In the Dominican Republic, Astra Global Solutions, Inc. has partnered with Inti Global Dominicana, S.R.L. to secure the Dominican Republic National Coconut Program. According to the announcement, the program is an initiative to plant new hybrid coconut trees throughout the country to greatly enhance production and create a solution for tackling the remediation of legacy […]
In Sweden, a team at KTH Royal Institute of Technology has developed a construction material from coconuts, lemons, and modified wood that can help make heating and cooling homes exponentially more efficient. According to Peter Olsén, researcher in the Department of Biocomposites at KTH, 100 kilos of the material can save about 2.5 kWh per […]
In the Philippines, the Manila Standard newspaper reports that the Office of the President has asked the agriculture ministry to investigate the alleged illegal use of imported palm oil that is displacing domestic coconut oil production for biodiesel and cooking oil. The imports are less expensive than the domestic oil and are having a negative […]
In Russia, an international research team from Russia, India and Thailand has presented a technology for manufacturing a reinforcement (strengthening) composite from a waste coconut leaf sheath (CLS). Due to its lightness and strength, it can be used to cover autobahns, create interiors for railway cars and airplanes, as well as for domestic needs. The results of the study have been published in the Polymer Composites journal. […]
A research team from Russia, India and Thailand has developed a technology for manufacturing a reinforcement composite from waste coconut leaf sheath. When reinforced with a phenol-formaldehyde composite, the material is appropriate for high-demand applications like road construction and rail and airplane interiors as well as housing. “The superior properties of composite made of natural […]
In the Philippines, the Business Mirror newspaper reports the Department of Labor and Employment has decided to provide further support to women working in the coconut-based biofuels industry through one-time financial payments for maternity as well as payments in case of death, with an add-on if the death is brought about by or worsened by […]
In the Philippines, an agtech company repurposing coconut waste into biodegradable coolers has raised an unspecified amount of money in a seed funding round. Fortuna Cools says the funds will be used to scale up production of Coconut Cooler, which are meant to replace Styrofoam alternatives used by food distributors. The funding was led by […]
In Kerala, India, a two-year-old startup is making a leather-like material from coconut water and waste fibers. Dubbed Malai, which is Hindi for “cream” as well as the milky part of the coconut, the material is textured, water-resistant, and biodegradable. The company was founded by Zuzana Gombosova, a Slovakian fashion designer, and CS Susmith, a […]
In Bengalaru, India, a startup is producing biodegradable straws from coconut leaves. Dubbed Evlogical Eco Care Private, the company takes fallen coconut leaves from local farms, gives them an “intense” cleaning, then sells them under the brand name Kocos Leafy Straws. Manigandan Kumarappan tells The Logical Indian the eco-friendly straws do not get soggy for […]
In the United Kingdom, spa supplier BC Softwear has introduced 100% biodegradable slippers made from coir, a soft, fuzzy fiber obtained from the outer husk of coconuts. The slippers are available in cream cotton or jute and can be recycled or tossed with food waste. Bamford, a luxury spa chain, has already put in an […]
