In Nebraska, Laurel BioComposite, a start-up bioresin company has opened its first pilot plant in Laurel, Nebraska. The “Bio-Res” pellets, made from ethanol byproducts, were shipped to several customers for tests regarding the improvement of renewable content in plastic products up to 40%. The company plans to build a $17m commercial-scale plant with a 40m […]
In Finland, a team has written an article for the forthcoming issue of the International Journal of Sustainable Economy, suggesting that biogas generated in landfills be used as an alternative feedstock for the chemical industry, rather than for generating electricity. Jouko Arvola of the University of Oulu and colleagues there and at Oulu University of […]
In California, Verdezyne has opened its first pilot plant to produce adipic acid, a key component of nylon 6,6. The new facility, located in Carlsbad, California will be used to accelerate the commercialization of Verdezyne’s bio-based adipic acid, which is one of two components used to manufacture ‘green’ nylon 6,6 and thermoplastic polyurethane resins from […]
In the Netherlands, Rodenburg Biopolymers has acquired Optimum. Rodenburg is known for their Solanyl bioplastic, sourced from potato starch. Optimum’s product is a FlourPlast, for which they sell a modular building block system for customers to set up the formulation of their own end products. Financial details were not disclosed.
In New Jersey, Falken Industries has started increased production of biodegradable wet wipe products at their expanded European plant from 8,000 to 20,000 tonnes, and will be ramping up compounding capacity for their derivative products in the Clean Plus branded biodegradable products. Falken anticipates a growing demand for their bio-based and biodegradable vehicular care product […]
In Washington, the DOD awarded a $500,000 Small Business Innovation Research Phase II grant to Northern Technologies International for the development of biobased and marine biodegradable non-plastic bags. In collaboration, NTIC and MSU developed a modified plant oil based product as a coating material on selected paper substrates. Having successfully demonstrated proof-of-concept in Phase I, […]
In Germany, BASF reports their biodegradable plastic passes the test under real-world conditions. The study took place in Bad Dürkheim, from April to June 2011. Around 65,000 households each received ten Ecovio FS bio-waste bags free of charge, and could buy more if needed. IBK-Solutions was responsible for analyzing the compost. BASF credits Ecovio’s compostability […]
In Finland, Telko and UPM have signed a distribution agreement for UPM’s new composite product UPM ForMi. Telko will sell the natural fibre composite developed by UPM through its global distribution network to the furniture, vehicle and electronics industries and to plastic companies that manufacture consumer products. UPM ForMi is a composite that can be […]
In Japan, Toray Industries reports they have succeeded in producing laboratory-scale samples of the world’s first fully renewable biobased PET fiber by using fully renewable biobased PET derived from biobased para-xylene from Gevo. Toray used terephthalic acid synthesized from Gevo’s biobased para-xylene and commercially available renewable mono ethylene glycol (MEG) as raw materials, and successfully […]
In Vermont, Seventh Generation announced that the company’s new reformulation of its best-selling laundry liquids has received a USDA BioPreferred label. The innovation responsible for this distinction is a brand new surfactant derived entirely from plant-based materials that’s been developed by the company and its partners at Rhodia. Company officials expect the new plant-based surfactant […]
