R&D
-
Genomatica gears for biomass feedstock
.
The use of waste-based feedstock is an important milestone for the renewable chemicals industry as it will further emphasize the industry’s sustainability and hopefully will lessen the cost of production in the long run (although market economics dictate that nothing is free if there is demand for it). Genomatica recently announced that it made significant…
-
Sprint to use wheat-straw paper for customer mailings
.
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…
-
LEGO Group to invest 1 Billion DKK for sustainable materials
.
The LEGO Group recently announced plans to invest DKK 1 billion ($152.2 million) dedicated to research, development and implementation of new, sustainable, raw materials to manufacture LEGO® elements as well as packaging materials. Last year, the company stepped up its effort in the search for more sustainable materials by entering into collaborations with businesses and universities…
-
Joule bags $40m for CO2-to-ethanol project
.
Joule has closed a $40 million in private equity and venture debt financing led by existing investors, including Flagship Ventures, and brings the company’s total to $200 million raised to date.The proceeds will be applied towards a staged industrialization of its patented, reverse-combustion process, including the near-term expansion of Joule’s production field in Hobbs, New Mexico.…
-
Evonik offers sophorolipid biosurfactants
.
It has come to my attention that I’ve been remiss of not mentioning Evonik’s announcement early this year on the commercialization of its sophorolipids surfactants as part of my Bio-based surfactants roundup post yesterday. Unlike rhamnolipids, sophorolipid surfactants have already been commercialized and are being used by companies such as Ecover and Henkel in limited cleaning products.…
-
Bio-based surfactants roundup
.
For the past several months now, I have been covering several renewable-based and biotechnology-based surfactants for Tecnon OrbiChem’s Bio-materials reports (mostly under oleochemicals) but let’s go back again to sugar-based surfactants such as glycolipids. Last year, the blog reported about Logos Technologies’ NatSurFact® line of biodegradable surfactants based on rhamnolipids. As I have reported in…
-
VIDEO: Toyota Fueled by Bullsh*t
.
I don’t usually gush about media releases (sorry PR folks!) but I do love this one from Toyota, which was released today, I guess in honor of Earth Day. Toyota has tapped award-winning documentary filmmaker Morgan Spurlock to show how calling hydrogen fuel cell vehicles “bullsh*t” isn’t far from the truth. This 3-minute video features…