necessity, the ability to innovate together is becoming increasingly critical. The Sustainable Industry Challenge is not an end in itself, but an instrument to create movement, in chains, in companies and in the region. And sometimes that just starts with a question.
Do you have an innovation question?
Are you working on a concrete sustainability issue? And could your company use fresh thinking, new collaborations or an acceleration towards piloting? Chemport Europe and ChallengeBase are looking for strong industrial challenges for the Sustainable Industry Challenge 2026. We would like to help you formulate and elaborate your question.
Interested? Get in touch and explore if your issue is suitable.