Foreword
The bioeconomy provides us with a myriad of novel
materials: as developments continue to be made in the field of biobased
materials, new properties are being discovered that sometimes allow biobased
products to perform better than their fossil-based counterparts. One of the
materials which has had some of the most impressive developments is spider
silk. It has long been known that spider silk has incredible material
properties: it is lightweight but retains incredible strength (the oft-touted
trivium being that spider silk has the same strength as steel of the same
thickness). However, harnessing these remarkable properties has proven a
development challenge for the bioeconomy: spiders aren’t exactly easy animals
to farm and harvest silk from, and so other organisms must be genetically
modified to produce the silk. One approach taken by Kraig Biocraft has been to
genetically modify silk worms to produce the fibres. This process is now
starting to bear fruit, as Kraig has been able to announce........
Other News this Month Includes:
Policy
- European Commission announces bioeconomy measures for 2019
Markets
- Kraig Biocraft begins expansion into Vietnam
- Genomatica announces new investors
Research & Development
- LCA confirms 70% carbon reduction through Anellotech process
- Production of biobased acrylonitrile
- Bioplastics as a niche within bioeconomy
Polymers
- Kraig Biocraft announces bulletproof spider silk panels
- MCC releases paper cup made from biobased biodegradable plastic
- Braskem's plastic to be used in coffee packaging
- Carbon Trust endorses carbon-negative bioplastic claims
- thyssenkrupp commissions PLA plant in China
- Covestro to develop CO2-incorporating polyurethanes
- Novamont opens Mater-Biopolymer plant
Chemicals
- Demonstration plant for chemicals from CO2 and light
- BASF could pull out of Synvina venture
Consumer Products
- Novamont releases products to eliminate microplastic pollution
- Home-compostable coffee capsule released
- PepsiCo commits to recycled plastic use
- Asian fashion retailer adopts biobased plastic bags
Patents
Events
Price Information