Products
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Sharp uses bioplastic for its new smartphone
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Ok, so I’m late posting some of these news that were announced last month as I had to report (and analyze) these first at Tecnon OrbiChem’s Bio-materials newsletter. Here is another interesting development for Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation’s (MCC) bio-based engineering plastic DURABIO, this time for the front panel of a new smartphone, the AQUOS Crystal…
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Solazyme partners with BASF in algae-derived surfactant
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Solazyme has been churning a lot of news in the past month but let’s start with this intriguing partnership with BASF. The companies have launched a microalgae oil-based betaine surfactant for use in home and personal care applications. I am not that familiar with betaines (a kind of amphoteric surfactant) but I’m assuming these are…
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More off-take bio deal with Vinmar
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Vinmar is on a roll when it comes to doing off-take supply deals in the renewables sector. After the BioAmber bio-succinic acid deal, Vinmar recently announced that it has signed a 20-year contract for 19 billion pounds of AirCarbon PHA from Newlight Technologies. The Vinmar contract provides for the sale of 100% of AirCarbon PHA…
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Bio-succinic acid and PDO in polyols
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Before I forget this news that came in last month (all the news and information I get, I write it up on Tecnon OrbiChem’s Bio-materials newsletter first), the bio-based polyurethane sector is certainly getting a lot of buzz and developments especially with the use of bio-monomers such as succinic acid, bio-1,3 PDO, bio-BDO, etc.). I am…
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Sprint to use wheat-straw paper for customer mailings
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In its latest effort to optimize paper use and reduce environmental impact, Sprint will pilot a new kind of forest friendly paper for customer mailings in the coming months. The paper, made of wheat-straw byproduct, is not noticeably different to the naked eye than wood-derived paper. However, it offers a new, sustainable alternative and potential…
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Verdezyne partners for European bio-DDDA sales
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Off-take supply agreements seem to be the trend these days in the renewable chemical markets, first with BioAmber and Vinmar, and now with this recent news from industrial biotech company, Verdezyne. Verdezyne announced that it has signed an agreement with Will & Co, a sales and marketing firm for raw materials, semi-finished products, additives, and…
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Coca-Cola produces 100% bio-based PET bottle
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The Coca-Cola Company launched last week the world’s first PET plastic bottle made entirely from plant materials at the World Expo – Milan. I guess the question is if anybody is ready to invest in commercial production of bio-PX/PTA (the other component of PET bottle aside from bio-based monoethylene glycol) or even in FDCA, another bio-based…