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 the Philippines, a pair of engineering students have won a James Dyson award for a post-mastectomy bra that biodegrades when composted. The bra is named Brakong—a nod to bakong, the fast-growing aquatic plant used with polylactic acid to produce the prosthesis. “We can 3D-scan a patient or create a 3D model out of other […]
In the Philippines, the Manila Bulletin newspaper reports that the Department of Energy believes that by boosting coconut biodiesel blending to 5% from the current 2%, fuel prices will increase by 1.5 cents per liter at the pump. Those calculations were done in January/February, however, before Russia invaded Ukraine and sent oil prices soaring around […]
In the Philippines, The Star newspaper reports the Ethanol Producers Association of the Philippines has pushed back against the government’s proposal to suspend ethanol blending in an effort to reduce fuel prices at the pump. The association says that it’s not the price of ethanol but taxes on fuel that are causing high prices, and […]
In the Philippines, the Department of Energy (DOE) has been carrying out measures to mitigate the impact of the current crisis in Europe to ordinary Filipino consumers. As part of those measures, The DOE is also asking for intervention power to study the flexibility in fuel blending under Biofuel Law that regulates mixing ethanol or […]
In the Philippines, designer Elaine Yan Ling Ng has created ceramic tiles made from waste eggshells collected from local bakeries and kitchens. Ng, whose studio Nature Squared makes the tiles, tells Yanko Design she was inspired to use eggshells because their high calcium content makes them durable. The carbon-absorbing tiles are called CArrelé and can […]
In the Philippines, three companies developing plant-based textile fibers have created a marketing organization to link producers such as themselves with the fashion industry. Dubbed the Fibral Material Alliance, the group was founded by Dr. Carmen Hijosa of Ananas Anam Ltd, Hannes Schoenegger from Bananatex, and Ricardo Garay of Regenerate Fashion. Ananas Anam produces a […]
In the Philippines, the Manila Times newspaper reports that the national biodiesel association TPBA is again trying to convince the Department of Energy to boost the biodiesel blending mandate, assuring it that there is more than enough coconut oil to supply a 5% blend. Currently there is a 2% blending mandate, but a 5% mandate […]
In the Philippines, BusinessWorld reports that International Energy Agency data shows the country will become one of the top five biofuel importers globally in the next five years as its sugar industry shrinks. Although domestic sugar mills produce ethanol, it costs nearly twice as much as landed ethanol, typically from the US. The E10 blending […]
In the Philippines, Business World reports that new rules that will enhance reporting by oil companies regarding ethanol and biodiesel blending is seen by the USDA as an opportunity to get blending closer to the 10% mandate rather than the 8.5% average that has been the norm of late. Doing so will reduce gasoline consumption […]
