Prof. dr. Gert-Jan Gruter. He is currently a part-time professor at the university of Amsterdam and the CTO of Avantium, a pioneer in the emerging industry of sustainable chemistry, whose vision is a fossil free world. Prof. dr. Gruter has a background in Polymer Chemistry and initiated the YXY technology at Avantium, which includes novel processes from carbohydrates to FDCA monomers and 100% bio-based PEF polyester used for bottles, fibres and films. Furthermore, prof. dr. Gruter is currently involved in, among other things, the development of the “DAWN Biorefinery Technology”, a technology that produces pure glucose from agro and forestry lignocellulosic residues. On the 20th of November he will present the developments happening in both Avantium and the University of Amsterdam regarding the future of plastics in our society in his lecture titled: “The Future of Plastics”.