Author Archive: Rebecca Gendron

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Coming soon to a chainsaw near you: Plant-based lubricating oil

Coming soon to a chainsaw near you: Plant-based lubricating oil

June 27, 2022 |

In Maryland, Stanley Black & Decker’s chainsaw brand DEWALT has launched biodegradable chainsaw oil made from North American plant oils. The USDA Certified Biobased Product contains no petroleum-based oils and can be used around waterways and other environmentally sensitive areas.  “About 20 million gallons of bar and chain oil are discharged into the environment every […]

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Carlsberg announces trial run of 8,000 biobased beer bottles

Carlsberg announces trial run of 8,000 biobased beer bottles

June 27, 2022 |

In the Netherlands, popular brewer Carlsberg has launched the largest trial to date of its biobased and fully recyclable beer bottles. Dubbed Fibre Bottle, 8,000 bottles will be distributed throughout Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, United Kingdom, Poland, Germany and France at select festivals and flagship events, as well as targeted product samplings. Testing at this […]

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Beer waste converted to nanotech

Beer waste converted to nanotech

June 27, 2022 |

In Canada, researchers from the Institut national de la recherche scientifique and École de technologie supérieure have demonstrated the use of microbrewery waste to synthetize carbon quantum dots.  Quantum dots boast a number of interesting physicochemical properties and applications in biomedical sensors and light-emitting diodes. But a limitation to wider use of the nanotechnology is […]

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Mistletoe eyed as source of natural glue

Mistletoe eyed as source of natural glue

June 20, 2022 |

In Quebec, researchers at McGill University are looking into the potential of mistletoe to provide a natural source of glue.  Generally known for the Christmas kiss tradition, mistletoe viscin, a sticky thread that allows its parasitic seeds to stick to other plants.  The research began after Matthew Harrington—an associate professor in the Department of Chemistry […]

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Biobased soccer balls headed to 2022 World Cup

Biobased soccer balls headed to 2022 World Cup

June 20, 2022 |

In Qatar, the 2022 FIFA World Cup will use soccer balls produced in Pakistan using partially biobased materials.  Designed and hand-stitched by Forward Sports in Sialkot, Punjab, the Al Rihla soccer balls have now been picked three times for the massively popular sporting event.  The announcement was made by Sialkot Chamber of Commerce & Industry […]

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Unilever and Genomatica partner for palm oil alternatives

Unilever and Genomatica partner for palm oil alternatives

June 20, 2022 |

In San Diego, biobased chemicals producer Genomatica and consumer giant Unilever have announced a joint venture aimed at commercializing alternatives for palm oil and fossil fuel ingredients in cleaning and personal care products.  Supported by a $120-million investment by both companies, the unamed JV will develop an alternative, plant-based ingredient using biotechnology for what the […]

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SYNLawn introduces soybean-based putting green

SYNLawn introduces soybean-based putting green

June 20, 2022 |

In Georgia, soybean-based artificial grass maker SYNLawn has introduced a portable putting green to help golf enthusiasts practice their short game in a sustainable way.  According to the company, the Portable Golf Green with Fringe is “expertly designed” to provide customers with the most realistic putting surface.  “As the weather gets warmer, more and more […]

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Moolec targets first molecular farming Nasdaq listing

Moolec targets first molecular farming Nasdaq listing

June 20, 2022 |

In the UK, molecular farming pioneer Moolec Science plans to list on the Nasdaq through a business combination with special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) LightJump Acquisition Corp. Moolec develops animal proteins in plants using molecular farming, a scalable, affordable, and sustainable technology that produces animal proteins using plants as small factories.  The transaction sets Moolec’s […]

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Dutch bank offers mortgage discounts for renewable construction

Dutch bank offers mortgage discounts for renewable construction

June 20, 2022 |

In the Netherlands, building a home from straw or fungi could earn you a cheaper mortgage. Introduced by Triodos, a bank headquartered in Zeist, the “bio-based mortgage” provides a lower interest rate to homes bought or built using materials such as wood, flax, or fungi.  The bank estimates just 1-2% of buildings in the country […]

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Patagonia, HeiQ jointly develop mint oil odor control for fabric

Patagonia, HeiQ jointly develop mint oil odor control for fabric

June 20, 2022 |

In California, sustainable outdoor gear brand Patagonia and Switzerland’s HeiQ have developed mint-based textile odor control technology. Dubbed HeiQ Fresh MNT, the product uses a renewable and responsibly sourced mint oil-derived textile technology to control malodor development on textiles, providing fabrics with a long-lasting odor control capability. Based on test method ISO17299-3A using isovaleric acid, […]

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