In Switzerland, Delica AG has begun selling coffee capsules made from renewable polypropylene. Produced by chemical giant SABIC, the PP pods can be used with Delica’s Delizio capsule coffee machines. The PP is produced using tall oil, a waste product of the pulp and paper industry. Renewable content is “at least” 65% and can be […]
In South Korea, biodegradable plates made from seaweed byproduct are set to launch in March. Producer Marine Innovation says its seaweed pulp cuts raw material costs and energy consumption by 30 and 80%, respectively. The materials are stronger than paper alternatives and will be available to hotels and restaurants in scallop and fan configurations. Cups […]
In Texas, researchers at Texas A&M University have created a stronger carbon-fiber composite by incorporating recycled wood waste. The newly discovered material overcomes a persistent challenge with such composites and be a gamechanger for creating stronger, lighter materials, researchers say. Polymers reinforced by carbon fibers are strong but also lightweight, and for that reason can […]
Sit back and just imagine, hanging out at the new International Arctic Station that runs on solar, wind, and hydrogen power, sipping on a Pepsi 6-pack that came in molded pulp rings, eating lunch from a seaweed lined food container, wearing your cool Skechers kicks made with tire king Goodyear’s soybean oil-based rubber technology, then […]
In Canada, Canadian Biomass Magazine reports that the world’s largest anaerobic digestion facility located at a pulp mill is providing significant dividends to the Millar Western mill in northern Alberta. The mill’s waste water is used to produce biogas that is used to power 10% of the facility’s energy demand while the steam from is […]
In Mexico, students from the National Autonomous University of Mexico have developed a method to produce a gluten-free, high fiber flour from agave waste pulp. The tequila and mezcal industries produce about 2 million metric tons of the waste per year and is considered a pollutant, but the students have developed a way to make […]
The pace of bioeconomy invention and change continues at a frenetic pace. Here are the top innovations for the week of December 19th. In today’s Digest, liquid waste garments and birch tree gowns, pulp pill bottles, bioplastic advances and biobased solvents — these and more, ready for you now at The Digest online. #1 World’s […]
In Finland, Metsä Group’s innovation company MetsäSpring Ltd. and Japanese Itochu Corporation have established a joint venture to invest approximately EUR40 million in building and operating a test plant with the aim to demonstrate a new technology for converting paper-grade pulp into textile fibers. Business Finland, a Finnish governmental funding agency, participates in the financing […]
In Austria, a dissolving pulp manufacturer, Austrocel, is investing about €60 million ($70 million) to expand and diversify production at its Hallein plant in Austria. Austrocel will install equipment for bioethanol production from wood sugars. The biofuel facility is reportedly designed for the production of some 30 million litres per year and is scheduled to […]
In Germany, the PULP2VALUE project is entering its second stage after successful pilot tests and creating new value chains from sugar beet pulp. The project aims to achieve two main objectives by the end of the project, June 2019. One objective is to scale up, optimize and integrate processes for production of Betafib microcellulose fibres, […]
