Category: Top Stories

Cacao village, lab-grown oysters, fish waste-based surfactants, Maybelline going biobased by 2030, and more: The Digest’s Top 8 Innovations for the week of January 28th

January 27, 2022 | admin

The dream of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is closer than you may think with an entire village called Cacao Eco Village being planned in Ecuador using renewable construction materials including 3D printed cacao waste. It comes complete with an education and research center and of course, a chocolate factory. And cleaning with fish waste […]

The Race to Reduce GHGs, Dependence on Petroleum, and Provide True Environmental Justice: Where Will the Reductions Come From?

January 26, 2022 | Jim Lane

By Doug Durante, Executive Director, Clean Fuels Development Coalition Special to The Digest Reducing greenhouse gases, decarbonizing our transportation fuels, providing environmental justice—all laudable objectives, but in the face of political, financial, and practical obstacles, can we realistically expect meaningful results in the short or even mid term? We can if we put egos aside […]

Spring of Algae: The Algae Prize is born

January 25, 2022 | Jim Lane

Since the summer of last year, a cadre of algae and energy R&D veterans have been hammering away to create The Algae Prize, to catalyze student teams to tackle Production, Downstream Processing, Identification of Novel Products or Tools and compete for $130,000 in prizes, in a $300,000 initiative now sponsored by the US Department of […]

Bioplastics: Re-shaping the future of our planet

January 24, 2022 | Jim Lane

By Dr. Pramod Kumbhar, President and Chief Technology Officer, Praj Industries Special to The Digest The landscape of plastics and drivers for sustainable solutions As society moves towards sustainable development and a circular economy, one aspect which needs urgent attention is the use of plastic and plastic-based products. With multiple functions and excellent material properties […]

Eco Wave Power’s deal with AltaSea in LA, NJ legislation, $1B Build Back Better challenge and more

January 23, 2022 | admin

It’s been wave after wave of news from Eco Wave Power lately. Just hours before they rang the bell on the Nasdaq Capital Market on Friday to celebrate becoming a public company – a measure of success by many – Eco Wave Power shared the news that they signed a collaboration agreement with AltaSea at […]

Competitive Edge: WESAF Energy Solutions

January 20, 2022 | Jim Lane

Q: What was the reason for founding your organization – what was the open niche you saw that could be addressed with a new product or service? What was the problem, or gap, or opportunity? We decided to set up WESAF ENERGY as there is a glaring gap in the African energy matrix which is […]

Philips biobased appliances, BIOPROT face masks, bio yoga mats and bandages, and more: The Digest’s Top 8 Innovations for the week of January 20th

January 19, 2022 | admin

That mornin’ cup of joe will taste even better knowing it was brewed in a biobased coffee maker. Yep, biobased appliances are going mainstream with Philips launching an entire line of home appliances – toaster, kettle, and coffee maker – made out of polypropylene manufactured from used plant-based cooking oil. Then you can head out […]

On the Move: National Biodiesel Board becomes Clean Fuels Alliance America

January 18, 2022 | Jim Lane

In Nevada, the National Biodiesel Board changed its name and expanded its mission, becoming the Clean Fuels Alliance America, in an announce at the opening session of the 2022 National Biodiesel Conference & Expo in Las Vegas. On its 30th anniversary, NBB said it envisions the transformation to Clean Fuels as a way to further […]

Whither goest thou, Zymergen?

January 18, 2022 | Jim Lane

Over the summer and fall, Zymergen’s Hyaline thin films project fell into crisis. There were reports of customer disappointment, expected revenues de-materialized, the stock price collapsed, two of the three co-founders left, and former Illumina CEO Jay Flatley stepped in as interim CEO. It was a year only Rough Riders could have enjoyed in Zymerland. […]

Advanced feedstocks represent a generational opportunity – Here’s how to take it

January 17, 2022 | Jim Lane

By Mikala Grubb M.Sc., Ph.D., Director, Clean Fuels Technology, Haldor Topsoe Special to The Digest The global transition to sustainably produced fuels offers refiners, biorefiners, and investors a once-in-a-generation-sized opportunity. The key to taking it will be advanced feedstocks, as detailed in this column which uncovers how to make the most of the enormous […]

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