Italian bioplastics producer Novamont (Novara; www.novamont.com) has named Gunter Pauli as its new chairman of the board. The Belgian is a well-known entrepreneur, lecturer, author and theorist and is perhaps best-known for the “Blue Economy” which looks to nature as an example for a sustainable life by imitating nature in production: Waste of one product becomes the input for another. The book experienced broad commercial success and has become a much-studied business model for some organisations. Pauli is also a board member of several non-profit organisations and companies. Proving that theory can become reality, he converted an old facility into an ecological factory producing bio-degradable soaps for the European market 20 years ago.

Pauli is also known for having initiated the "Zero Emissions Research and Initiatives" in Tokyo / Japan with the support of the Japanese government and the United Nations University (UNU), re-designing production and consumption into clusters of industries inspired by natural systems.

“Pauli has an enlightened vision harmonising perfectly with the philosophy which has always inspired Novamont. We are certain that his wisdom and far-sightedness will be a great boost to the company in its future developments and consolidate our leadership in the bio-economy sector,” says Catia Bastioli, Novamont’s CEO.