In honor of Earth Day (it has been awhile since the blog last posted about this event), here is a list of some of the new bio-based products in the market as well as several chemical products launched in the past weeks (or so).

According to a Sustainability Survey white paper published last year by the American Oil Chemists’ Society (AOCS) and DuPont, the trend to purchase “green products” was most pronounced with food, detergent and appliances, and that among different regions, European consumers were more inclined to purchase “green products” in the area of personal hygiene rather than appliances.

Asian consumers, meanwhile, are the most concerned about “green” issues when making product purchase decisions. In fact, Asian consumers ranked sustainability credentials much higher in their purchase consideration than their European or North American counterparts.

Barriers that prevent consumers from purchasing more “green products,” according to the survey, include perception of higher cost; perception of reduced quality or performance; low awareness or understanding of “green products”; and perception that the “green label” is a marketing gimmick.

• Bio-buddy Dog Waste Bag – Custom Bioplastics LLC launched its new “Bio-Buddy” dog waste bag using Cardia’s BioHybrid technology and recycled resin. The Biohybrid resins are blends of starch-based thermoplastics and petroleum-based olefins.

• Ecoverde Coffee packs – McCullagh Coffee, a US coffee roasting company, has introduced a compostable pack for its Rainforest Alliance Certified Ecoverde Coffee brand using cellulose-based (wood pulp) NatureFlex from Innovia Films. The renewable biobased content of NatureFlex films is typically 95% by weight of material.

• Sugarcane Packaging Tubes – Tectubes has launched a commercial bio-sourced packaging tube made of FKuR’s Terralene range – a biobased polyethylene compounds made from Braskem’s Green PE. Tectubes injection mould, extrude and print the various parts of the tube. Tectubes are now offering either biodegradable tubes using FKuR’s Bio-Flex (blends of copolyester and polylactic acid) or non-biodegradable sugarcane-based tubes using Terralene.
  

• Bio-composite speakers – Finnish speaker manufacturer Genelec has chosen UPM ForMi’s cellulose fiber-based biocomposite as the material for their new high-end speaker model. Genelec will produce two M series speakers using the biocomposites, which can replace up to 50% of petroleum-based plastics.

• Biodegradable diapers – gDiapers is offering a line of diaper covers with biodegradable disposable inserts. The inserts are 100% biodegradable in home composts in 50-150 days and are reportedly made of cellulose, fluff pulp and super absorber. The Oregon-based company did not disclose its biodegradable material supplier. gDiapers also markets biodegradable cellulose-based wipes

• Compostable straws – Cell-O-Core Company is manufacturing its Cello-Green compostable drinking straws using Cereplast Compostable 7003. The Bio Straws are disposable with food waste and will fully biodegrade in a municipal composting facility in 180 days or less. The straws are designed and produced for use in cold beverages only and are not recommended for use in hot beverages over 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

• Bioplastic baby products – Nova Nature is marketing its line of PlantBaby teethers and rattles made from NatureWorks’ Ingeo biopolymers.
  

• Green Hard Hat – Pittsburgh-based safety equipment manufacturer MSA has developed industrial hard hats under its MSA V-Gard GRN line made with Braskem’s sugarcane-based high-density polyethylene (HDPE) resins. The hard hat is nearly 100% renewable-based according to MSA.