In Japan, design studio Sozai Center has created a biobased material made by mixing leftover apple pomace—which includes apple flesh, skin, seeds and stems—with bioplastic. Dubbed Adam Sheet as a playful nod to Adam’s apples, the washable, scratch-resistant material uses apples sourced from the country’s Aomori Prefecture. Studio founder Shotaro Oshima tells design publication dezeen […]
In Japan, Spiber Inc. has completed a round of fundraising totaling over JPY 10 billion (US$65 million) to accelerate mass production of its Brewed Protein materials and facilitate global sales. Made via microbial fermentation, Spiber’s proteins can offer alternative solutions to a wide range of conventional animal-based, plant-based, and synthetic materials for various purposes, including […]
In Japan, fuel cells, while promising, are expensive due to high catalyst requirements to increase the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity. In a breakthrough, researchers found that adding caffeine to the electrodes can improve the ORR activity of platinum electrodes 11 times. This discovery can enhance the efficiency of the fuel cell, reduce the requirement […]
In Japan, Zensho Holdings and ENEOS have teamed up to collect waste cooking oil as raw materials for sustainable aviation fuel. In this initiative, the beef bowl chain “Sukiya” under the umbrella of Zensho Holdings and the 100 yen sushi chain collecting waste cooking oil from Hamazushi, family restaurant Cocos, etc. will be recycled into […]
In Japan, JERA Co. has reached a Project Framework Agreement with ExxonMobil to jointly explore the development of a low carbon hydrogen and ammonia production project in the United States. ExxonMobil is currently developing what is expected to be the world’s largest low-carbon hydrogen production plant at its Baytown Complex east of Houston, Texas, United […]
In Japan, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the joint development of a synthetic fuel (e-fuel)/synthetic methanol (e-methanol) supply chain including CO2 marine transport with Idemitsu Kosan and HIF USA LLC and HIF Asia Pacific Pty Limited, subsidiaries of HIF Global, a global producer of synthetic fuels/synthetic methanol. […]
In Japan, HIF Global, Idemitsu Kosan, the Japanese petroleum company and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL), announced an agreement to develop an eFuels supply chain between HIF facilities and Japan. The agreement also outlines how the companies will explore the potential for supplying carbon dioxide (“CO2”) from Japan for use as a feedstock for the eFuels […]
In Japan, MOL and Rio Tinto have agreed to further collaborate on shipping decarbonization in addition to the existing commitment to the DOO program. The DOO program is a Rio Tinto initiative aimed at enhancing safety and improving crew welfare in the dry bulk industry. MOL Group has positioned environmental strategy as a key element […]
In Japan, household name watchmaker Casio has added watches partially made from castor beans to its outdoors-focused Pro Tek Climber line. Already available on Amazon, the Pro Trek PRG-340SC-5 and PRG-340SC-2 are designed for “rugged performance in challenging terrain.” The watch cases and straps are made from bioplastics sourced from plant-based materials, including castor oil. […]
In Japan, Nissan Motor Co. announced that it has developed a stationary, bio-ethanol-fueled system capable of high-efficiency power generation. Trials have begun at Nissan’s Tochigi Plant in Japan aimed to improve power generation capacity toward full-scale operations from 2030, the company said. In 2016 Nissan became the first automotive company in the world to create […]
