In Australia, Carapac is working to commercialize a process that converts waste crustacean shells from Asia Pacific’s seafood industry into biodegradable, soil-enriching bioplastic films. Kimberly Bolton, CEO of Carapac, tells AUManufacturing the company uses chitosan, extracted from shrimp and crab shells, to make films that biodegrade in 90 days—depositing nutrient nitrogen into the soil in […]
In London, charity Comic Relief says its popular Red Nose Day event will feature plant-based red in 2021 thanks to a write-in environmental campaign by students concerned about plastics waste. The noses given to donors will be made from sugarcane waste product bacassa. The noses will be available in 10 styles, including squirrel, badger, and […]
In India, a potentially game-changing COVID-19 test, named after Indian Sherlock Holmes Feluda, promises accurate results in under 30 minutes using a paper test strip. Produced by Indian conglomerate Tata, Feluda would also be cheaper than conventional tests, coming in at about 500 rupees ($6.75). India’s current testing methods face shortages and long wait times […]
In the Netherlands, a company has launched a biodegradable clothing hanger made from renewable materials such as potato starch, corn, beetroot, coffee grounds and grass. Hooks Creative says the hanger took two years to develop and local production was prioritized. “We can now put an end to the gigantic CO2 emissions by sea freight from […]
In Himachal Pradesh, India, two entrepreneurs are making tableware and COVID-19 masks from pine needles to simultaneously help the populous nation address its plastics waste challenge and prevent forest fires common to the region. Himachal native Abhinav Talwar, who founded Vasshin Composites in 2019 with Maithri V, says the startup collects the region’s abundant fallen […]
In France, chemical producer Arkema has issued its first green bond to raise cash for a previously announced biobased polyamide 11 production site in Singapore. Trade named Rilsan, the polyamide 11 is made from castor oil. The €300 million ($353 million) will also be used to build capacity for Rilsan’s biobased amino monomer precursor. The […]
In Mexico, sporting goods firm Sanabul has created boxing gloves made from cactus leather produced by startup Desserto. Dubbed Los Cactus, the gloves are available on Sanabul’s online store for $250 and are partially biodegradable. “There’s a misconception that a traditional cowhide boxing glove is the ideal glove. And we’re looking to change that,” Imran […]
In the Netherlands, lignin will replace bitumen as an asphalt binder on a stretch of road being constructed in Vlissingen. Road construction uses large amounts of bitumen, a mixture of hydrocarbons generated during oil refining that binds and strengthens asphalt. Bioasphalt firm H4A will use lignin sourced from Finland’s Stora Enso for the test patch, […]
In Georgia, bioplastic maker Danimer Scientific has announced a merger agreement with Live Oak Acquisition Corp. that will result in Danimer becoming a public company. Danimer Scientific produces polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), a 100% biodegradable and renewable plastic that uses canola oil as feedstock. The company currently produces its PHA—trade named Nodax—at an industrial-scale facility in Winchester, […]
In Massachusetts, Dunkin’ has said it is testing the use of bioplastic straws at 250 locations throughout the United States. Formerly known as Dunkin’ Donuts, the popular coffee chain says the straws are made of PHA, a bioplastic produced via fermentation from canola oil. “[W]hile the straws have the same look and feel as traditional […]
