Category: Chemicals & Materials

Turn up the “Bambass” with bamboo headphones

Turn up the “Bambass” with bamboo headphones

March 13, 2023 |

In India, a young product designer has created a prototype of 70% biodegradable headphones made out of bamboo. Twenty-six-year old Aakansh Chaturvedi tells The Better India he chose to pursue headphones because it’s a widely used product globally.  “I found out that it is actually quite difficult to manufacture a headphone without plastic,” he says. […]

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Celebs encouraged to embrace green on the red carpet

Celebs encouraged to embrace green on the red carpet

March 13, 2023 |

In Los Angeles, environmental group RCGD Global sent A-listers a sustainable style guide ahead of the 95th annual Academy Awards, held Sunday to much fanfare. The guide recommends attendees wear vintage garments or clothes with natural textiles. Launched in 2010 as a design competition Red Carpet Green Dress, RCGD Global aims to create opportunities for emerging […]

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Edible drones could improve delivery of life-saving supplies

Edible drones could improve delivery of life-saving supplies

March 13, 2023 |

In Switzerland, an engineering project at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne is envisioning edible drones as a means to increase the payload of life-saving emergency provisions. According to the Institute of Mechanical Engineers, drone cargo is currently limited to 10–30% of overall mass—meaning drone drops of food to the stranded can be […]

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Entrepreneur looks to “wipeout” surfboard waste

Entrepreneur looks to “wipeout” surfboard waste

March 13, 2023 |

In Wales, a young surfer/eco-entrepreneur has developed a prototype surfboard out of mushrooms and coral. Twenty-three-year-old Steve Davies came up with the idea while researching mycelium packaging as part of his master’s program at Cardiff Metropolitan University. He chose coral as a framing material so that if the board becomes lost in the ocean, the […]

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RIP and without impact with Legendurns biodegradable urns

RIP and without impact with Legendurns biodegradable urns

March 13, 2023 |

In the Netherlands, a producer of biodegradable urns is helping families ensure that their loved ones’ end-of-life journeys “reflect their life philosophy.” Legendurns’ latest offering is made from 99% made from Brewers’ spent grains—a residue from malted barley used to make beer. According to the company, conventional urns often contain heavy metals that cause environmental […]

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Amazon’s Female Founder Initiative invests in bioplastic maker Genecis

Amazon’s Female Founder Initiative invests in bioplastic maker Genecis

March 13, 2023 |

In Seattle, online retail behemoth amazon has invested an undisclosed sum in bioplastics startup Genecis. Luna Yu founded Genecis at the age of 21 to convert organic waste into biodegradable plastic. The funds were distributed from amazon’s Climate Pledge Fund, which has earmarked $50 million for female-founded and -led climate technology companies through its Female […]

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USDA marks first National Bioproducts Day

USDA marks first National Bioproducts Day

March 13, 2023 |

In Washington, DC, the US Department of Agriculture celebrated the inaugural National Bioproducts Day on March 8. The day is intended to highlight organizations and individuals working to improve sustainability within the federal government.  A key component of these federal sustainability efforts is USDA’s BioPreferred® Program, which Congress created under the 2002 Farm Bill. USDA […]

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Huntsman’s European polyurethanes plants achieve mass balance certification

Huntsman’s European polyurethanes plants achieve mass balance certification

March 9, 2023 |

In the Netherlands, Huntsman said its Rotterdam and Wilton, UK manufacturing facilities have achieved the International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC PLUS) for mass balance following audits by Bureau Veritas. The company explained that ISCC PLUS is a global sustainability certification system that makes it possible to track the amount and sustainability characteristics of circular […]

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Bhairav Biofuels aims to set up a new ethanol facility in Madhya Pradesh

Bhairav Biofuels aims to set up a new ethanol facility in Madhya Pradesh

March 9, 2023 |

In India, Projects Today reported that Bhairav Biofuels intends to set up a grain-based distillery unit to produce ethanol in Madhya Pradesh. According to the report, the project will also involve setting up a 2-MW co-generation power plant. The proposed ethanol plant will span over 60.39 acres of land and will generate employment for about […]

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BASF starts production of biobased polyol in India

BASF starts production of biobased polyol in India

March 9, 2023 |

In India, BASF has begun production of its first bio-based polyol, Sovermol, in Mangalore. The firm noted that this product serves the fast-growing demand of eco-friendly products for applications in New Energy Vehicles (NEV), windmills, flooring and protective industrial coatings in Asia Pacific. “Asia Pacific is the world’s fastest growing market for NEV and coatings. […]

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