In California, seaweed-based bioplastic startup Sway has revealed a “breakthrough technology” that will enable seaweed to replace flexible plastics at scale. The new, patent-pending thermoplastic seaweed resin, dubbed TPSea™, is 100% biobased, home-compostable, and microplastic-free. It can also “mesh seamlessly” with the most scaled plastic manufacturing systems available, enabling “growth and massive impact.” TPSea is […]
In California, the City of Long Beach has entered into exclusive negotiations with Bioenergy Devco, the North American division of BTS Bioenergy, to construct an organics recycling facility that will recycle food waste, converting it to an organic soil amendment and renewable natural gas. This facility will help Long Beach advance its sustainability goals and […]
In California, a new study finds that introducing a simple, renewable chemical to the pretreatment step can finally make next-generation biofuel production both cost-effective and carbon neutral. To overcome the lignin hurdle, researchers led by the UC Riverside invented CELF, which stands for co-solvent enhanced lignocellulosic fractionation. It is an innovative biomass pretreatment technology. A […]
In California, Aemetis, Inc. announced the deployment of the entire $25 million of funding provided under the previously announced USDA-guaranteed loan for its Aemetis Biogas 1 LLC (AB1) project company. Aemetis Biogas produces renewable natural gas (RNG) from dairy biomethane digesters located in California’s Central Valley. Aemetis Biogas operates digesters supplied by eight dairies and […]
In California, Phillips 66 is converting its San Francisco Refinery in Rodeo, California, into one of the world’s largest renewable fuels facilities. Construction continues on the Rodeo Renewed refinery conversion project that is expected to begin operations in the first quarter of 2024. The conversion will reduce emissions from the facility and produce lower carbon […]
In California, ZymoChem closed a $21 million Series A round. The investment is led by Breakout Ventures with participation from new investors including lululemon athletica, inc. and Toyota Ventures, and existing investors including GS Futures, KdT Ventures, and Cavallo Ventures. By pairing this financing with existing revenues from commercial partnerships and funding from the U.S. Department […]
In California, biotech-enabled fragrance startup Sensegen has announced a strategic collaboration with flavor and fragrance giant Takasago. The pact will leverage Sensegen’s recent advances in developing natural musk raw materials. The two companies hope to move the perfume industry beyond synthetic petroleum-based fragrances and traditional extracts. “Takasago’s rich fragrance expertise, combined with Sensegen’s innovative biotech […]
In California, environmental nonprofit the 5 Gyres has released findings questioning the biodegradability of certain bioplastics, including polylactic acid. The report, called Better Alternatives 3.0, found that some bioplastic packaging and items did not decompose after being buried underground for 64 weeks, regardless of the climate and soil conditions. For example, though PLA straws decomposed […]
In California, Sugar Valley Energy intends to produce Sustainable Aviation Fuel for the airline industry. The project could produce up to 61 million gallons of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) annually. The move will help address a key objective of the aviation industry, which aims to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050. The adoption of […]
In California, ZeroAvia recently announced that MEHAIR has placed a conditional order for up to 20 ZA600 hydrogen-electric engines. The order adds to the over 2,000 engine pre-orders secured by ZeroAvia. MEHAIR (Maritime Energy Heli Air Services Pvt Ltd.) has historically offered services across the Indian sub-continent, commencing with the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in […]
