Amyris Picks Laserson for Squalene distributor
Amyris has picked Laserson, S.A., a supplier of ingredients for the health and beauty industries, as the new exclusive distributor of Amyris Squalane in the European market. Squalene had previously been sourced only from shark liver or olive oil but Amyris said its technology converts plant sugars into squalene for use in cosmetics and personal care.
Carbios’ €7m deal with INRA
Green chemistry company Carbios signs a €7 million strategic collaboration with the French National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA). The Carbios-INRA project will focus on the development of innovative bioprocesses for recovering plastic waste and producing biopolymers.
Europe’s €6.2 million bio-based project
The European Commission has launched a 3-year project called “Bio Based NWE” to support the development of the biobased economy in North West Europe. The €6.2m (£5.35m, $8.08m) project will work mainly with small and medium businesses (SME’s) to help facilitate innovation and business development in bio-based technologies. Bio Base NWE will also provide training and education to help tackle the shortage of skilled professionals in North West Europe’s bio-based industries. The Bio Base NWE partnership includes organisations from five different countries.
Teijin’s enhanced PLANEXT® Bioplastic
Teijin Limited has developed technology to significantly enhance the heat and impact resistance of PLANEXT, the company’s bio-polycarbonate. The technology modifies the molecular design of PLANEXT to achieve greatly improved heat resistance with a glass-transition temperature of 120℃, as well as superior resistance to impact. The company plans to develop new applications in electronics, architecture and exterior fields.
Unilever Achieves Zero Waste to Landfill
Unilever United States and Canada announced that all 26 of its manufacturing and non-manufacturing headquarter facilities are now zero waste to landfill (ZLF). Other countries in which Unilever has achieved this milestone include the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, France, Germany and Japan. Unilever aims to halve Unilever’s environmental footprint of the making and use of its products by 2020.
Cereplast Receives Orders in India
US-based bioplastic producer Cereplast said it has begun receiving orders and payments for Compostable 3002 for the manufacture of single-use bags in India, and expects to receive more orders for this material in the near future. Cereplast cited that the Supreme Court of India is moving toward stronger legislation to control the country’s plastic pollution problem. India’s polymer consumption accounted for 5.7% of the world’s total in 2011, up from 3.5% in 2000.
Penford Teams Up with Elmer’s®
Penford Products, a division of Penford Corporation reported that the natural glue, which is being marketed as Elmer’s® School Glue Naturals™, uses Penford’s proprietary PenFlex™ technology. Penford’s process is a platform technology that converts starch into a variety of naturally-derived products designed to replace synthetic, petroleum-derived materials in applications such as paper coatings, paints and adhesives. Elmer’s pourable School Glue Naturals consists of 99 percent natural ingredients and is made from renewable plant-based resources.
Heliae’s Next Generation Algae Platform
Heliae has launch its patent pending microalgae production platform Volaris. The platform combines the best of existing algae production pathways, utilizing both sunlight and waste carbon feedstocks to produce high purity microalgae at competitive proces. Heliae’s target markets include nutrition, therapeutics, health & beauty, and agrosciences.
Biomass-Derived Catalyst for Hydrogen
In a paper to be published in an upcoming issue of Energy & Environmental Science, researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Brookhaven National Laboratory describe details of a low-cost, stable, effective catalyst that could replace costly platinum in the production of hydrogen. The catalyst, made from renewable soybeans and abundant molybdenum metal, produces hydrogen in an environmentally friendly, cost-effective manner, potentially increasing the use of this clean energy source.
