Foreword

As with many consumer products, there are multiple environmental issues associated with the leather industry, and animal-free products in particular that replicate leather can go a long way in avoiding some of those issues. This month sees not one, but two news stories of innovations in the artificial leather industry. One of these products, from Ultrafabrics, originates from corn and wood. The corn is a feedstock for polyols, which are used to create a resin and the wood pulp is integrated into a twill backcloth. The second creation from Modern Meadow perhaps more closely resembles the real thing. Collagen is a protein that is found naturally in animal hides, and collagen is produced via a fermentation process, enabling the imitation of animal material. With all the issues surrounding plastic pollution, innovations in plastic packaging are regularly discussed in these news reviews, and this month is no different. Unnecessary plastic packaging in supermarkets has been........

Other News this Month Includes:

Policy

• Joint Statement for an Ambitious Horizon Europe Programme
• Review of bio-based food contact materials published
• Strategies to reduce the global carbon footprint of plastics​

Markets

• ProdTek's New Turf Cushion uses I'm Green PE
• Total Corbion PLA to open
• Gevo and Leaf sign JDA
• Clariant and Orlen Poludnie announce license agreement
• ADM and LG Chem develop superabsorbent polymers​

Research & Development

• Nestlé introduces Institute of Packaging Sciences
• SunPak FSP inks set new standard
• Polymerization Shared Facility to accelerate innovation​

Polymers

• Degradable Lenzing fibres
• Waste fat to plastic
• Wood-based labelling materials
• Plastic-free food service packaging solutions​

Chemicals

• Corrosion protection for high value equipment

Consumer Products

• Braskem's Green Plastic is used for stationery
• Biobased leather collection​
• Biocomposite cooler
• Allbirds collaborated with Just Water on limited-edition shoes
• Animal-free leather-like materials
• ASDA fights food waste​​

Patents

Events

Price Information