Scotland-based Edinburgh Napier University’s Biofuels Research Centre has spun out a new company that focuses on converting waste products derived from whisky production into biobutanol and other renewable chemicals. The new company, Celtic Renewables Ltd., officially launched Jan. 25.
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Whisky byproducts serve as biobutanol feedstock in Scotland
February 3, 2012
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1 New products, 2 Properties, Biobased | Tagged: biobased, biobutanol, biosourced, Celtic Renewables, Monomer, Whisky | 
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Posted by Frédéric Chivrac
Companies join forces to develop biopolyols from cashew shells
February 3, 2012
Springdale, Ariz.-based BioBased Technologies and Skippack, Pa.-based Palmer International have joined forces to form a strategic alliance that will focus on the development of a new family of biobased polyols derived from cashew nutshell liquid (CNL) for use in rigid foam applications.
Leave a Comment » | 1 New products, Additives, Applications, Biobased | Tagged: biobased, bioplastics, biopolymer, biosourced, cashew, nutshell, Palmer International, Skippack, Springdale | Permalink
Posted by Frédéric Chivrac
EcoSynthetix lands SDTC funding to commercialize EcoMer biomonomer platform
February 3, 2012
Burlington, Ontario-based EcoSynthetix Inc. has secured a $2.1 million funding award from Sustainable Development Technology Canada to support the development and commercialization of its novel biobased EcoMer monomer technology platform, which has the potential to address a $30 billion target market across multiple industrial applications such as toners, water-based inks, water-based paints and coatings, surfactants and pressure sensitive adhesives (PSA).
Leave a Comment » | 1 New products, Additives | Tagged: biobased, Biodegradability, bioplastic, biopolymer, biosourced, building block, building blocks, dextrose, Ecomer, EcoSynthetix, glucose, Monomer, saccharides | Permalink
Posted by Frédéric Chivrac
Rhodia Signs Agreement with Fulgar to Produce Bio-based PA 66 Yarn for European Textile Market
February 2, 2012
Rhodia, a member of the Solvay group, and Fulgar, Europe’s largest producer of polyamide 66 yarn for the textile industry, engage discussions aiming an agreement to produce and market Emana® yarn in Europe.
Emana® is the latest innovation in textiles from Rhodia. The result of four years of development in Rhodia’s research centers, Emana® is a polyamide 66 yarn which incorporates bioactive mineral crystals in its polymer matrix, making it possible to produce clothes that promote a high level of interaction between the fabric and skin, improving blood microcirculation and cellular metabolism.
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Posted by Vincent Berthé
Galactic to Invest in New Lactic Acid Innovation Plant
January 30, 2012
Galactic, a leading supplier of lactic acid and lactates has announced its intention to invest in a multi-million innovation centre for food and non-food applications in Escanaffles, Belgium.
The 2,000 m² building will house several laboratories and pilot facilities dedicated to the development of new applications for lactic acid and lactates in meat, bakery and dairy as well as in non-food sectors such as paints, coatings, inks and surface treatment. It will also provide a comprehensive platform fully equipped with fermentation halls and chemical reactors for research on new molecules (Lactochemistry).
Leave a Comment » | 1 New products, Biobased, Biodegradability | Tagged: biobased, Biodegradability, biosourced, Galactic, lactic, Monomer, PLA | Permalink
Posted by Frédéric Chivrac
Glycerin – Chemical building block
January 26, 2012Crude glycerine is usually used in the animal feed market or can be refined or purified for higher-value applications such as in pharmaceuticals, soaps, cosmetics, food and beverages. In fact there are probably over 1,500 different uses of glycerol, according to industry players. Glycerol is structurally analogous to sugars.
According to the US Department of Energy (DOE) in a 2004 study, glycerol is one of the top 12 building block chemicals from biomass. Glycerol is made from natural fats and oils (as we sometimes called it lipids) via the chemical process esterification/transesterification. Crude glycerin has minimum 85% glycerol, with low salts and many organics such as free fatty acids and distillates), according to ICIS.
Within biodiesel production, the purity of biodiesel (and consequently glycerin) depends on the feedstock used. Higher cost virgin vegetable oil feedstocks contain few impurities and are comparatively easy to process while lower cost and unrefined virgin vegetable oil feedstocks generally contain impurities that must be pretreated as part of the production process.
Leave a Comment » | 1 New products, Biobased | Tagged: biobased, Biodegradability, Biodiesel, bioplastics, biosourced, building block, building blocks, Glycerol, Glycos Biotechnologies, Renewable Energy Group | Permalink
Posted by Frédéric Chivrac
Film coatings made from whey
January 26, 2012From pre-packed Camembert to shrink-wrapped meat loaf – choosing the right packaging is a key issue in the food industry. Companies need to protect food products from oxygen, moisture and chemical and biological contamination while keeping them fresh for as long as possible.
Leave a Comment » | 1 New products, Applications | Tagged: biobased, bioplastic, biopolymer, biosourced, EVOH, IRIS, Multilayer, packaging, Whey | Permalink
Posted by Frédéric Chivrac
Rhodia and Avantium to jointly develop biobased polyamide bioplastics
January 26, 2012
Rhodia, member of the Solvay Group, and Avantium announced today that they have entered into a partnership to jointly develop a range of new bio-based polyamides targeting a variety of applications.
This partnership expands and completes the previously announced development agreement in the field of bio-based engineering plastics between Solvay and Avantium. Building on the newly combined forces of Rhodia and Solvay, the extended relationship offers the partners a unique opportunity to explore a wide range of compositions and applications based on Avantium’s YXY technology in the larger Polyamide field.In the frame of this joint development, the companies will explore the market potential of polyamide compositions on the basis of YXY building blocks. Produced from renewable and bio-based feedstock, these compositions are expected to exhibit superior environmental profile and at the same time to deliver applicative performances at a competitive cost. Rhodia will test these new polyamides for fibers and engineering applications in various areas such as consumer goods, automotive and electronic materials. Rhodia and Avantium have entered into a multi-year, exclusive collaboration towards commercialization of these new polyamides.
Leave a Comment » | 1 New products, 2 Properties, Biobased | Tagged: Avantium, building blocks, Polyamide, Rhodia, Solvay, XYX | Permalink
Posted by Frédéric Chivrac
Penford and Novomer Partner to Develop Sustainable Packaging Materials
January 26, 2012
Centennial, CO—Penford Corporation, a company with significant business and expertise in specialty starches and sustainable bio-products and Novomer Inc., a new materials company pioneering a family of high-performance plastics and polymers using renewable feedstocks such as carbon dioxide, announce that they have entered into a Joint Development Agreement that will leverage the two companies’ core technologies and expertise.
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Posted by Frédéric Chivrac
Novamont Launches Joint Venture for European BDO Plant using Genomatica’s Process
January 26, 2012
Genomatica and Novamont announced they have signed a definitive agreement establishing a joint venture (JV) for the first industrial plant in Europe producing butanediol (BDO) directly from renewable feedstocks. This follows the announcement on August 18, 2011 of a letter of intent between the companies. Novamont will have a majority of the equity in the JV, and Genomatica a minority interest. Novamont, a leading producer of biodegradable bioplastics, will consume the BDO for its own internal use to meet the increasing demand for its biopolymer products that incorporate BDO as a key monomer.
Leave a Comment » | 1 New products | Tagged: BDO, biobased, bioplastic, bioplastics, biopolymer, biosourced, genomatica, Monomer, Novamont | Permalink
Posted by Frédéric Chivrac
Bioethanol business players
January 26, 2012- DuPont Cellulosic Ethanol – The company’s cellulosic ethanol business is planning to build a 27.5m gal/year cellulosic ethanol plant in Nevada, Iowa, which is expected to start in late 2013.
- INEOS Bio – the advanced biofuel technology business of Switzerland-based petrochemical company INEOS. Through its joint-venture project INEOS New Planet BioEnergy (INPB), the company plans to start commercial production of cellulosic ethanol this year in a 24,000 tonne/year biorefinery in Vero Beach, Florida. Read the rest of this entry »
1 Comment | 1 New products, Biobased | Tagged: Aemetis, BlueFire Renewables, Celanese, Coskata, Dow Chemical, DSM, Dupont, Enerkem's, Gruppo Mossi & Ghisolfi, INEOS, LanzaTech, POET, Sud-Chemie, Zeachem's | Permalink
Posted by Frédéric Chivrac
DSM partners with POET on ethanol
January 26, 2012
DSM forms a joint venture with US ethanol producer POET called POET-DSM Advanced Biofuels. It is actually not surprising that DSM will venture into this path given the company’s enzymes business. Major enzymes producer in the biofuel field today includes DSM, DuPont (via the newly acquired Danisco/Genencor), Novozymes,Verenium, Codexis, Syngenta…
The 50-50 POET-DSM JV is scheduled to start cellulosic ethanol production in the second half of 2013 via POET’s 20m-25m gal/year facility dubbed Project Liberty currently being constructed in Emmetsburg, Iowa (initial Capex is $250m).
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Posted by Frédéric Chivrac
Danisco Releases Life Cycle Assessment for Impact of SOFT-N-SAFE™ Bio-based Plasticizer on Environment
January 26, 2012
Danisco has recently released its cradle-to-gate Life Cycle Assessment for SOFT-N-SAFE™, the bio-based plasticizer from Glycerine and Castor Oil, to add to the weight of evidence that the company has produced in support of the product’s benign Environmental profile.
The plasticizer – used primarily by the PVC industry to substitute for any ‘plasticizers of concern’ – is based on Glycerine and Castor Oil and has made considerable inroads into both the Food Contact and the Technical markets across a wide spectrum of end-uses and other polymers such as PET and Acrylics. Commented Mikkel Thrane, Danisco‘s Life Cycle Assessment Manager: “Having previously released comprehensive information on the safety of SOFT-N-SAFE™ for human beings it was only logical that we completed the picture with a detailed life cycle assessment of the environmental impacts in accordance with the ISO 14044 standard as well as the ILCD Handbook from the Joint Research Centre of European Commission. We are naturally pleased at the result and the study – which is 3rd party verified – highlights the minimum impact that this product has on our environment. With a low impact on Water resources, Non-renewable resource depletion and Greenhouse Gas emissions it has all the hallmarks of a genuinely sustainable product”.
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Posted by Frédéric Chivrac
Cereplast Introduces Next Generation Hybrid Resins
January 26, 2012
Cereplast, Inc. (Nasdaq:CERP), a leading manufacturer of proprietary biobased, compostable and sustainable plastics, has introduced the next generation of Cereplast Hybrid Resins®, an expansion of the Biopropylene® PP-based resin product offering through two new bioplastic resin grades, Hybrid 102D and 105D. Cereplast anticipates going to market with the new resin grades during the first half of 2012 in the United States and Europe.
Leave a Comment » | 1 New products, 2 Properties, Applications, Biobased | Tagged: biobased, Biohybrid, bioplastic, bioplastics, biopolymer, biosourced, cereplast, packaging | Permalink
Posted by Frédéric Chivrac
The Business of Biobutanol
January 26, 2012
Eastman Chemical Co. ventured into the biobutanol space in November when its subsidiary Eastman Renewable Materials LLC acquired TetraVitae Biosciences Inc. and its assets. TetraVitae Biosciences is a developer of biobutanol and bioacetone, which are platform intermediates in the production of a variety of products, including coatings, molded plastics and personal care products. The company’s technology features the use of Clostridium Beijerinckii BA 101, a proprietary, mutant, nongenetically modified organism. To date, TetraVitae Bioscience’s process has been demonstrated through the retrofit of a corn ethanol demonstration facility at the National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center at Southern Illinois University.
1 Comment | 1 New products, 2 Properties, Biobased | Tagged: bioacetone, biobased, biobutanol, biosourced, Eastman, Monomer, TetraVitae Biosciences | Permalink
Posted by Frédéric Chivrac
Coskata looking at bio-propylene
January 3, 2012
According to the company’s S-1 report, Coskata reportedly possessed a propanol production technology – and combined with alcohol dehydration technology, they can produce propylene. The company has partnered with Total Petrochemicals (since December 2010) and IFP Energies Nouvelles & Axens on this research.
1 Comment | 1 New products, Biobased | Tagged: Axens, biobased, biosourced, Blackstone, Coskata, Ethylene, General Motors, Khosla ventures, Monomer, Propylene, Sumitomo, Total | Permalink
Posted by Frédéric Chivrac
Polyden Selects Cardia’s Biohybrid™ Technology to Produce Flexible Films for Packaging Industry
December 23, 2011
Cardia Bioplastics and Polyden Folien have announced their cooperation on sustainable film products for the European packaging industry.
Polyden Folien has launched their new range of packaging films made with Cardia Biohybrid™ technology that meet highest packaging performance standards. Cardia Biohybrid™ proprietary technology combines renewable thermoplastics with polyethylene material to reduce dependence on finite oil resources and to reduce carbon footprint.
Leave a Comment » | 1 New products, Applications, Biobased | Tagged: biobased, Biodegradability, Biohybrid, bioplastic, bioplastics, biopolymer, biosourced, Cardia, film, Polyden | Permalink
Posted by Frédéric Chivrac
Coke invests millions to speed development of bioplastics for PlantBottle
December 23, 2011
Beverage giant Coca-Cola is making what it said was a multi-million dollar investment in three bio-based companies in an effort to accelerate the development of a PlantBottle made entirely from plants. The Atlanta-based beverage company said that it is investing in three companies:
- Virent, based in Madison, Wis., which make a bio-based feedstock, BioForm X, for paraxylene
- Gevo, in Englewood, Colo., which has developed a 100 percent renewable isobutanol, which is a building block for paraxylene.
- Avantium Research and Technology, a Netherlands company whose YXY chemical catalytic technology has led to the company’s development of a new bio-based plastic, PEF, to make 100% bio-based bottles that could be a replacement for today’s PET bottles.
Coke’s aim is to advance the technology to make purified terephthalic acid from non-petroleum sources. PTA accounts for 70% of the PET bottle formulation by weight and monoethylene glycol the other 30%.
Leave a Comment » | 1 New products, 2 Properties, Applications, Biobased | Tagged: Avamtium, biobased, BioPET, bioplastic, bioplastics, biopolymer, biosourced, Coca-Cola, Gevo, green PET, PET, plant, PlantBottle, Virent | Permalink
Posted by Frédéric Chivrac
Sundown® hits the market in packaging made of bioplastic
December 22, 2011
The new bottles made from renewable raw material are already available at drug stores and supermarkets
The SUNDOWN® regular line of products, which uses groundbreaking technology for the sun care market, is now available at stores in more sustainable packaging. It is one of the few brands around the world to use sugarcane-based polyethylene in its packaging, which contains 60% green plastic and 40% recycled material, thus helping to avoid unnecessary disposal of solid waste. To find out whether the SUNDOWN® product is manufactured using this material, consumers must look for the “I’m Green” logo on the front and back of the packaging.
Leave a Comment » | 1 New products, Applications, Biobased | Tagged: biobased, BioPE, bioplastic, bioplastics, biopolymer, biosourced, Braskem, Brazil, Green PE, Johnson & Johnson, PE, Polyethylene, Sugarcane, SUNDOWN | Permalink
Posted by Frédéric Chivrac
Laurel BioComposite Opens Pilot Plant & Ships its Bio-Res™ Pellets for Trials
December 22, 2011
Laurel BioComposite, LLC opened a new pilot plant recently and shipped Bio-Res™ pellets from its first production run to a major customer for trials. The manufacturer will test the odorless bio-material to develop enhanced adhesive applications for home products. These trial results will contribute to the database established by customer-tested Bio-Res-based injection molded parts which show a 10 percent increase in stiffness and tensile modulus.
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Posted by Frédéric Chivrac
Mitsubishi Motors develops new eco-friendly floor mats using plant-based fibers
December 22, 2011
Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC), working with EIDAIKAKO Co., Ltd., MRC Pylen Co., Ltd. and Toyota Tsusho Corporation, has developed a new floor mat made using plant-based bio-polyethylene (bio-PE) fiber to add to its lineup of proprietary plant-based “Green Plastic” products. The company plans to start production of the new floor mats in the summer of 2012.
Leave a Comment » | 1 New products, Applications, Biobased | Tagged: bio-PE, bio-polyethylene, biobased, bioplastic, bioplastics, biopolymer, biosourced, EIDAIKAKO, Fiber, fibers, Fibre, Fibres, mat, Mitsubishi, Mitsubishi Motors, PE, Polyethylene, Toyota Tsusho | Permalink
Posted by Frédéric Chivrac
Flexible Solutions to make aspartic acid from sugar
December 20, 2011
FLEXIBLE SOLUTIONS INTERNATIONAL is the developer and manufacturer of biodegradable polymers for oil extraction, detergent ingredients and crop nutrient availability chemistry, as well as biodegradable and environmentally safe water and energy conservation technologies. Today FSI is pleased to announce that the Taber Alberta, aspartic acid from sugar plant has reached commercial operating status.
Leave a Comment » | Additives, Biobased | Tagged: aspartic, biobased, biosourced, Canadian, Detergent, Flexible solutions, FSI | Permalink
Posted by Frédéric Chivrac
Total and Amyris partner to produce Renewable Fuels
December 20, 2011
Total and Amyris, Inc. announced today the signing of agreements to expand their current R&D partnership and form a joint venture to develop, produce and commercialize a range of renewable fuels and products.
Total and Amyris have agreed to expand their ongoing research and development collaboration to accelerate the deployment of Biofene® and develop renewable diesel based on this molecule produced from plant sugars. The ambitious R&D program, launched in 2010 and managed jointly by researchers from both companies, aims to develop the necessary stages to bring the next generation renewable fuels to market at commercial scale. Total has committed to contribute $105 million in funding for an existing $180 million program.
Leave a Comment » | 1 New products, 4 Suppliers, 5 Others, Biobased | Tagged: Amyris, biobased, Biofene, biosourced, Chemical, fuel, Sugarcane, Total, Yeast | Permalink
Posted by Frédéric Chivrac
Masterbatch Yields Three- to Five-Fold Increase in Melt Strength of PLA over a Wide Range of Drawdown Ratios
December 20, 2011
Terraloy® Modifier from Teknor Apex Broadens the Processing Window of PLA in Clear Cast Film and Sheet for Packaging and Other Applications.
A new melt strength enhancer in masterbatch form increases the pull force that can be applied to polylactic acid (PLA) by 300 to 500% over a wide range of drawdown ratios, making possible higher throughputs in extrusion and thermoforming while reducing scrap rates, it was announced by Teknor Apex Company.
Leave a Comment » | Additives | Tagged: Additive, Melt strength, PLA, Polylactide, Teknor Apex, Terraloy | Permalink
Posted by Frédéric Chivrac
Uhde Inventa-Fischer Proves Potential of its PLA Technology
December 20, 2011
The engineering company Uhde Inventa-Fischer has proven the potential of its self developed, patented polylactic acid (PLA) technology, PLAneo®, at its proprietary pilot plant following an operating phase of several months. The process enables tailored PLA types for a full range of applications to be manufactured as well as enabling the production of different PLA specialities.
Leave a Comment » | 1 New products, Biobased, Biodegradability | Tagged: biobased, Biodegradability, bioplastic, bioplastics, biopolymer, biosourced, PLA, PLAneo, Poly(lactic acid), Polylactide, ThyssenKrupp, Uhde Inventa-Fischer | Permalink
Posted by Frédéric Chivrac
Cereplast Introduces Three New Technologically Advanced Compostable Resin Grades Offering Improved Properties to the Bioplastics Market
December 20, 2011
Cereplast, Inc. a leading manufacturer of proprietary biobased, compostable and sustainable plastics, today announced that their three new resin grades, Compostable 3002, Compostable 3010, and Compostable 3020, have received DIN CERTCO certifications of compostability. These new resin grades provide superior properties and are for use on blown film extruder lines for the manufacture of compostable bags.
Leave a Comment » | 1 New products, Biobased, Biodegradability | Tagged: biobased, Biodegradability, bioplastic, bioplastics, biopolymer, biosourced, Blend, cereplast, compostable, Ingeo, PLA, Polylactide | Permalink
Posted by Frédéric Chivrac
Bio-based polypropylene to be available by end of 2013
December 19, 2011
Bio based polypropylene will be available by end of 2013. Braskem America Inc. is expanding its biopolymer portfolio with a new line of bio-based PP range targeted for the rigid and flexible packaging markets. Bio-based PP will be made with ethanol derived from sugarcane.
Read the rest of this entry »
Leave a Comment » | 1 New products, Biobased | Tagged: biobased, bioplastic, bioplastics, biosourced, Braskem, Brazil, Ethanol, polyolefines, polypropylene, PP, Sugarcane | Permalink
Posted by Frédéric Chivrac
Researchers Make Biodegradable Plastic Bottles from Olive Skins
December 19, 2011Soon you may be able to buy olive oil in bioplastic bottles made from a compound found in olive skins, thanks to the work of a Spanish researcher.
Jesús Zorrilla has found a way to extract PHAs (polyhydroxyalkanoates) from the residues of olive skins, which in turn can be used to make plastic containers that are non-toxic and 100 percent biodegradable.
According to a press release from Jaen’s Sierra de Segura, an olive oil denomination of origin, Zorrilla used byproducts from one of the D.O.’s olive oil mills to develop the compound.
Leave a Comment » | Applications, Biobased, Biodegradability | Tagged: biobased, Biodegradability, bioplastic, bioplastics, biopolymer, biosourced, Bottle, Oil, Olive, PHA, polyhydroxyalkanoate | Permalink
Posted by Frédéric Chivrac
Synterra® IM high heat resistant and non-GMO PLA bioplastic wins Blue Tulip award
December 7, 2011
By mixing 100% pure PLLA with 100% PDLA, a fast cycle and heat-resistant injection mouldable PLA with very good temperature and impact properties is made that far exceeds the properties of the individual polymers. With a Heat Deflection Temperature (HDT) of 123°C Synterra® IM material performs much better than conventional PLA and the impact strength is comparable to that of ABS. After injection molding the IM material is able to withstand boiling water. With this development Synbra Technology sets a step in developing a new generation of high performance biopolymers.
Leave a Comment » | 1 New products, 2 Properties, 4 Suppliers, Applications, Biobased, Biodegradability | Tagged: Award, biobased, Biodegradability, bioplastic, bioplastics, biopolymer, biosourced, PDLA, PLA, PLLA, Polylactide, Reactive extrusion, Synbra, Synterra | Permalink
Posted by Frédéric Chivrac
Borregaard’s 2nd generation bioethanol in Statoil’s petrol
December 7, 2011
Bioethanol produced by Borregaard will be delivered to motorists who fill Bensin95 at Statoil petrol stations in eastern Norway.
Borregaard has entered into an agreement with Statoil concerning sale of all the company can deliver of available bioethanol, which is a quantity of 44,000 litres per month. Statoil will be picking up its first load this week.
Borregaard is the world’s largest manufacturer of 2nd generation bioethanol, with a production of around 20 million litres per year. The bioethanol that is produced in Borregaard’s biorefinery is produced by extracting sugar from wood, which is then fermented to make ethanol. At present, Borregaard delivers bioethanol from its Sarpsborg facility for heavy goods vehicles and buses in the Oslo region. The contract with Statoil means that the company can also deliver the additive for use in cars:
Leave a Comment » | 1 New products, Biobased | Tagged: 2nd generation, biobased, bioplastic, bioplastics, biopolymer, biosourced, Borregaard, Ethanol, Norway, Statoil, Wood | Permalink
Posted by Frédéric Chivrac
Verdezyne starts pilot adipic acid plant
December 6, 2011
The company announced today that it has started its pilot plant operation in Carlsbad, California — Verdezyne’s first biobased adipic acid at scale.
The company said “the plant will be used to demonstrate scalability of their process, validate their cost projections and generate sufficient quantities for commercial market development.”
Leave a Comment » | 1 New products, Biobased | Tagged: Adipic acid, biobased, Biodegradability, bioplastics, biopolymer, biosourced, pilot, plant, verdezyne | Permalink
Posted by Frédéric Chivrac
Solegear Signs Agreement with Canadian Universities for Development of Innovations in Bioplastics
December 6, 2011
Building on its solid line-up of strategic partners, Solegear Bioplastics Inc has announced that, it has signed letters of agreement with the University of British Columbia and Ecole Polytechnique to support the research and development of additional innovations in bioplastics.
The agreements will enable Solegear to work closely with the chemical and biological engineering departments at these world-renowned institutions to uncover methods to alter the thermal properties of bioplastics as well as increase their strength, durability and moisture resistance. Solegear had planned to present initial findings on moisture management in bioplastics at the Biopolymer Symposium 2011 this past September, but will now be able to contribute to leading research in this space to achieve even greater results.
Leave a Comment » | 3 Research, Applications, Biobased | Tagged: biobased, bioplastic, biosourced, Polysole, Solegear Bioplastics, Traverse | Permalink
Posted by Frédéric Chivrac
Puma Plans to Produce Compostable Clothing
November 23, 2011
Puma has been making some serious changes to its sustainability initiatives and has come out the front-runner in many areas. The company recently told Greenpeace that it would phase out all hazardous chemicals from its supply chain by 2020. Earlier this year, it was the first company to put a financial value on environmental impact.
Last year the company launched its Clever Little Bag, a reusable bag to replace shoeboxes made from 65 percent less paper and energy. Now it wants to lead the way in materials technology and tackle what happens to their goods once people no longer want to use them.
Leave a Comment » | 1 New products, Applications, Biobased, Biodegradability | Tagged: biobased, Biodegradability, bioplastic, bioplastics, biopolymer, biosourced, Clothes, Fiber, fibers, Fibre, Fibres, Puma | Permalink
Posted by Frédéric Chivrac
Iggesund presents Invercote Bio at Luxe Pack
November 23, 2011
Versatile drinking cups with a green profile
At this year’s Luxe Pack in Green Iggesund is presenting single-use drinking cups made of paperboard coated with biodegradable bioplastic. Invercote Bio is the name chosen by Iggesund for the combination of its own paperboard and the Italian company Novamont’s Mater-Bi. Both materials are certified as biodegradable.
Leave a Comment » | 1 New products, Applications, Biobased | Tagged: biobased, Biodegradability, bioplastic, bioplastics, biopolymer, biosourced, Cup, Iggesund, Mater-bi, Novamont, Paperboard | Permalink
Posted by Frédéric Chivrac
Braskem’s green plastic to be used in the production of seats for the Amsterdan ArenA stadium
November 23, 2011
Agreement with the Brazilian petrochemical company envisages the supply of raw material for 2,000 seats made of 100% renewable plastic for the Dutch stadium
Braskem, the leading thermoplastic resin producer in the Americas and the world’s largest producer of biopolymers, established a partnership with Amsterdam ArenA to supply Green Plastic to be used in the production of seats for the multifunctional Dutch stadium. In addition to the 52,000 existing seats, two thousand new seats manufactured with Braskem’s plastic made from ethanol will be installed in the coming months. By the end of the next two years, all 54,000 seats will be made of plastic from 100% renewable raw material, using Brazilian technology. The announcement will be made on Friday, the day the Netherlands celebrate its national Sustainability Day.
Leave a Comment » | 1 New products, Applications, Biobased | Tagged: biobased, bioplastic, bioplastics, biopolymer, biosourced, Braskem, Football, Germany, Green PE, PE, Stadium | Permalink
Posted by Frédéric Chivrac
Compostable, tear-resistant and waterproof: Ecovio bio-waste bags
November 23, 2011
Leftover lettuce, old bunches of flowers, potato peelings, coffee grounds: the average kitchen generates lots of organic waste. This can be turned into nutrient-rich compost in an industrial composting plant, but only if it is collected separately in advance – and that can be a bothersome and unhygienic task. Throw the leftovers straight into the bin and you will be confronted with a foul-smelling residue after emptying it. Lining the bin with a paper bag means liquid soaks through, the paper tears. This dilemma results in large quantities of compostable material ending up in the normal rubbish and subsequently being incinerated, using lots of energy in the process. Alternatively, biodegradable waste is disposed of in regular plastic bags, which must be painstakingly removed at the composting plant.
Leave a Comment » | 1 New products, Applications, Biobased, Biodegradability | Tagged: Bag, BASF, biobased, Biodegradability, bioplastics, biopolymer, biosourced, Compost, Ecovio, Ecovio FS, waste | Permalink
Posted by Frédéric Chivrac
Toray succeeds in production of the world’s first fully renewable, biobased PET Fiber
November 17, 2011
Toray Industries, Inc. has 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 paraxylene from Gevo, Inc., a leading company in renewable chemicals and advanced biofuels. Gevo has succeeded in converting isobutanol, produced from biomass by employing its own highly effective production method that uses synthetic biology, to synthesize para-xylene employing conventional chemical process used in commercial operations.Toray used terephthalic acid synthesized from Gevo’s biobased para-xylene and commercially available renewable mono ethylene glycol (MEG) as raw materials, and successfully produced the PET samples by applying a new technology and PET polymerization in June this year. This biobased PET has exhibited properties equivalent to petro-based PET in laboratory conditions.
Leave a Comment » | 1 New products, Applications, Biobased | Tagged: Bio MEG, biobased, BioPET, bioplastic, bioplastics, biopolymer, biosourced, Fiber, fibers, Fibre, Fibres, Gevo, MEG, Paraxylene, PET, toray | Permalink
Posted by Frédéric Chivrac
A bio-fibre designed with Arkema’s Rilsan® Polyamide 11
November 17, 2011
Unitika Fiber, a Japanese fibre and textile manufacturer, has developed a special fibre using our high-performance Rilsan® PA11 polyamide, which is made from renewable materials. This fibre, called Castlon, is designed to meet the textile industry’s growing demand for plant-based materials—without compromising on performance.
Leave a Comment » | 1 New products, Applications, Biobased | Tagged: Arkema, biobased, bioplastic, bioplastics, biopolymer, biosourced, Fiber, fibers, Fibre, Fibres, Rilsan, Unitika | Permalink
Posted by Frédéric Chivrac
Huhtamaki extend its range of PLA products
November 16, 2011
Disposables manufacturer Huhtamaki has extended its environmentally-friendly BioWare® range with the introduction of new PLA Polarity tumblers and lids, ideal for a wide range of cold beverages on-the-go.
Made from Ingeo™ PLA*, a resin derived from plant starch developed from annually renewable resources, new PLA Polarity tumblers and lids are certified in accordance with EN13432, the European norm for compostability of packaging.
Available in a variety of sizes (7oz, 12oz, 16oz and 21oz), all the new tumblers have the same diameter of 95mm and can be fitted with a choice of PLA Polarity lids – domed with a hole, domed without a hole or flat straw slotted lids.
Leave a Comment » | 1 New products, 4 Suppliers, Applications, Biobased, Biodegradability | Tagged: biobased, Biodegradability, bioplastic, bioplastics, biopolymer, biosourced, compostability, EN 13 432, Huhtamaki, Ingeo products, Natureworks, PLA, Polylactide | Permalink
Posted by Violette Bourg
Dow and Mitsui get green light for bioplastics plant
November 15, 2011
Dow and Mitsui announced that they have secured the necessary regulatory approvals for their joint venture to produce bioplastics for packaging from sugar cane-derived ethanol. The companies said the governmental green light meant that operations at the Brazilian plant would likely commence in the second quarter of 2013.
‘World’s largest bioplastics plant’
Mitsui will gain a 50% stake in Dow’s facility in Santa Vitoria, in the Minas Gera region of Brazil. It claims that this facility will be the world’s largest integrated plant to manufacturer bioplastics.
Leave a Comment » | 1 New products, 4 Suppliers, 5 Others, Biobased | Tagged: bioplastic, biopolymer, biosourced, biobased, Dow, Mitsui, Sugarcane, Ethanol, bioplastics, Barzil | Permalink
Posted by Frédéric Chivrac
Mitsubishi develops bio-MMA
November 15, 2011
Mitsubishi Rayon (MRC) and its subsidiary Lucite International announced that they have developed bio-based methyl methacrylate (MMA), a chemical used in coatings, transparent plastics and adhesives.
Most of MMA is polymerized into polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), a transparent thermoplastic sometimes called acrylic glass which is an economical alternative to polycarbonate. Lucite by the way, is one of the well-known acrylic glass trademarked. MRC said it working on two approach for the bio-MMA production:
- Using biomass for feedstock in the existing production processes
- Using a novel route via fermentation process of biomass
Leave a Comment » | 1 New products, Biobased | Tagged: Isobutanol, Itaconic acid, Lucite International, methyl methacryla, Mitsubishi Rayon, MMA, PMMA, polymethyl methacrylate | Permalink
Posted by Frédéric Chivrac
Innovia links up with Sappi to promote compostable food packs
November 15, 2011
Innovia Films and Sappi Fine Paper Europe have joined forces to produce laminate compostable food packaging.
The companies have joined forces to demonstrate the potential use of laminate structures in food packaging production with their first development – a compostable soup sachet.
Through the development, which is being produced purely for showcase purposes, the companies hope to demonstrate the pack with its technical functionality, equivalent to industry standard, along with its compostability attributes. Innovia and Sappi said the laminate packs are suitable for end users in the food, confectionery and pharmaceutical industries.
Leave a Comment » | 1 New products, Applications, Biobased, Biodegradability | Tagged: biobased, Biodegradability, bioplastic, bioplastics, biopolymer, biosourced, Cellulose, film, Innovia, Laminate, packaging, Sappi Fine Paper | Permalink
Posted by Frédéric Chivrac
ADM Completes Last Step in Bio Propylene Glycol Process
November 15, 2011
Archer Daniels Midland Company announces the production of a renewable, biobased propylene glycol that meets United States Pharmacopeia (USP) and USDA Certified Biobased Product Label standards. ADM is the first company worldwide to make a biobased propylene glycol that complies with USP requirements.
Available starting in November 2011, ADM’s propylene glycol USP excipient grade has also earned the USDA Certified Biobased Product Label, ensuring the product contains 100% biobased content. The product will be sold under the trade name EVO-100™ and sales will commence over the next few weeks.
Leave a Comment » | 1 New products, Biobased | Tagged: ADM, biobased, Biodegradability, bioplastic, bioplastics, biopolymer, biosourced, P&G, Pharmacopeia, propylene glycol | Permalink
Posted by Frédéric Chivrac
EMPA Develop Production Process of Nanocellulose Powder for Automotive & Biomedicinal Applications
November 2, 2011
Empa researchers have now developed a manufacturing process for nanocellulose powder, the raw material for creating polymer composites which can be used, for example, in lightweight structures for the car industry or as membrane and filter material for biomedicinal applications. For some time now nanocellulose has been at the focus of a good deal of industrial and scientific interest as a novel biomaterial. Potential applications range from the creation of new kinds of commercially useful materials and uses in medical technology all the way to the food and pharmaceutical industries.
Leave a Comment » | 1 New products, Biobased | Tagged: Automotive, biobased, biosourced, Cellulose, Empa, Filler, Nanocellulose | Permalink
Posted by Frédéric Chivrac
FKuR Showcased its Biobased & Natural Fiber Reinforced Compounds at Fakuma 2011
November 2, 2011
Bioplastics’ producer FKuR Kunststoff GmbH presented a wide range of biodegradable, biobased and natural fiber reinforced compounds at the Fakuma 2011 show. Currently, these compounds offer a wide range of possibilities.
Leave a Comment » | 1 New products, Biobased | Tagged: biobased, Biograde, bioplastic, bioplastics, biopolymer, biosourced, Cellulose, Fiber, FKuR | Permalink
Posted by Frédéric Chivrac
New meat packaging made from bulrush
November 2, 2011That’s because the Richmond, Calif., company’s latest product line includes food display and containers that are made out of bulrushes. Yes, those tall, sturdy reeds that usually grow in wetlands or marshy areas and that figure prominently in the Moses story. The new trays and containers were designed to replace the polystyrene containers that are usually used to wrap up meat, poultry and seafood. They are manufactured by Be Green Packaging. (Excellent Packaging & Supply is the distributor.)
Leave a Comment » | 1 New products, Applications | Tagged: biobased, Biodegradability, biosourced, packaging, ulrushes | Permalink
Posted by Frédéric Chivrac
Papico appointed UK agent of leading U.S bioplastic company
November 2, 2011
Yorkshire-based paper agency Papico has been appointed UK agent to a leading U.S bio plastic technology company DaniMer to help it to market its revolutionary plant-based renewable hot melt adhesive to the UK carton industry.
Papico will be particularly beneficial in helping to gain prominence for DaniMer’s hot melt adhesive, which is being marketed as a real economic alternative to petro chemical-based products. Director of Papico Tony Knight says: “Bio technology has often had the reputation for being more costly than less environmentally-friendly alternatives, but this bio adhesive will mean carton producers and converters now have a renewable bio-adhesive that is not only competitively priced but also enables companies to offer a truly sustainable piece of packaging.”
Leave a Comment » | 1 New products, Additives | Tagged: Additive, biobased, Biodegradability, bioplastic, bioplastics, biopolymer, biosourced, Danimer, Papico, PHA, polyhydroxyalkanoate | Permalink
Posted by Frédéric Chivrac
Porcher Industries Introduces Greenlite™ – Next Generation Cellulose Fibers
November 2, 2011
Greenlite from Porcher Industries is a new generation of high performance renewable reinforcements for the composites industry. These innovative materials are based on pure cellulose fibers, which is the most abundant and renewable biomass on earth. Greenlite™ materials are biodegradable and highly compatible with biobased resins, making them suitable for the production of 100% bio-based composites on a large scale.
Leave a Comment » | 1 New products, Applications, Biobased | Tagged: biobased, Biodegradability, biosourced, Cellulose, composite, Fiber, Greenlite, Porcher | Permalink
Posted by Frédéric Chivrac
Andolfi Selects Telles’ Mirel Bioplastic Film Product for New Line of Compostable Bags
November 2, 2011
Telles, a joint venture between Metabolix, Inc. and Archer Daniels Midland Company, today announced that Andolfi & C., an innovative blown-film converter headquartered in Sant’Elpidio a Mare, Marche region, Italy, will be launching a compostable bag product line based on Mvera™ B5002, a compostable film product made from a proprietary blend with Mirel™ bioplastics.
Leave a Comment » | 1 New products, Applications, Biobased, Biodegradability | Tagged: ADM, Andolfi, biobased, Biodegradability, bioplastic, bioplastics, biopolymer, biosourced, blown, film, Mvera, packaging, polyhydroxyalkanoate, Telles | Permalink
Posted by Frédéric Chivrac
Cosmetic packaging: Natural plastic resins are emerging
October 25, 2011
The main innovation is a thermoplastic resin, so called Gaïalène, made from non-food resources grown in France. This new generation of plastic, obtained from starch and biosourced at a minimum rate of 50%, has characteristics similar to polyolefins. Its main interests are numerous : local farming, no GMO, recyclability, much better carbon footprint. The Gaïalène resin can be used for extrusion blow moulded bottles and injected parts. It also allows manufacturing 40 micron thin shrink films for multi packing solutions.
Leave a Comment » | 1 New products, Biobased | Tagged: biobased, bioplastic, bioplastics, biopolymer, biosourced, Extrusion blow molding, Gaïalene, Roquette, starch, Verse | Permalink
Posted by Frédéric Chivrac
Amyris & ETH Bioenergia Sign Agreement to Produce Biofene® in Brazil
October 24, 2011
Amyris, Inc. and ETH Bioenergia, a leading producer of ethanol, electric energy and sugar controlled by Odebrecht S.A., have signed a memorandum of understanding for the formation of a joint venture to produce Biofene®, Amyris’s renewable farnesene
Under the agreement, the joint venture would be able to access up to two million tons of sugarcane crush capacity per year at one of ETH’s greenfield mills in Brazil. The joint venture will be controlled by ETH, and Amyris will have exclusive marketing rights for the Biofene produced at the facility. By leveraging ETH’s renowned skills on biomass production and industrial performance and Amyris’s technology, the parties expect to be able to begin production by 2014.
Leave a Comment » | 1 New products, 5 Others, Biobased | Tagged: biopolymer, biosourced, biobased, Join venture, Brazil, bioplastics, Amyris, Biofene, ETH Bioenergia, JV | Permalink
Posted by Frédéric Chivrac
Lanxess and Bioamber have partnered for bio-succinic based plasticizer production
October 24, 2011
European specialty chemicals producer LANXESS and sustainable chemicals firm BioAmber have partnered to develop succinic acid-based plasticizers that are both renewable and phthalate-free, the companies announced on Thursday.
Leave a Comment » | 1 New products, Biobased, Biodegradability | Tagged: bioamber, biobased, Biodegradability, biopolymer, biosourced, lanxess, Palsticizer, Phthalate-free, succinic | Permalink
Posted by Frédéric Chivrac
Teijin develops Biofront films and sheets
October 24, 2011
Teijin Limited has developed film and sheet versions of its Biofront heat-resistant bioplastic, which already is available as fibre and resin.
In film and sheet form, Biofront exhibits high transmission properties due to its stereocomplex crystalline structure achieved with high-purity L-lactate and D-lactate polymer made from renewable plant resources.
Leave a Comment » | 1 New products, Applications, Biobased | Tagged: biobased, Biodegradability, bioplastic, bioplastics, biopolymer, biosourced, film, Heat resistant, packaging, Teijin | Permalink
Posted by Frédéric Chivrac
New Toyota hybrid uses more bio-based PET
October 21, 2011
Toyota Motor Corp. is using a bio-based PET in 80 percent of the total interior surface of its new Sai gasoline-electric hybrid, increasing its use of materials from renewable sources.
Leave a Comment » | 1 New products, Applications, Biobased | Tagged: Automotive, bio-PET, biobased, bioplastic, bioplastics, biopolymer, biosourced, Car, interior, PET, Polyethylene terephthalate, Toyota | Permalink
Posted by Frédéric Chivrac
Hutchinson uses bio-based plastic for diesel fuel line
October 20, 2011
Italian auto supplier Hutchinson srl has launched production of a fuel line for diesel engines that uses a new DuPont bio-based plastic blend.
Leave a Comment » | 1 New products, Applications, Biobased | Tagged: castor oil, Dupont, FIAT, Hutchinson, Polyamide, sebacic acid, Zytel | Permalink
Posted by Frédéric Chivrac
Minerv SB and Minerv SC
October 18, 2011
Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), a linear polyester naturally occurring as a result of bacterial fermentation of sugar. This family can bring together more than 100 differing monomers to produce materials whose properties vary very greatly.
Thermoplastic or elastomeric materials can be created with melting points ranging from 40 to more than 180°C. MINERV-PHA is a high-performance PHA biopolymer. MINERV-PHA is endowed with optimal thermal properties. Production needs which range from -10°C to a +180°C can be met through characterization. This product is particularly suitable for injection and extrusion methods for the production of objects. It takes the place of highly pollutant materials such as PET, PP, PE, HDPE and LDPE.
Leave a Comment » | 1 New products, 2 Properties, Biobased | Tagged: Beet, Bio'on, Bio-on, biobased, Biodegradability, bioplastic, bioplastics, biopolymer, biosourced, Minerv, packaging, PHA, PHB, PHBV, polyhydroxyalkanoate, Sugar, Sugarcane | Permalink
Posted by Frédéric Chivrac
Rhein Chemie gives longer life to PLA!
October 18, 2011
About Rhein Chemie
Rhein Chemie develops, produces and sells additives, specialty chemicals and service products for the rubber, lubricant and plastics industries. Rhein Chemie has approximately 1000 employees worldwide. The company is headquartered in Mannheim, Germany and has production facilities in Europe, Asia and North and South America. Rhein Chemie is a wholly owned subsidiary of the specialty chemicals group LANXESS, Leverkusen, Germany.
About the innovative product
The Germany-based specialty chemical company Rhein Chemie Rheinau GnbH announced the availability of its new additive BioAramide ™ and won the Frost & Sullivan Global New Product Innovation Award in the Bioplastic Additives Market.
Leave a Comment » | 1 New products, Additives | Tagged: Additive, BioAramide, bioplastic, bioplastics, biopolyester, hydrolysis resistance, hydrolytic stability, PLA, Rhein chemie | Permalink
Posted by Violette Bourg
Henkel: New additives for high-performance bioplastics
October 9, 2011
The use of plastics components based on renewable raw materials is seen as the way forward in the plastics industry. Ecologically, such bioplastics are far superior to classic, petroleum-based products. The growing diversity of bioplastics applications is being accompanied by rising expectations on quality and processing characteristics. In cooperation with compounder and biopolymer specialist Tecnaro, Henkel has developed new polyamide additives that upgrade the performance of bio-based plastics.
Leave a Comment » | 1 New products, Additives, Biobased | Tagged: biobased, Biodegradability, bioplastic, bioplastics, biopolymer, biosourced, Henkel, Polyamide, Tecnaro | Permalink
Posted by Frédéric Chivrac
Plaxica Raises Further £5m to Advance Biopolymer and Platform Chemical Technology
October 9, 2011
Plaxica Limited (‘Plaxica‘), an emerging leader in the production of next generation biopolymers and platform chemicals from renewable resources, today announced that it has raised a further £5m in equity funding from Imperial Innovations, Invesco Perpetual and NESTA Investments The Company has raised approximately £10m to date from its investors.
Leave a Comment » | 1 New products, 4 Suppliers | Tagged: biobased, Biodegradability, bioplastic, bioplastics, biopolymer, biosourced, by-product, Cellulose, PET, Plaxica | Permalink
Posted by Frédéric Chivrac
Bio-on makes plastic from sugar beet waste
October 9, 2011
An enormous factory for Co.Pro.B, Italy’s largest sugar producer, sits on the outskirts of the small northern town Minerbio. But it’s not the sugar that Bio-on, a small company with its offices near the factory, is interested in – it’s the sugar beet molasses that leaves the plant as trash.
Leave a Comment » | 1 New products, 2 Properties, Biobased | Tagged: Beet, Bio-on, biobased, Biodegradability, bioplastic, bioplastics, biopolymer, biosourced, PHA, polyhydroxyalkanoate, Sugar | Permalink
Posted by Frédéric Chivrac
