Green Chemicals Blog
Regulation
French law to strengthen bioplastics market
It was a great BIO World Congress conference last week with so much information and great meetings, that I have to now put most of my notes for the July Tecnon OrbiChem Bio-Materials newsletter. Look out for my blog posts on twitter compilations from the conference (when I get a break writing the newsletter) but … Continue reading
Report: The business of safer chemistry sees upward growth
Here is an interesting recent report from the American Sustainable Business Council (ASBC) and the Green Chemistry and Commerce Council (GC3) about “Making the Business & Economic Case for Safer Chemistry.” The report evaluates the potential business and economic value of “safer chemistry” – which can include reducing the use and generation of hazardous substances, … Continue reading
Europe explores creation of Bio-based products standards
It will be a very busy next three weeks as I finish the March Tecnon OrbiChem Bio-Materials newsletter, attend NPE Plastics Tradeshow in Florida, celebrate my birthday in between travels, and then attend the Plant-Based Summit in France. Wish me luck! Blog posts might be scarce so I’ll put this one out now about Europe … Continue reading
NYC bans single-use EPS foam products
I am now working on Tecnon OrbiChem’s Bio-Materials newsletter before next week’s American Cleaning Institute’s (ACI) annual meeting in Orlando so unfortunately blog posting will be a bit slow. I have recently interviewed somebody from GlycoSurf about rhamnolipids and Penford about the industrial starch market, which brought in several fascinating information that hopefully will be coming out on … Continue reading
US renewable chemicals to gain from the New US Farm Bill
I have been working on this since February but unfortunately travel and work has further delayed me from posting this. Tecnon OrbiChem’s April Bio-Materials issue just came out yesterday and now, I have a few days of blogging before becoming busy again preparing for the Biopolymers Symposium and BIO World Congress. This news about the … Continue reading
Webinar: USDA BioPreferred Program under new Farm Bill
The blog is still working on my interview with Corinne Young about the new Farm Bill and some of its new benefits for the renewable chemical industry such as the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) BioPreferred Program (preferred Federal purchasing of biobased products and biobased product certification and labeling). The USDA’s BioPreferred program’s authority and … Continue reading
ACC forms Biobased Chemistry Network
This is good news for the renewable chemical industry in the US and hopefully will enable more acceptance for bio-based materials in the mainstream chemical supply chain. The American Chemistry Council (ACC) launched a new Biobased Chemistry Network to help educate policymakers on how to create effective and workable regulatory programs for the growing biobased … Continue reading
FTC cracks down biodegradable plastic claims
The US Federal Trade Commission recently announced enforcement actions on several environmental marketing claims addressing biodegradable plastics. This is part of the FTC’s program to ensure compliance with the agency’s revised Green Guides. The Guides enable businesses to market their products accurately, providing guidance as to what constitutes misleading environmental claims. The FTC files a … Continue reading
EPA to restricts perfluorinated chemicals imports
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is finalizing a rule that will restrict imports of perfluorinated chemicals that could be used in carpets. The regulation will require companies to report to EPA all new uses, including in domestic and imported products, of these chemicals once used for soil and stain resistance in carpets. The rule … Continue reading
Renewable chems tax credit waiting for Congress
US producers of renewable chemicals are hopeful that a recently introduced bill called “Qualifying Renewable Chemical Production Tax Credit Act of 2013” (H.R. 3084) sponsored by House Representatives Bill Pascrell (D-NJ), Steve Stockman (R-Texas), Allyson Schwartz (D-Pa), Linda Sanchez (D-Calif) and Richard Neal (D-Mass), will be approved by US Congress and signed into law. The … Continue reading