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Bioplastics Through the Prism of a Flexible Packaging Converter

Bioplastics have made only modest headway in penetrating flexible packaging applications in North America. How is this explained and what must happen to alter this trend? read more...

Micromidas Develops New Economic Pathway to Bio-based Para-Xylene

Micromidas, Inc., based in West Sacramento, California, has developed a chemocatalytic route to para-xylene from cellulosic biomass and ethylene. Recent trials indicate that the process is directly cost competitive with naphtha-derived para-xylene, the building block chemical used to produce terephthallic acid (TPA), a precursor of PET. Brand owners who seek a 100% bio-based PET bottle packaging resin or textile yarn cost-competitive with petroleum-based PET may now be a step closer to reaching that “holy grail”, as a result of the Micromidas development.

Will Bioplastics Play a Significant Role in Renewable Packaging Applications?

It started with cleaning products that are beautiful in appearance, that smell great, and are good for the planet. It included considerations of the total product life cycle assessment, with a strong emphasis on material source and end of life. The intent was to create the best possible user experience, recognizing that product design is driven by consumer behavior. It is this core capability that has driven San Francisco-based green cleaning pioneer Method Products and sister company Ecover to become together the world’s largest green home cleaning company.

Key Issues For Success Of Bioplastics

Demand for bioplastics is on the rise. Why? In part it’s because some major brand owners are betting that plastics made from plants rather than oil are better for the environment and business. They are hoping that plenty of sustainable minded consumers agree. But that sentiment is far from universal, with many companies tentative about embracing bioplastics. They are unsure if most consumers will buy-in and if these renewable materials can be cost-effective. Answers are unlikely to be found at the numerous biomaterial conferences which are “technology push.” What’s needed is an objective conference with a program that promotes an understanding of the key issues impacting the embryonic bioplastics value chain.

Sustainable, Cost-advantaged Chemical Intermediates For 100% Bio-based Nylon-6,6

SKILLMAN, NJ – Rennovia has developed chemical catalytic process technologies for the cost-advantaged production of adipic acid (AA) and hexamethylene diamine (HMD) from sugars. This enables for the first time production of 100% bio-based nylon-6,6. Deploying its high-throughput catalyst discovery and development platform, Rennovia utilizes proprietary catalyst technology to produce the bio-based chemical building blocks for nylon-6,6.

Biomass Infrastructure For Bioplastics Production: The Way Forward

If bioplastics are to reach or better cost-parity versus their petro-based counterparts, there must be technology advances in production and distribution of nonfood biomass. Green chemical, bioplastic and biofuel technologies have advanced faster than feedstock technology and distribution systems. Production of biobased chemicals and plastics today is largely dependent on food feedstocks such as corn starch, cane sugar, and vegetable oils. Food feedstocks are sensitive to cost spikes, and are not viewed as sustainable.

Citrus Waste to Bioethanol and Bioplastics Precursor: Opportunity or Liability?

Production of ethanol from non-food sources can alleviate competition for land conventionally used for food and feed production. One of these non-food sources is citrus waste, a major by-product of juice production.

New Biobased Pathway To Para-xylene From Ethylene

Diminishing oil reserves has led to a growing need to develop new routes to chemical intermediates that utilize alternative feedstocks from non-petroleum sources. New research conducted at the University of North Carolina on the synthesis of para-xylene from ethylene indicates that significant progress is being made towards that objective.