In the Netherlands, DSM and Sympatex Technologies have partnered to produce a biobased thermoplastic elastomer for the sports and apparel value chain. Sympatex is a membrane manufacturer serving high-performance apparel industries. Sympatex uses Arnitel to produce waterproof, windproof, and breathable membranes for sports applications. The new Arnitel has more than 25% biobased content by weight. […]
In Maryland and New York, researchers are finding innovative ways to incorporate natural materials into construction. At the University of Maryland, researchers have made transparent wood that is harder than glass and could be used as windows. The process involves coating wood in hydrogen peroxide, leaving it under UV light, then soaking it in […]
In Europe, conservationists are evaluating the use of living, self-repairing glue to help lower the region’s high costs of preserving historic buildings and monuments. The bacterial paste, being researched at Bath University, may be able to regenerate ancient stone, according to the European Commission. The university has shown that injecting bacterial spores into concrete can […]
In South America, the region’s largest McDonald’s franchisee has announced it will substitute plastic trays for more sustainable materials. Arcos Dorados Holdings has contracted Israel’s UBQ Materials to provide the new material, which is made from household wastes such as food leftovers, paper, cardboard, and mixed plastics. Initially, over 7,000 trays will be introduced in […]
In Maine, the US Department of Energy has awarded the University of Maine $2.8 million to develop an additive for 3D manufacturing of wind turbine blades. The grant will see large wind blade molds printed at UMaine’s Composite Center, home to the world’s largest polymer 3D printer, according to Habib Dagher, executive director of UMaine’s […]
In New York, IFF and DuPont’s Nutrition & Biosciences business are set to close their mega-merger. First announced in 2019, the Reverse Morris Trust transaction creates a global leader in high-value ingredients and solutions for the Food and Beverage, Home and Personal Care and Health and Wellness markets, with estimated 2020 pro forma revenue of […]
In Massachusetts, thermoplastic films and adhesives company Bemis has launched a partially renewable seam adhesive for the garment industry. Dubbed Sewfree 3700, the adhesive is made using 25% biobased Susterra® propanediol produced by DuPont Tate & Lyle Bio Products. The adhesive is engineered to replace elastics and bulky sewn seams in garments. “It allows for […]
In Denmark, enzymes leader Novozymes and leading pesticides firm FMC have announced a partnership in the biocontrol segment. Under the terms of the deal, the two companies have agreed to codevelop and commercialize biological enzyme-based crop protection solutions focusing on FMC’s diamide insecticide technology, as well as a biocontrol solution for Asian Soybean Rust (ASR), […]
Architecture is undergoing a “biowaste revolution,” according to Architect, an online publication affiliated with the Journal of the American Institute of Architects. The piece detailed a number of new raw materials innovation. One architect profiled, Ayse Yilmaz, began making new materials out of tangerine peels when she was just 20, and eventually would add discarded […]
In the United Kingdom and Sweden, the first rollout of paper bottles from the iconic vodka brand Absolut have hit liquor store shelves. The bottles are actually made from a mix of paper and recycled plastic and are the first step toward a fully biobased spirits bottle, says Pernod Ricard, the French owner of the […]
