Tuesday, 08-Sep-09

UK firm researching power-generating plastic trees
LONDON (September 8, 2009) -- UK-based firm SolarBotanic hopes to revolutionise the green energy movement with its new power-generating plastic tree concept, which uses nanotechnology to convert solar energy to electricity.

Tuesday, 25-Aug-09

Plastics decompose at sea with toxic effect say scientists
WASHINGTON (August 25, 2009) -- New research suggests that the prevailing view that ocean-bound plastics are virtually indestructible is wrong – they decompose with unexpected speed, releasing potentially toxic substances into the water, according to the American Chemical Society.

Seattle voters reject 20-cent bag tax
SEATTLE (August 25, 2009) -- The attempt to place a 20-cent fee on all plastic and paper carryout bags in Seattle appears almost certain to be headed for defeat. With more than 60 percent of the expected votes counted, the measure was failing 57 percent to 43 percent.

Tuesday, 18-Aug-09

Biodegradable dinnerware maker to announce U.S. sites
HOUSTON (August 18, 2009) -- A Texas entrepreneur has been touring multiple Midwest cities looking to locate multiple plants in the U.S. for a Chinese manufacturer of biodegradeable plastic dinnerware. The firm will announce its locations within 30 days.

Tuesday, 11-Aug-09

Auto suppliers urged to enter alternative energy markets
TRAVERSE CITY, MICH. (August 11, 2009) -- NextEnergy, a Detroit-based non-profit company focused on accelerating investments in wind, solar, battery and other new markets, sends one message to auto suppliers: Stop making so many auto parts. There are other business opportunities out there that require the same skills as auto parts, but instead call for producing parts for emerging energy markets.

Braskem invests in renewable propylene
SAO PAULO, BRAZIL (August 11, 2009) -- Brazilian petrochemicals company Braskem SA is investing 8.25 million Real (31 million yuan) in research into polypropylene made from 100 percent renewable materials. The research, which will explore ways of manufacturing propylene, is being partly funded by Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP), says Braskem director of innovation and technology Antonio Queiroz.

SPI offers guide to bioplastics
WASHINGTON (August 11, 2009) — The Society of the Plastics Industry Inc. has created the Bioplastics Industry Overview Guide, a 26-page digital publication that, according to SPI officials, “fills the void for a comprehensive encapsulation of this relatively new but fast-growing market.”

Mill Valley becomes 24th Calif. town to ban PS packaging
MILL VALLEY, CALIF. (August 11, 2009) -- Another California city has banned the use of polystyrene take-out packaging. Mill Valley, a town of nearly 15,000 four miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, approved a ban on Aug. 3 that will go into effect Nov. 2.

Tuesday, 28-Jul-09

Bioplastics industry joins oxo-degradable debate
BERLIN (July 28, 2009) -- European Bioplastics, the Berlin-based trade association representing producers of bio-based or biodegradable plastics, hit out at manufacturers of plastics containing degradable additives, accusing them of making misleading claims and failing to live up to international and acknowledged standards.

Merquinsa bioplastics used in shoes, goggles
CHICAGO (July 28, 2009) -- Thermoplastic polyurethane make Merquinsa of Barcelona, Spain has placed its new renewably sourced materials in running shoes and ski goggles.

US water brand adopts “biodegradable” PET
DANA POINT, CALIF. (July 28, 2009) -- Californian mineral water bottler Aquamantra has adopted Eco-Pure modified PET resin for its bottles, which is claimed to provide biodegradability without compromising conventional mechanical recycling activities.

Tuesday, 14-Jul-09

Thailand promoting biodegradable bag project
BANGKOK (July 14, 2009) -- BASF SE is leading a pilot project to promote the use of biodegradable bags in Thailand. The pilot project, which will run from July to December in the Samut Songkhram Province, aims to use biodegradable bags to collect household organic waste and produce high-quality compost that will serve as organic fertilizer for the purpose of soil improvement.

Nanjing Biograde embraces pragmatic growth

Biograde General Manager Jacky Chen

NANJING, CHINA (July 14, 2009) -- Linger at the Biograde (Nanjing) Pty Ltd. factory for long enough and you’ll swear that someone, somewhere, is making popcorn. The faint smell, which grows stronger as you get closer to the company’s resin, is a sign that bioplastics have arrived in China.

Tuesday, 07-Jul-09

Teijin restructuring, exits NatureWorks PLA venture
OSAKA, JAPAN (July 7, 2009) -- Osaka-based Teijin Ltd. has ended its involvement in the NatureWorks LLC polylactic acid (PLA) bioplastics business, transferring its 50 percent shareholding over to its joint venture partner Cargill Inc. The NatureWorks manufacturing plant in Blair, Neb., is currently the world’s largest PLA bioplastic production plant.

Tests show recyclers can separate PLA from PET
WASHINGTON (July 7, 2009) -- Some recyclers have been concerned that as more companies use bottles made from polylactic acid, those containers may contaminate the PET recycling stream. But tests at a full-scale recycler suggest that near infrared technology can effectively separate PLA and PET.

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