Green Chemicals Blog
compostable
Bio-BDO and Succinic Acid Updates
My schedule this October is so tight, but I need to squeeze in these two announcements because it’s rare these days to receive information on bio-based succinic acid and bio-based 1,4-butanediol (BDO). This brief news a month ago about TechnipEnergies acquiring DSM’s Biosuccinium® technology is very interesting to me, given that is currently the only … Continue reading
Newlight to build its AirCarbon facility in Ohio
Newlight Technologies has entered into various agreements with Long Ridge Energy Terminal, which is jointly owned by a subsidiary of Fortress Transportation and Infrastructure (FTAI) Investors LLC and an affiliate managed by GCM Grovesnor, to build and operate a new facility in Hannibal, Ohio, to produce the company’s Aircarbon® biomaterial made from PHB (poly-3-hydroxybutyrate). This … Continue reading
PHA and PLA partnerships
I’ve been attending the 7th World PLA Congress this week reacquainting myself with the polylactic acid (PLA) and lactic acid/lactide markets. According to the 2021 Nova Institute data, the global market size for PLA last year (in terms of capacity) is at 450 ktpa although engineering and process technology firm Uhde Inventa Fischer thinks that … Continue reading
LG Chem proceeds with sustainable materials investments
South Korea-based chemical company LG Chem has been making several news headlines within the past few months as the company announced its intention to invest KRW10 trillion ($8.5 billion) in eco-friendly and high-growth materials by 2025. Over 30 projects including M&As, joint ventures, strategic investments focused on ESG-based business portfolio are currently being reviewed according … Continue reading
Danimer Scientific to Acquire Novomer
This is quite interesting news that came out today about Danimer Scientific announcing its plans to acquire Novomer in a cash transaction valued at $152 million. Headquartered with a pilot plant in Rochester, New York, Novomer develops high-performing, carbon-efficient, cost-effective polymers and chemicals including poly(3-hydroxypropionate) (“p(3HP)”), a type of polyhydroxyalkanoate (“PHA”), all of which can … Continue reading
KFC Canada Testing Compostable Cutlery
HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO OUR US BLOG FOLLOWERS! (and belated to our Canadian subscribers!) In honor of chickens who are being spared from today’s national US holiday (sorry turkeys…), I came across this interesting news from KFC Canada that it will begin testing a new fibre-based spork in December. Once the piece of cutlery is introduced … Continue reading
The US Plastics Pact launched
Led by the Recycling Partnership and World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the collaborative U.S. Plastics Pact was launched as part of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s global Plastics Pact network. The U.S. Plastics Pact is an ambitious initiative to unify diverse public-private stakeholders across the plastics value chain to rethink the way we design, use, and reuse … Continue reading
Australian company sells compostable cling wrap online
I first saw this article from an Australian website, Broadstreet.com, about a small company called Great Wrap which is selling online a compostable cling wrap that is reportedly certified by DIN Certco in Germany. The cling wraps sell for AUS$8 for a 30-metre roll (I wonder if they ship to the US market…). The company … Continue reading
PBPC addresses misleading bioplastic statement from Greenpeace
Recently, Greenpeace released a report on corporations and plastics pollution and specifically addressed the use of bioplastics. While some of their discussion had merit, the US organization Plant Based Products Council (PBPC) reported on its Accountability Blog that Greenpeace’s coverage of bioplastics fell short. PBPC took out its red pen to correct the record and … Continue reading
Confusion abounds on biodegradable, compostable plastics
My apologies for the lack of posts as traveling and giving a presentation takes a toll on my blogging schedule. I am not yet sure if I can share my presentation in public but what I stated on one of my slides is that confusion on bioplastics is one of the biggest challenges in this … Continue reading