In Australia, Carapac is working to commercialize a process that converts waste crustacean shells from Asia Pacific’s seafood industry into biodegradable, soil-enriching bioplastic films. Kimberly Bolton, CEO of Carapac, tells AUManufacturing the company uses chitosan, extracted from shrimp and crab shells, to make films that biodegrade in 90 days—depositing nutrient nitrogen into the soil in […]
In London, charity Comic Relief says its popular Red Nose Day event will feature plant-based red in 2021 thanks to a write-in environmental campaign by students concerned about plastics waste. The noses given to donors will be made from sugarcane waste product bacassa. The noses will be available in 10 styles, including squirrel, badger, and […]
In India, a potentially game-changing COVID-19 test, named after Indian Sherlock Holmes Feluda, promises accurate results in under 30 minutes using a paper test strip. Produced by Indian conglomerate Tata, Feluda would also be cheaper than conventional tests, coming in at about 500 rupees ($6.75). India’s current testing methods face shortages and long wait times […]
In the Netherlands, a company has launched a biodegradable clothing hanger made from renewable materials such as potato starch, corn, beetroot, coffee grounds and grass. Hooks Creative says the hanger took two years to develop and local production was prioritized. “We can now put an end to the gigantic CO2 emissions by sea freight from […]
In Himachal Pradesh, India, two entrepreneurs are making tableware and COVID-19 masks from pine needles to simultaneously help the populous nation address its plastics waste challenge and prevent forest fires common to the region. Himachal native Abhinav Talwar, who founded Vasshin Composites in 2019 with Maithri V, says the startup collects the region’s abundant fallen […]
In France, chemical producer Arkema has issued its first green bond to raise cash for a previously announced biobased polyamide 11 production site in Singapore. Trade named Rilsan, the polyamide 11 is made from castor oil. The €300 million ($353 million) will also be used to build capacity for Rilsan’s biobased amino monomer precursor. The […]
In Italy, SOL Group has signed an agreement with CropEnergies to jointly invest in production facilities for the recovery of biogenic CO2 by alcoholic fermentation at the Belgian subsidiary of CropEnergies in Wanze. The investment of the two partners, amounting to €15 million, will be carried out at the site of BioWanze SA, where is […]
In Norway, Marquard & Bahls and Nordic Blue Crude have entered into an agreement, through which Marquard & Bahls shall increase its shareholding in the Norwegian company and will commit to equity financing when the first plant (E-Fuel 1) reaches final investment decision. As a result, Marquard & Bahls is consolidating its position as a […]
In the UAE, Emirates has revealed that nearly a third of its dedicated fleet of transport buses for cabin crew in Dubai will now operate on biofuel, taking another step forward on its environmental mission to reduce emissions. The airline’s contracted service provider, Al Wegdaniyah, has committed to operating all road trips with biodiesel provided […]
In Washington, Nodal Exchange and IncubEx announced the upcoming launch of eight new Renewable Identification Number (RIN) futures and options contracts. Pending regulatory review, Nodal will list the first-ever physically delivered futures contracts on D3, D4, D5 and D6 RIN markets on November 17, 2020. Complementary RIN options contracts will also be listed that day […]
