In Georgia, Renmatix announced that Ian Purtle has joined their Scientific Advisory Board. Purtle retired from his post as Cargill’s Chief Scientist and Director of Sustainable Energy this past June after 39 years with the company. The SAB is led by Dr. Colakyan and guides Rematix’s work in coverting cellulose containing biomass to sugar for […]
In Michigan, Ford and Lear Corp. report using a new head restraint foam with 25% soy based polyol, and that 75% of their North American built vehicles of bio-based foam in their head restraints. Models include the F-150, Taurus, Explorer and Fusion. Bio-based foam is also used in all their vehicles seat cushions and backs, […]
In Portugal, Joana Carvalho has developed a biodegradable, biopolymer coffee cup, saucer and spoon set. The cup is on a plastic model kit “tree”, so that it can be made in one single injection mold, and stacks. The kit includes coffee beans, so you can bury your used coffee cup kit, effectively composting the cup […]
In the United Kingdom, Biome Technologies announced that both the Bioplastic and RF Technologies divisions were profitable for the first time. In reporting their interim results for the six months ending on June 30, Biome reported 49% growth in their Bioplastics Division with 131% sales grown by Biome Bioplastics in the UK, with the division […]
In Oregon, Trellis Earth announced plans to build a $10-million manufacturing facility on its Wilsonville site in the first quarter of 2012, aiming to lower prices and better compete with oil-based products. Trellis Earth is raising money to move two thirds of its manufacturing from China to its 33,000 sq ft facility in Wilsonville. Bag […]
In Europe and the US, an international team of researchers have produced a viable bacterium in which one of the four DNA bases has been replaced with 5-chlorouracil. Applied to Escherichia coli K12 strain, the researchers have developed a bacteria that requires 5-chlorouracil which is not found in nature, resulting in a bacteria that cannot […]
In Canada, BioAmber has selected Sarnia in Ontario, Canada for its first North American biosuccinic acid plant. The Sarnia plant will have an initial capacity of 17,000 MT and will be commissioned in 2013. Permitting work for the plant was initiated in June 2011. BioAmber currently produces and sells biobased succinic acid at a 3,000 […]
In Rhode Island, igus reports developing a new plastic bushing made of 54 percent raw, renewable materials. iglide N54 plastic bushings use vegetable oil rather than the more traditionally used crude oil. They are ideal for low-load applications in a variety of different industries such as consumer products, general mechanical engineering and furniture.
In Michigan, BASF reports that that UL Environment and their Environmental Claims Validation have validated environmental and sustainability claims for volatile organic compound emissions and bio-based content of its Spray Polyurethane Foam products. The ECVs covered BASF’s SPF wall insulation, air barrier and roofing products, including: ENERTITE, SPRAYTITE , WALLTITE, COMFORT FOAM , FE348 Series and ELASTOSPRAY.
In Canada, University of Alberta researcher David Bressler and his team have developed a bioplastic from cows. Using waste products that now cost meat processors $30/tonne to dispose of, Bressler can make an odorless, opaque, brown powder that can be cast, with the ability to vary strength depending on the number of chemical steps involved. […]
