In India, BASF has begun production of its first bio-based polyol, Sovermol, in Mangalore. The firm noted that this product serves the fast-growing demand of eco-friendly products for applications in New Energy Vehicles (NEV), windmills, flooring and protective industrial coatings in Asia Pacific. “Asia Pacific is the world’s fastest growing market for NEV and coatings. […]
In Germany, OQ Chemicals said it has launched “OxBalance Isononanoic Acid”, an isononanoic acid that is produced from both bio-based and circular feedstocks. The new product has a bio-based content of over 70%, providing manufacturers with a sustainable alternative to conventional isononanoic acid. To meet the growing demand for carboxylic acids, Isononanoic acid is widely […]
In the UK, Johnson Matthey said it has been selected to provide the methanol license and engineering services for Perstorp Group’s Project Air in Stenungsund, Sweden. The initiative – which will substitute all the fossil methanol used by Perstorp in Europe as raw material for chemical products with sustainable methanol – is expected to be […]
In Norway, Reuters reported that Norwegian energy firm Equinor aims to restart its methanol plant at Tjeldbergodden in about four weeks. Equinor shut the plant on Norway’s west coast in February to install a mercury removal unit. It was previously expected to restart by the end of April, according to the report. “We are planning […]
In the Netherlands, ubiquitous furniture and housewares brand IKEA is advancing years-long biobased glue development to solidify its environmental goals. By volume, IKEA’s most-used raw material is wood. Usually, the wood in its products is actually a composite held together by glue. This fossil-based glue accounts for 5% of the company’s greenhouse gas emissions. “Almost […]
In Colorado, popular skater shoe brand Vans has launched a new collection designed to embody the brand’s relaxed vibe and appreciation for nature. The Surf VR3 Collection includes an outsole made from natural rubber sourced from farms using agricultural practices designed to promote diversity, enhance water cycles, improve soil health, and sequester carbon from the […]
In Hong Kong, tech multinational Lenovo is reportedly planning to use flax fibers in one of its products. The Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 Gen2 laptop, set to launch this summer, features a woven flax fiber case. According to Forbes, the case is 75% recycled aluminum, bonded with flax “made from 100% agricultural product collected by harvesting […]
In Hyderabad, India, a startup is making building materials, particle board alternatives, acoustic panels and plastics out of cow dung. The (hopefully odor-free) products were recently showcased at the Grand Startup Conclave organized by India’s Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying. “Our ultimate goal for this year is to set up micro-factories across India wherever […]
In Toulouse, France, biotech and green chemistry company PILI has raised $15.8 million to accelerate commercialization and scale-up of its fermentation-based indigo. The funds will be used to set up a demonstration unit to complement an industrial pilot that began operations last year. PILI says several million euros of preorders for its biobased dyes and […]
In New Jersey, fashion brand Tory Burch is using material from plant-based leather pioneer Modern Meadow in its iconic Ella tote. Dubbed Ella Bio, the tote’s outer shell is made of BioFabbrica Bio-Tex™, a USDA-certified plant-based material using soy. BioFabbrica Bio-Tex “feels and looks like leather” but is 64% biobased content, Jennifer Gootman, global head […]
