Foreword
Around this time last year, we
reported on a story that had a pleasant circularity to it: SYNlawn’s
announcement of their artificial grass made from plastic derived from
sugarcane. This was, in effect, artificial grass made from real grass, which
was an innovation that amused us in-house.
It would appear that
said amusement is to repeat itself, as this month brings the announcement from
LEGO of its first biobased components: plants. All of the toy brand’s
plant-shaped building blocks are set to be made from biobased polyethylene from
2018, once again, in effect, making plants from plants. This is part of LEGO’s
ambition for widespread use of sustainable materials by 2030, and with
continuing development of biobased plastics, and the amount of R&D
investment they’re making into such materials, they won’t be short of options
for the rest of their products........
Other News this Month Includes:
Policy
- European Commission seeks to update Bioeconomy Action Plan
- New EU recycling rules agreed
Markets
- BioAmber offers common stock to public
Research & Development
- Paper seeks to solve E. coli isoprenoid problem
Polymers
- UPM releases plant-based PE film
- Middle-East's first bio-nylon plant planned
- OK Compost passes into new hands
- Discussion of new EU biodegradable mulch-film standard
- Construction begins on Parma PHA plant
- Partnership to seek biobased plastic additives
Chemicals
- Stora Enso releases lignin alternative to fossil-phenols
- Rotterdam plant to produce methanol from waste
- New company founded to produce algal omega-3 fatty acids
- New process improves efficiency of biobased MEG production
Consumer Products
- New LEGO plants to be made from… plants
- Biobased Tetra-Pak delivery passes half-billion mark
- Evonik to debut biobased children's glasses
- Amyris and NIKKOL release pharmaceutical-grade biobased squalane
Patents
Events
Price Information