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
Scientists: We Should Dispose of Sofas Like We Do E-Waste
Scientists: We Should Dispose of Sofas Like We Do E-Waste
Published on August 7, 2014
About a 2 minute read

A group of scientists at the University of Birmingham is calling for soft furnishings to be discarded with the same caution as electronics. Waste from soft furnishings such as curtains, cushions and sofas contain brominated flame retardants (BFRs), w... View More

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Materials & PackagingMaterials & Packaging
Nanomaterials — The Answer for a Sustainable Tire Industry?
Nanomaterials — The Answer for a Sustainable Tire Industry?
Published on August 5, 2014
About a 3 minute read

A recent report by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) says that the use of new nanomaterials in tire production could help further the sustainability of the industry and reduce the environmental impact of vehicles, provi... View More

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Materials & Packaging
Genomatica Developing Bio-Based Processes for Nylon Intermediates
Genomatica Developing Bio-Based Processes for Nylon Intermediates
Published on August 4, 2014
About a 2 minute read

Sustainable chemical technology company Genomatica, which develops manufacturing processes using alternative feedstocks that enable its licensee partners to produce the world’s most widely-used chemicals a ‘better way,’ announced this morning t... View More

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Materials & PackagingMaterials & Packaging
Solazyme and AkzoNobel Expand Algal Oil Partnership
Solazyme and AkzoNobel Expand Algal Oil Partnership
Published on July 31, 2014
About a 2 minute read

Solazyme, Inc, a pioneer in renewable oils and bioproducts, and AkzoNobel, a global producer of paint, coatings and specialty chemicals, announced today they have expanded their previous agreement for the joint development of Tailored™ algal oils. ... View More

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Materials & PackagingMaterials & Packaging
The Road to Renewable Raw Materials Is Paved with Strategic Partnerships
The Road to Renewable Raw Materials Is Paved with Strategic Partnerships
Published on July 23, 2014
About a 4 minute read

As the demand to reduce carbon-based raw materials intensifies, companies are not only looking at how they can reduce their consumption, but also at how they can find appropriate replacements for fossil fuel-based raw materials.To meet this challenge... View More

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Materials & Packaging
Carbios Announces Milestone in Controlled Biodegradation Process for Disposable Soft Plastics
Carbios Announces Milestone in Controlled Biodegradation Process for Disposable Soft Plastics
Published on July 22, 2014
About a 3 minute read

Carbios, a French green chemistry company specializing in technologies enabling the recovery of plastic waste and the production of bio-polymers, has announced a significant step forward in the development of its controlled biodegradation process for... View More

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Materials & PackagingMaterials & Packaging
Södra, James Cropper Unveil 100% Renewable, Biodegradable Alternative to Plastic
Södra, James Cropper Unveil 100% Renewable, Biodegradable Alternative to Plastic
Published on July 16, 2014
About a 3 minute read

UK specialty paper and advanced materials manufacturer James Cropper PLC — which has developed breakthrough processes for recycling cocoa husk waste into paper and for recycling both the paper and plastic components of disposable coffee cups — ha... View More

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Materials & PackagingMaterials & Packaging
New Research Says Biostimulation Can Help Produce Algae 300 Times Faster
New Research Says Biostimulation Can Help Produce Algae 300 Times Faster
Published on July 16, 2014
About a 3 minute read

A research team at AlgaStar Inc, a Florida-based algae cultivation company, has reported that biological simulation has yielded a 300 percent increase in algae growth rate over normal conditions. Based on findings presented by AlgaStar CEO John Erics... View More

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Materials & PackagingMaterials & Packaging
Biogen Idec Says It Will Reduce Its GHGs 80% by 2020
Biogen Idec Says It Will Reduce Its GHGs 80% by 2020
Published on July 9, 2014
About a 2 minute read

In its fifth annual Corporate Citizenship Report, released this week, biotech company Biogen Idec puts forward an aggressive set of 2020 goals, including reducing its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions intensity by 80 percent (compared to its 2006 baseli... View More

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Materials & PackagingMaterials & Packaging
New Tetra Pak Campaign Encourages Industry-Wide Commitment to Renewable Packaging
New Tetra Pak Campaign Encourages Industry-Wide Commitment to Renewable Packaging
Published on July 9, 2014
About a 3 minute read

Tetra Pak has launched a campaign to raise industry awareness of the importance of the front end of the packaging life cycle — the sourcing of renewable materials — and is calling on the consumer goods industry to commit to prioritizing renewabil... View More

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Materials & PackagingMaterials & Packaging
Sainsbury's, M&S Lead Effort to Recycle 1.3 Billion Plastic Food Trays Annually
Sainsbury's, M&S Lead Effort to Recycle 1.3 Billion Plastic Food Trays Annually
Published on July 8, 2014
About a 2 minute read

Sainsbury's and Marks and Spencer (M&S) are leading a consortium of UK packaging, retail and recycling organizations to launch a market trial aimed at recycling as many as 1.3 billion plastic food trays each year.The campaign focuses on reducing ... View More

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Materials & PackagingMaterials & Packaging
Dow Challenging People to Become Better Recyclers
Dow Challenging People to Become Better Recyclers
Published on July 2, 2014
About a 3 minute read

Dow Packaging & Specialty Plastics has launched a campaign called Recycle Rally — A 30-Day Recycling Challenge, to inspire people to cultivate daily recycling behaviors. ... View More

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Materials & PackagingMaterials & Packaging
Walmart, Bumble and Bumble Fined for VOC Emissions
Walmart, Bumble and Bumble Fined for VOC Emissions
Published on July 1, 2014
About a 2 minute read

Walmart, Bumble and Bumble and 17 other companies have been fined by the California Air Resources Board for air pollution violations. Bumble and Bumble received the highest penalty of $88,000 followed by Walmart at $34,000 out of a total of $233,175 ... View More

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Materials & PackagingMaterials & Packaging
Recycle Across America, Participant Media Determined to Get Us to 'Recycle Right!'
Recycle Across America, Participant Media Determined to Get Us to 'Recycle Right!'
Published on June 26, 2014
About a 4 minute read

Recycle Across America® (RAA), a nonprofit that has developed the first and only society-wide standardized labeling system for recycling bins to help eliminate the public confusion surrounding recycling, has joined forces with Participant Media on a... View More

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Materials & PackagingMaterials & Packaging
Defra Study Funding Coke, Tesco, Nestlé to Boost Recycling of Aluminum Packaging
Defra Study Funding Coke, Tesco, Nestlé to Boost Recycling of Aluminum Packaging
Published on June 24, 2014
About a 3 minute read

Coca-Cola Enterprises, Tesco and Nestlé UK & Ireland are among the companies being funded by the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to develop viable approaches for collecting flexible packaging materials containing al... View More

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Materials & PackagingMaterials & Packaging
'Valuing Plastic' Illustrates Critical Need for Companies to Disclose Data on Plastic Use
'Valuing Plastic' Illustrates Critical Need for Companies to Disclose Data on Plastic Use
Published on June 20, 2014
About a 6 minute read

Companies could become more sustainable by improving the way they measure, manage and report the amount of plastic they use in their business operations and supply chains, according to groundbreaking new research by the Plastic Disclosure Project (PD... View More

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Materials & PackagingMaterials & Packaging
LAUNCH Seeking Chemistry Innovations to Advance Sustainable Materials, Manufacturing
LAUNCH Seeking Chemistry Innovations to Advance Sustainable Materials, Manufacturing
Published on June 20, 2014
About a 4 minute read

Calling all chemistry innovators! LAUNCH — the open innovation platform aimed at identifying and fostering breakthrough ideas for a more sustainable world — this week announced its newest System Challenge: Green Chemistry. ... View More

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Materials & PackagingMaterials & Packaging
Biome Research Confirms Next-Generation Bioplastics Could Be Derived from Trees
Biome Research Confirms Next-Generation Bioplastics Could Be Derived from Trees
Published on June 18, 2014
About a 3 minute read

A research project led by Biome Bioplastics, one of the UK’s leading developers of natural plastics, has demonstrated the feasibility of extracting organic chemicals from lignin — a complex hydrocarbon that helps to provide structural support in ... View More

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Materials & PackagingMaterials & Packaging
adidas Partners with bluesign, Commits to Additional Best Practices in Chemical Management
adidas Partners with bluesign, Commits to Additional Best Practices in Chemical Management
Published on June 11, 2014
About a 3 minute read

Today, the adidas Group announced a strategic partnership with bluesign technologies to further drive sustainable solutions in the Group’s global supply chain.bluesign technologies is the well-established world leading provider of assessment tools ... View More

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Materials & PackagingMaterials & Packaging
Feds Release Recommendations to Improve Chemical Facility Safety and Security
Feds Release Recommendations to Improve Chemical Facility Safety and Security
Published on June 11, 2014
About a 2 minute read

The Chemical Facility Safety and Security Working Group, a federal government working group set up after an explosion at a fertilizer plant in West, Texas, in 2013 has released recommendations that agencies should consider new rules for the storage a... View More

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