Materials & Packaging

The latest developments in materials, feedstocks and processes that are transforming the way many conventional products are made and packaged — and eliminating their negative impacts

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Materials & PackagingMaterials & Packaging
Trending: Better Refrigerated Shipping Technologies Thanks to Hershey, Sonoco
Trending: Better Refrigerated Shipping Technologies Thanks to Hershey, Sonoco
Published on January 22, 2016
About a 3 minute read

Shipping temperature-sensitive goods is tricky business – warm climates and summer months create unique challenges for transporting refrigerated goods. Proper temperature regulation prevents spoilage, which is becoming increasingly important in lig... View More

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Materials & PackagingMaterials & Packaging
Trending: Bio-Based Materials Breakthroughs Thanks to Seashells, Fructose
Trending: Bio-Based Materials Breakthroughs Thanks to Seashells, Fructose
Published on January 20, 2016
About a 3 minute read

New research on natural materials has the potential to unlock innovations in packaging, clean energy, and other industries. Fructose, a sugar found in many plants, and calcium carbonate, the material that crystallizes into chalk, shells, and rocks, h... View More

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Materials & PackagingMaterials & Packaging
Trending: Companies Turning to Big Data, Microbes to Help Increase Crop Yields
Trending: Companies Turning to Big Data, Microbes to Help Increase Crop Yields
Published on January 14, 2016
About a 3 minute read

Farmers in the United States could soon benefit from two new ways to increase crop yield that were announced this month.CropClimate is the latest use of big data to benefit agriculture. The web platform uses climate-, soil- and crop-modeling to link ... View More

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Materials & PackagingMaterials & Packaging
California Methane Leak Exposes Risks of Oil and Gas Operations
California Methane Leak Exposes Risks of Oil and Gas Operations
Published on January 11, 2016
About a 5 minute read

Methane is a greenhouse gas even more potent than carbon dioxide, and some 1,000 tons of it has been leaking into the air each day at the Southern California Gas Company's (SoCal Gas) Aliso Canyon storage field since October 23. So far, more than 80 ... View More

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Materials & PackagingMaterials & Packaging
Study: Dairy Digesters Offer Better ‘Bang for Buck' Reducing Emissions
Study: Dairy Digesters Offer Better ‘Bang for Buck' Reducing Emissions
Published on December 23, 2015
About a 2 minute read

Dairy methane digesters are among the most cost-effective investments California can make to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help achieve its climate change prevention goals, according to a new study by Ramboll Environ.The study examines how cap ... View More

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Materials & PackagingMaterials & Packaging
Sustainable Packaging: A Holistic, Collaborative Design Challenge
Sustainable Packaging: A Holistic, Collaborative Design Challenge
Published on December 23, 2015
About a 3 minute read

There are many opportunities for the design industry to play a bigger part in product sustainability. Case in point: Many of the technological advancements in sustainable packaging suffer from issues that could be tackled through partnership with str... View More

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Materials & PackagingMaterials & Packaging
Trending: This Week in Upcycling – Champagne Packaging, Rice Waste, Yoga Mats
Trending: This Week in Upcycling – Champagne Packaging, Rice Waste, Yoga Mats
Published on December 18, 2015
About a 3 minute read

Upcycling is a great way to use waste to create new products and take the world one step closer to a circular economy. These companies are some of the latest to creatively incorporate the practice to optimize products while utilizing a variety of was... View More

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Materials & PackagingMaterials & Packaging
Colorado State Chemists Develop Recyclable, Biodegradable, Petroleum-Free Plastic
Colorado State Chemists Develop Recyclable, Biodegradable, Petroleum-Free Plastic
Published on December 15, 2015
About a 2 minute read

Chemists at Colorado State University (CSU) have developed a new biodegradable polymer. The plastic is made from the bio-renewable monomer Gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) and it converts back to GBL when heated — ready for reuse. The new material, called... View More

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Materials & PackagingMaterials & Packaging
Trending: Dow, Avery Dennison Wrap Up Latest Innovations in Renewable, Recyclable Packaging
Trending: Dow, Avery Dennison Wrap Up Latest Innovations in Renewable, Recyclable Packaging
Published on December 11, 2015
About a 4 minute read

An award-winning stand-up pouch from The Dow Chemical Company will now be used to hold packs of Seventh Generation’s natural dishwashing detergent. ... View More

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Materials & PackagingMaterials & Packaging
Ford: New Manufacturing Method Could Cut Emissions By 50%
Ford: New Manufacturing Method Could Cut Emissions By 50%
Published on December 9, 2015
About a 2 minute read

Saving engines from the scrapyard and reusing them could deliver a 50 percent reduction in CO2 emissions compared to producing a new engine, according to news from Ford Motor Company. The automaker has announced that its new, patented plasma coating ... View More

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Materials & PackagingMaterials & Packaging
Waste, Bioplastics and Edible Packaging Solutions Shine as Carlsberg Green Ideas Finalists
Waste, Bioplastics and Edible Packaging Solutions Shine as Carlsberg Green Ideas Finalists
Published on December 3, 2015
About a 3 minute read

In September and October, Carlsberg Group accepted submissions for its "Cheers to Green Ideas" competition, hosted in partnership with think tank Sustainia. The competition asked people and organizations from around the world to submit thei... View More

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Materials & PackagingMaterials & Packaging
Documentary Causing a STINK! Over Chemicals in Products
Documentary Causing a STINK! Over Chemicals in Products
Published on December 2, 2015
About a 2 minute read

A new documentary is racking up awards across the United States, exposing the dangers hidden in the products found on store shelves. Director Jon Whelan stumbled across the issue of undisclosed chemicals when he noticed a foul smell from a pair of pa... View More

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Materials & PackagingMaterials & Packaging
Trending: Desalination Tech ‘On Ice’ and in the Desert
Trending: Desalination Tech ‘On Ice’ and in the Desert
Published on November 30, 2015
About a 3 minute read

Water scarcity is among the most serious long-term risks facing society worldwide. Climate impacts are worsening drought conditions, causing billions of dollars in economic losses and fresh water supplies are dwindling. To make matters worse, 97 perc... View More

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Materials & PackagingMaterials & Packaging
An April Fool’s Attitude: A Critical Look At What Is True
An April Fool’s Attitude: A Critical Look At What Is True
Published on November 27, 2015
About a 3 minute read

Let me start by saying that I don’t expect you to believe what you are about to read. Why should you take an opinion of an executive of a multi-national at face value? There was a recent quote on Reddit that opened my eyes to an unexpected truth: �... View More

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Materials & PackagingMaterials & Packaging
'Oscars of Innovation' Award Dow with Most Wins of Any Packaging Developer
'Oscars of Innovation' Award Dow with Most Wins of Any Packaging Developer
Published on November 23, 2015
About a 3 minute read

The 2015 winners of the annual R&D 100 Awards were announced on November 13 in Las Vegas. Often referred to as the “Oscars of Innovation,” the awards recognize technology inventions commercialized in the past year. The Dow Chemical Company ha... View More

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Materials & PackagingMaterials & Packaging
How Can Brands Bring Bio-Based Materials to Scale (and Should They)?
How Can Brands Bring Bio-Based Materials to Scale (and Should They)?
Published on November 18, 2015
About a 4 minute read

A large audience gathered at this SB ’15 London breakout session Tuesday to (hopefully!) learn more about what appeared to be a very niche subject.A preliminary display of hands around the room confirmed the lack of experience around bio-materials,... View More

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Materials & PackagingMaterials & Packaging
Embedding Purpose: How DuPont Is Linking Sustainability to Innovation
Embedding Purpose: How DuPont Is Linking Sustainability to Innovation
Published on November 18, 2015
About a 3 minute read

Sustainability – the responsible use of resources to ensure a clean, healthy and vibrant world for future generations – is evolving quickly as a global priority for companies and consumers alike. We used to define it largely in terms of environme... View More

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Materials & PackagingMaterials & Packaging
Orange Peels + Sulphur = Mercury Remediation?
Orange Peels + Sulphur = Mercury Remediation?
Published on November 9, 2015
About a 2 minute read

Researchers from Australia’s Flinders University say they have found a “dirt cheap” solution to mercury contamination. Dr. Justin Chalker and his students have developed a dark red polymer from industrial waste products — sulphur and limonene... View More

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Materials & PackagingMaterials & Packaging
Report Exposes Failures of Fragrance Industry's Self-Regulated Safety Policies
Report Exposes Failures of Fragrance Industry's Self-Regulated Safety Policies
Published on November 6, 2015
About a 5 minute read

A report released Thursday by national women’s health non-profit Women’s Voices for the Earth (WVE) exposes the failings of the fragrance industry’s self-regulated safety program. ... View More

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Materials & PackagingMaterials & Packaging
Trending: New Fashion Innovations Include Textiles Made from Deadstock, Synthetic Spider Silk
Trending: New Fashion Innovations Include Textiles Made from Deadstock, Synthetic Spider Silk
Published on November 3, 2015
About a 5 minute read

A synthetic spider silk parka, luxury knitwear made from deadstock yarns, and one-of-a-kind pieces from unwanted locally sourced materials are the latest sustainable clothing options. ... View More

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