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New BIO.D Collection Biodegrades in 20 Years as Opposed to the Industry Average of 1,000 Years
Press Release, MarketWatch, April 15, 2010
SANTA BARBARA, Calif., (BUSINESS WIRE) - Simple(R) Shoes (a division of Deckers Outdoor Corporation) /quotes/comstock/15*!deck/quotes/nls/deck (DECK 136.51, -1.49, -1.08%), a sustainable footwear company, happily celebrates Earth Day 2010 with its BIO.D Footwear Collection, offering consumers and eco-fashion lovers footwear that won't leave a mark on the environment.
This spring, Simple has unveiled its new men's and women's BIO.D shoe collection, featuring biodegradable soles. BIO.D products incorporate rubber, plastic and EVA (foaming material) that are manufactured using EcoPure, an organic compound that will eventually eat away at the bonds holding these materials together. This allows the midsoles and outsoles of the styles, when exposed to the moisture and heat typical of landfills, to biodegrade in 20 years as opposed to the industry average of 1,000 years.
"Our focus at Simple is to make better shoes--shoes that look good and are made sustainably," said Cielo Rios, Simple's Product Line Manager. "The BIO.D collection takes our efforts a serious step forward and we are happy to pioneer a new way to think about shoes--as something that won't sit in a landfill for an eternity."
The BIO.D collection for men and women includes classic Simple sneakers in the D-Solve for men and D-Kay for women along with a flip flop collection for the warm spring and summer months.
About Simple(R) Shoes: A Nice Little Shoe Company
Simple(R) Shoes , based in Santa Barbara, Calif., is committed to making shoes for a happy planet. Simple(R) Shoes began in 1991, as a reaction to the over-hyped, over-marketed, and over-teched sneakers that were dominating the early 90's. Since then, Simple has firmly planted its feet in making the most sustainable and stylish shoes and bags for everyone, everywhere. Simple is owned by Deckers Outdoor Corporation, and can be found on Facebook and Twitter.
About Deckers Outdoor Corporation
Deckers Outdoor Corporation strives to be a premier lifestyle marketer that builds niche brands into global market leaders by designing and marketing innovative, functional and fashion-oriented footwear developed for both high performance outdoor activities and everyday casual lifestyle use. Teva(R), Simple(R) Shoes, UGG(R) Australia, TSUBO(R), and Ahnu(R) are registered trademarks of Deckers Outdoor Corporation.
SOURCE: Simple(R) Shoes
R/West PR
Molly Gilbert, 503-223-5443 x118
mollyg@r-west.com
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Simple(R) Shoes Celebrates Earth Day with Its Collection of Biodegradable Footwear
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
China Green Material Technologies, Inc. Announces Record Full Year 2009 Results
Revenues Increase 21.8% to $13.4 Million and Operating Income Rises 19.9% to $5.3 Million
PRNewswire, April 13, 2010
HARBIN, China - China Green Material Technologies, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: CAGM; "CAGM" or "the Company"), a Chinese leader in developing and manufacturing starch-based biodegradable containers, tableware and packaging materials, today announced its financial results for the full year ended December 31, 2009.
Full year revenues increased 21.8% to $13,407,287 for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to $11,008,513 in 2008, primarily driven by the Company's successful efforts in marketing its biodegradable products. Gross profit was $6,354,433 in 2009 versus $5,327,929 a year ago, while gross margin came in at 47.4% in 2009 and 48.4% for the full year in 2008.
Operating expenses were $1,030,861 in 2009 as compared to $888,232 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008, an increase of 16.1%, which reflected a credit in 2008 of $261,887 to reduce the level of allowance for doubtful accounts. Income from operations in 2009 rose 19.9% to $5,323,572 as compared to $4,439,697 in 2008, reflecting the strength of full year revenues.
The Company reported income before taxes of $4,894,136 in 2009 as compared to $4,385,907 in 2008, an 11.6% increase. Full year net income was $4,134,946 in 2009 versus $5,892,352 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008. The decline is primarily due to a gain of $1,506,545 related to foreign currency translation in 2008. Net income excluding foreign currency translation was $4,155,326 in 2009 as compared to $4,385,807 in 2008, a decrease of 5.3%. The year-over-year decline is primarily due to the exemption from Chinese income tax in 2008. Basic and diluted net income per share was $0.22 for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared with $0.28 for the year ended December 31, 2008. As of December 31, 2009, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $7,321,276.
Mr. Su Zhonghao, CEO of CAGM, commented, "We are very pleased with the record results of 2009, which reflect increasing demand for our products as consumers continue to adopt environmentally-friendly, sustainable practices. Importantly, the increase of 22% in revenues is attributable to strong order flow from both new and existing customers. During the year, we took a number of important steps to position the Company for future growth. We expanded our distributor base by nearly 70% to 118 partners and increased our sales team to 38 members. Early in 2010, we made the strategic decision to significantly expand our production capacity to accommodate increasing volume and prepare for anticipated growth as we focus on developing new product categories, entering new markets and winning new customers."
Mr. Su Zhonhao continued. "Looking ahead, we believe the Company is ideally positioned to take advantage of favorable macro environmental policies and increasing awareness and demand for biodegradable products. We believe that we have an early mover advantage; proprietary technology that produces superior quality products; an experienced and cohesive team; a strong order pipeline; key operating and growth strategies designed to increase market share; and the financial flexibility to execute."
About China Green Material Technologies, Inc.
Website: http://www.21cgmt.com
China Green Material Technologies, Inc. (OTCBB: CAGM) is a China-based manufacturer of starch-based biodegradable containers, tableware and packaging products. Headquartered in Harbin city of China, the Company currently has 153 employees. The Company has developed proprietary biodegradable food packaging materials technologies.
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains certain statements that may include "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are often identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "optimistic," "intend," "will" or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to be materially different from those described herein as anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Investors should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of risks and factors, including those discussed in the Company's periodic reports that are filed with and available from the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these risks and other factors. Other than as required under the securities laws, the Company does not assume a duty to update these forward-looking statements.
For more information, please contact:
American Capital Ventures
Howard Gostfrand
Tel: +1-305-918-7000
Email: info@amcapventures.com
Web: http://www.amcapventures.com
HC International, Inc.
Christine Greany
Tel: +1-858-523-1732
Email: christine.greany@hcinternational.net
Web: http://www.hcinternational.net
SOURCE China Green Material Technologies, Inc.
Inside Design: The Man Behind PoopBags
By PD&D Editorial Staff, Product Design & Development, April 12, 2010
Farewell to the plastic grocery bag, pet owners no longer have to take such a toll on landfills. Though it is a way to repurpose the many plastic bags compiled after multiple shopping excursions, typical petroleum-based plastic bags can take thousands of years to decompose.
Paul Cannella, the owner of Chicago-based PoopBags.com, created a solution.
Cannella’s PoopBags are 100 percent biodegradable dog waste bags that meet the ASTM D6400 specification — with all of the “earth friendly” products on the market D6400 actually allows a company to legally claim that the product is biodegradable.
Made from corn starch and other renewable resources, PoopBags are shelf stable products that will degrade, after use, at the same rate as the core of an apple.
In PD&D’s latest addition to the Inside Design series, Cannella discusses how you don’t always have to change your behavior to save the environment, sometimes you just the bags you were using.
PD&D: How was the PoopBag born?
Paul Cannella: I used to always run out of bags for my dog, May. I started grabbing extras when I could: my Mom would save them for me, I always asked for double-bagging, etc. I started looking for sources on the web and discovered just how bad plastic bags were for the environment.
In 2003, there were very few resources for biodegradable bags — and it remains true today. While many claim to be biodegradable, only a couple actually meet the ASTM D6400 specification, which allows you to legally claim your product is biodegradable.
PD&D: Where are the bags manufactured?
Cannella: We have two product lines: One is made in the U.S., and the other is made in Norway.
PD&D: Dog owners understand the volume of plastic grocery bags that are “recycled” every year. How much harm are they doing to the environment?
Cannella: Here are some facts:
* Plastics are the fourth highest generated waste in the U.S.
* Plastic grocery bags originate from petroleum, which is non-renewable.
* The bags don’t biodegrade, and they take thousands of years to break down.
I also caution you from using the word ‘recycle’ when using the old bags to pick up dog waste, you're really reusing them. Picking up is still very important to protect our waterways and environment, now adjust to using a 100 percent biodegradable dog waste bag and you'll be doing your part.
PD&D: How have you organized your business to run with as little of a carbon footprint as possible?
Cannella: Our boxes are made from 100 percent recycled materials and constructed using 100 percent wind power. We use as many recycled and natural products as we can for shipping and we try to leverage our reach to spread eco-friendly tips to the masses. We recycle all of our cardboard, paper, plastics (yes, we still drink beverages) and anything else we can. In general, everyone that works at PoopBags has a Green streak.
PD&D: If I order green bags over the internet, how do the emissions used to deliver the bags compare to my footprint if I continue to use plastic grocery bags?
Cannella: That’s an interesting question. We try to offer the bags in bulk to reduce the number of deliveries. In the end, there is no comparison. Those are plastic and they're just plain bad for the environment.
PD&D: How do you plan to orchestrate mass market PoopBag acceptance?
Cannella: We have a constant program of advertising, PR, social networking and relying on our number one asset, our customers and their praise for PoopBags. Word of mouth is the most powerful form of acceptance and we are grateful for a tremendously loyal customer base.
PD&D: What does the future hold for PoopBags?
Cannella: We have a very bright future and it’s very exciting. While we currently sell overseas in a limited capacity, we are preparing to open an office in the United Kingdom. That will be followed by reach to the entire European Union; and then we'll focus on the Pacific Rim. This is balanced with our continued growth here in the States. Along the way, we hope to continue to do some good by making donations to shelters, paying for pet adoptions and donating to the Algalita Marine Research Foundation.
PD&D: Given the current state of the environment, what keeps you up at night?
Cannella: I certainly get stressed, but I usually don’t have any issues sleeping at night. I try to do my best to lead a good life, be responsible and rest easy, knowing that my company provides a Green-N-Easy source for folks to make their own small impact on the world.
For more information on PoopBags, check out the www.poopbags.com.
Metabolix to ship first biodegradable plastic, Mirel
By Jackie Noblett, Mass High Tech, April 9, 2010
For nearly two decades, Oliver Peoples and the Cambridge-based company he founded, Metabolix Inc., have been working on ways to turn crops into biodegradable plastics.
The company, founded in 1992 and public since 2006, bore the brunt of the long, slow and expensive process of industrial biotechnology and clean-technology commercialization. But this month, Metabolix (Nasdaq: MBLX) finally will turn the corner so many of its peer companies have failed to do and begin shipping its first plastic, known as Mirel, from its commercial plant in Clinton, Iowa, to customers and book revenue.
Traversing the chasm between technology and production is supremely difficult in the cleantech field, and for Metabolix it has meant years of losses and the dependence on joint venture agreements with agricultural giants to finance much of its expansion. Executives say the transition to producer from developer is critical for the company to prove to investors and customers the technology is more than a science project.
“The commercialization of Mirel is a huge step for us, for it provides a huge point of credibility that other industrial biotechs are looking for,” said Metabolix President and Chief Executive Richard Eno. “We have now transitioned into an environment that creates a lot more opportunities for us to build on the foundation of Mirel and into other products we’re working on.”
Driving the interest is projections of a sizable market for the materials to be used in anything from plastic bags to yogurt cups. Sales of biodegradable and bio-based plastics could reach $1.7 billion to $2.4 billion by 2012, according to a report by investment bank Jefferies & Co.
Metabolix’s history is not drastically different from other biotechs in the ethanol, chemical and materials industries — using major advances in genetic engineering made in the 1970s and 1980s and combining it with chemistry and materials science. But what makes Metabolix unique is not that it is making biodegradable plastics, but trying to create a single polymer that can withstand heat and cold, can be injection-molded into pens and can be in contact with food.
“What we’re making is a new polymer that has never been made before,” Eno said. “When you’re putting a new material out there, there are various tests and other processes that take time.”
“I think the benefit is once you’re there, it’s an enduring thing,” he added.
That’s if you actually get to the end goal. Metabolix’s ability to go commercial arguably would not have been possible without a joint venture forged in 2006 with Decatur, Ill.-based Archer Daniels Midland Co., one of the world’s largest producers of corn-based ethanol.
ADM essentially fronted the cost of building Metabolix’s Clinton plant to the tune of well over $300 million as well as access to the corn sugar feedstock that is used to make Mirel. In return, Metabolix provides research and development as well as marketing and product development services to the venture.
Eno says the partnership enabled Metabolix to get over the hurdle of fronting the money for a plant, something the early-stage company could not do on its own.
Last year, the 100-employee company generated $1.6 million in revenue from grant funding and payments from ADM, posted a net loss of $38 million. Meanwhile, the company’s stock has surged since February, trading near $13 per share from a 52-week low of about $6.
Biodegradable plastic use on rise in Costa Rica
sify news, April 9, 2010
Uses of biodegradable plastic bags in Costa Rica has increased significantly in the last three years as a result of an intensified climate conservation campaign across the country and in Central America.
Consumers are now purchasing disposable and environment friendly plastic containers, bags and bottles. Such products are gaining ground in less than three years after the technology came in the market, said Silvia Vega, CEO of Milenio Tres, distributor of D2W technology used to convert plastics into degradable material.
Although biodegradable products make up less than 10 percent of all plastics on the market in the Central American country, the trend is towards continued rapid growth, she said.
The increased use of 'green' products in Costa Rica is part of a worldwide trend; among other Central American countries that have embraced oxo-biodegradable plastics are El Salvador and Guatemala.
According to Milenio Tres, close to 220 million tonnes of plastic is produced annually worldwide and approximately 20 million tonnes of plastic debris end up in rivers and oceans.
The company also estimates that 90 percent of the plastic made since 1930 remains somewhere on the planet as rubbish without decomposing, polluting earth, air and water.
International environmental watchdogs say nearly one million seabirds die annually from ingesting plastic, while turtles in oceans all over the world mistake floating plastic bags and sheets for jellyfish and choke to death.
In Costa Rica, roughly 4,500 tonnes of urban solid waste is produced every day. Of them, approximately 30 percent ends up in rivers and oceans.
Oxo-biodegradable plastic is anywhere from between five percent and 10 percent more expensive to manufacture, Vega said, but there are ways to bring that cost down.
'In reality, this cost is nothing compared to the environmental benefit of having waste that will decompose instead of accumulating on the planet for decades,' Vega said.
D2W technology is used in more than 90 countries and has been approved in accordance with international guidelines, including those of the US Food and Drug Administration.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Biodegradable plastics' 'green' association propels their growth, claims report
The green factor is triggering the growth of biodegradable plastics, particularly in the areas of consumer products and packaging, Frost & Sullivan reports.
By Anne Marie Mohan, GreenerPackage.com, Jan. 4, 2010
As biodegradable plastics fall under the "green" category, they exhibit high potential for growth compared to other thriving environment-friendly technologies in the renewable energy and chemicals segments. That’s the conclusion of new analysis from Frost & Sullivan, “Biodegradable Plastics—A Strategic Assessment of Technology Status and Application Prospects.”
The report indicates that opportunities are proliferating in key application areas such as packaging/plastic bags, agriculture, consumer goods, electronics, automotive, and healthcare. Growth in this sector occurs due to factors such as climate change, favorable governmental measures, and green procurement policies practiced by governments and corporate entities. Stringent environmental regulations are driving the development of bio-based products and are triggering the growth of the biodegradable plastics industry.
In the analysis, Frost & Sullivan finds that consumer products and packaging have emerged as the application sectors having the highest potential for biodegradable plastics. Analysis revealed that film packaging and rigid packaging scored the best in terms of level of attractiveness and possibility of success.
"Traditional packaging materials contain a range of oil-based polymers, which are largely nonbiodegradable," notes technical insights research analyst W.F. Kee. "Packaging waste forms a significant part of municipal solid waste and has caused increasing environmental concerns, resulting in strengthening of legislation in order to reduce packaging waste."
The report notes that with the ramping up of the attraction quotient in recent years, green products are clearly gaining advocates. “It has become increasingly fashionable for the public to support green products,” Frost & Sullivan says. “The popularity of hybrid cars and reusable bags is a good example. Eco-friendly products have been introduced in various sectors, including food, appliances, and cars. ”
Consumer interest in bio-based packaging is on the rise, the analysis relates. Public support for green products is partially responsible for the biodegradable plastics market growth, and this global trend is expected to continue, gathering steam in the future.
Challenges to growth
Although the overall prospects look bright, some issues have been reining in market progress, the report notes. Cost competitiveness is foremost among the challenges confronting the market. To circumvent this obstacle, proposed solutions include the use of cheaper feedstock, for instance, biomass-based feedstock, as well as an integrated process. Utilization of feedstock is very limited right now, Frost & Sullivan says, and the adoption of biomass-based feedstock will mostly be influenced by the development of improved biocatalysts.
Other concerns associated with biodegradable plastics are poor processability characteristics, low barrier properties toward air, water, and oxygen, low resistance to heat, and in some cases, low shelf life, the report states.
"The properties of traditional biodegradable polymers do not offer the essential mechanical properties and fail to match up to the needs of end-user application compared with conventional plastics," says Kee. "This acts as a barrier for the penetration of biodegradable packaging in high-end applications."
The report concludes that it is imperative that these impediments be addressed before biodegradable products can compete on an equal footing with conventional plastics.
Suggestions to improve properties include deploying enhanced blending technologies or developing composites. Blending studies are underway in the academic and corporate sectors, and efforts have been initiated for the development of bio- and nanocomposites, Frost & Sullivan says. The former incorporates bio-based materials such as natural fibers to improve the mechanical properties of biodegradable plastics, while the latter incorporates nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes to produce materials that are stronger and more durable.
Click here to go to original article
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Going green for graduation: UNT students wear biodegradable gowns
By UNT News Service, North Texas e-News, Dec. 17, 2009
DENTON (UNT), Texas — Commencement ceremonies honoring the accomplishments of about 2,800 students will be held Dec. 18 and 19 (Friday and Saturday) on the University of North Texas campus. This fall, 2,256 undergraduate students applied for December graduation, in addition to 478 master's students and 59 doctoral students.
While the students walking across the stage this December may look similar to students from previous years, there will be one notable difference: some of this year’s students will be wearing biodegradable gowns.
Offered through the UNT Bookstore, the Jostens Elements Collection graduation gowns will decompose in soil in one year. The acetate fabric fiber of the gowns is made from natural wood sourced from renewable forests. In addition, the zipper is made from fully recycled polyethylene terephthalate, a plastic typically used for consumer goods like soft drink bottles. The packaging of the gowns also contains materials from ECM BioFilms, which makes it easier for the bag to decompose.
Click here to read the full article
NASA Uses Algae to Turn Sewage into Fuel
The U.S. space agency has thrown its weight behind a clever method of growing algae in wastewater for the purpose of making biofuel.
By Jeremy Hsu, Space.com, FOXNews.com, Dec. 16, 2009
NASA may concern itself largely with space exploration, but it also wants to keep Earth on a steady course in the face of rising energy costs and climate change. Now the U.S. space agency has thrown its weight behind a clever method of growing algae in wastewater for the purpose of making biofuel.
The OMEGA system consists of algae grown in flexible plastic bags floating offshore, where cities typically dump their wastewater. Oil-producing freshwater algae would naturally clean the wastewater by feeding on nutrients in the sewage. The cleansed freshwater could then release into the ocean through forward-osmosis membranes in the sides of the plastic bags.
"You're concentrating nutrients and releasing extremely clean water into the ocean," said Jonathan Trent, a bioengineer at NASA Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif. The forward-osmosis membranes only release fresh water into the ocean, and don't permit salty water to contaminate the bags.
Trent envisions harvesting the algae with barges every ten days, and then flushing the plastic bags with salt water to clean out any freshwater algae that might foul the sides of the bags or the forward-osmosis membranes. The algae would be turned into fuel in a manner similar to using corn to make ethanol.
Municipal wastewater pumped into the bags would then start the cycle all over again.
Such a process would mainly rely on the energy of the ocean waves to mix the algae, as well as sunlight and carbon dioxide. The offshore locations and the wide oceans would also have more than enough room to grow massive amounts of algae needed to produce biofuels for an energy-hungry world.
Algae for a greener economy
Many experts see algae as the biofuel source of the future for several reasons. Algae's biofuel yield could range from 1,000-4,000 gallons per acre each year, compared to just hundreds of gallons per acre annually from oil palm, sunflower and soybeans, according to a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) report. The DOE added that algae alone could theoretically take care of transportation fuel demands for the entire United States.
That early promise has led the DOE to invest in algae-focused ventures through its new ARPA-E agency, and to put together a report titled the "National Algal Biofuels Technology Roadmap."
Some private companies have tried growing algae in vats or through other methods on land. But Trent decided to take advantage of the ocean's natural waves and open spaces. His initial investigation drew support through a grant from the philanthropic arm of Google, the U.S. Internet search giant.
"This would ultimately cover acres and acres of ocean," Trent told SPACE.com. He noted that each plastic bag might take up as much as a quarter of an acre. The millions of acres required to meet U.S. transportation fuel needs would not take the form of one huge ocean patch, but would instead spread across many locations off the U.S. coasts.
The basic technologies behind the plastic bags and forward-osmosis membranes are well tested, but Trent expects to spend more time ensuring that the system can work efficiently and without problems. For instance, plastics have a known weakness to ultraviolet rays from the sun, and so long exposure might represent an issue.
Still, Trent wants to eventually make the plastic bags biodegradable. A future source of such biodegradable plastics might even come from algae-derived oil.
Fuel for the world
Both NASA and the California Energy Commission have helped fund the latest round of Trent's work, in which he aims to get a pilot demonstration up and running. The first experiments might start in closed ponds, and then spread to California offshore locations near San Francisco and Santa Cruz.
Trent acknowledges that challenges remain in figuring out the right algae strains, and in engineering the system to make algae biofuels a cost-effective alternative to existing fossil fuels. In fact, biofuels currently represent one of the least lucrative possibilities from growing algae — converting algae into animal food, fertilizer and cosmetics represents just a few of the more profitable ventures.
Still, the NASA bioengineer hopes that algae biofuels can eventually help satiate rising energy demands, and cut back on greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels that contribute to climate change. The fact that the OMEGA process would clean up wastewater and help sequester carbon dioxide doesn't hurt, either.
A U.S. company Algae Systems of Carson City, Nev., has already licensed the NASA tech, and plans to deploy its own algae bioreactors somewhere off the coast of Tampa Bay, Florida. Trent would like to see the technology spread among companies as an open-source solution.
"I don't want to see any one company that owns the technology," Trent said. He has already begun discussing his work with international delegates at the United Nations Climate Change Conference hosted in Copenhagen, Denmark.
One possible future plan would combine the algae-growth system with a gigantic offshore wind farm being built by Germany, Sweden and Denmark. Wind power could then provide lights to keep algae growing underwater and during the nighttime hours — a fitting vision for the sustainable future of spaceship Earth.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Liquid Planet First on the Market to Release Fully Biodegradable Tea Packaging
Liquid Planet, Press Release, Dec. 15, 2009
Missoula, MT - Liquid Planet, founded in Missoula in 2003, recently released their 100% organic tea packaged in single serve, fully biodegradable and compostable sachets and clear overwraps, making them the first company to do so commercially in the world.
Although tea companies have been packaging organic tea in recyclable boxes before, this is the first time a tea company has placed clear, single-serve organic tea on the retail market that is environmentally friendly from the tea leaf itself to the last ounce of packaging. Liquid Planet Tea is 100% USDA organic certified and KSA kosher certified premium full leaf tea enclosed in a non-bleached, biodegradable and compostable sachet. The sachet is wrapped in a fully biodegradable and compostable corn-resin overwrap and then packed into recyclable cartons made from post-consumer material in a facility that offsets its energy use with wind energy credits.
The especially unique component of the Liquid Planet packaging is the NatureFlex™ corn-resin overwrap. Although it appears like traditional plastic, instead of oil based materials it is comprised of a naturally-occurring plant starch, making it biodegradable, compostable and sustainable.
Liquid Planet is a Montana based business dedicated to providing products good for the body, spaces that feed the soul and profits that give back to the earth. Liquid Planet organic teas and tisanes are exclusively distributed by ChefEx, the gourmet and specialty division of Sysco Foods. Learn more at
www.liquidplanet.com
Bio-Clean products certified 100% organic and biodegradable
TradingMarkets.com, Dec. 15, 2009
Industrial cleaners and restoration products distributor Bio-Clean Inc (OTCBB:BOCL.OB) declared on Monday that after testing of three of its products, all have been certified 100% organic and 100% biodegradable.
The products tested were Bio-Clean All-Purpose Cleaner, Bio-Clean All-Purpose Degreaser and Clean-Kill Hand Sanitizer.
According to Bio-Clean the efficacy of all of its products equals or exceeds all similar products currently available.
Irish startup turns waste plastic into biodegradable products
By Lisa Sibley, Cleantech Group, Dec. 9, 2009
What began as research project to produce biodegradable plastics from waste has evolved into a company that now has large scale ambitions.
Ireland-based Bioplastech is converting waste, agricultural byproducts and petrochemical products into value added biodegradable plastic polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), Kevin O’Connor told the Cleantech Group today. PHAs are linear polyesters produced by bacterial fermentation of sugar or lipids, according to Wikipedia, and can store carbon and energy.
O’Connor, who heads the company’s management team, is a senior lecturer in microbiology at University College Dublin, Ireland, which developed the technology and is collaborating with Trinity College Dublin.
Started in 2008, Bioplastech is also looking at waste food oils and biodiesel, though the main driver to begin the 10-employee company was waste plastic, O’Connor said, comparing it to most companies which are going the biomass route. The company is looking to test its lab-proven technology on a larger level.
Click here to read the full article
Friday, December 18, 2009
Ithaca company turning carbon dioxide into plastic
Novomer's process gets state investment
By Stacey Shackford, The Ithaca Journal, Dec. 13, 2009
ITHACA -- Pollutants that once belched out of power plant chimneys may soon make an appearance in our refrigerators and reduce our dependency on petroleum, thanks to the pioneering work of an Ithaca company.
Researchers at Novomer at the South Hill business complex have discovered a way to harness the harmful greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO2) and transform it into a plastic that is not only biodegradable and more energy efficient to produce, but also remarkably durable and light-weight.
They have now teamed up with Kodak and the Rochester Institute of Technology to manufacture products using the plastic and send them into various industries for commercial testing.
Applications of the new technology are almost endless, according to Mike Slowik, strategic planning and analysis manager for Novomer.
Click here to read the full article
Chinese bank launches biodegradable credit cards
Plastic News, Dec. 11, 2009
China's Shenzhen Development Bank has launched two sets of biodegradable credit cards, which are said to be able to break down to water and carbon dioxide. The bank said one of the green-themed sets comes with paperless statements only, another way to protect the environment.
It's unclear what specific material(s) the cards are made of. But the bank started issuing the first set of four "Beauty Cards" in November, targeting environmentally conscious female consumers.
The second set of four "Green Cards" made a debut in Beijing this week. These cards use electronic statements exclusively, the bank said on its Web site. Users can choose to receive an email newsletter on environmental protection from the bank. They also have the option to redeem membership points for "green products."
Click here to read the full article
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Better Wipes for a Better World! Introducing Gro Baby(TM) Bio Wipes - All Natural and Compostable Baby Wipes, Made from 100% Renewable Resources
Natural Baby Company's Eco-Friendly Diaper Line Helps Keep the Planet and Baby Clean, from the Bottom Up
The Natural Baby Company, Dec. 2, 2009
BOZEMAN, Mont. - Get to the bottom of greening your baby with Gro Baby Bio Wipes, the latest earth friendly product born from the creators of the Gro Baby reusable diapering system for modern parents. Free of harmful chemicals, compostable and made from 100% renewable materials, the all-natural Gro Baby Bio Wipes offer today's mom and dad a better way to wipe up baby's messes without leaving a mess on the planet.
The essential diapering tool for modern parents on-the-go, Gro Baby Bio Wipes are a natural and effective way to tidy up baby in seconds. Moistened with Aloe Vera botanicals, Vitamin E and purified water, Gro Baby Bio Wipes work to naturally clean, calm and soothe baby's sensitive skin. Made from plant based Ingeo fibers derived from 100% renewable resources, the Gro Baby Bio Wipes are high in strength making them sturdy and tough on messes, but not on baby. Now mom and dad can clean up the most unpleasant diaper change with ease, speed and a minimal impact on our planet.
"The ingredients used in most commercial baby wipes are not only harmful for the planet, but are enough to make both baby and parents uncomfortable," said Kim Ormsby, Creator of Gro Baby. "And as roughly 18 billion disposable diapers are dumped each year, the number of wipes that join them is staggering. At Gro Baby, our mission is to help clean baby's waste without being wasteful to the environment, making the Gro Baby Bio Wipes the perfect addition to our Gro Baby family of earth friendly products."
Unlike other baby wipes that use harsh chemicals, alcohol, perfumes, and even chlorine to scrub babies clean, Gro Baby Bio Wipes are completely free of chlorine, preservatives, alcohol, fragrances, and dyes. Gentler on baby's skin, and gentle on the planet, Gro Baby Bio Wipes are a perfect match to Gro Baby's recently released Bio Soaker diaper pads--the eco friendly diapering system that protects baby and the earth. With compostability at the forefront of Gro Baby designs, Gro Baby's Bio line allows mom and dad to start greening baby early, from the bottom up.
Gro Baby Bio Wipes retail for $5.99 and include 80 wipes in each easy to open and resealable package. Gro Baby can be purchased at: www.TheNaturalBabyCo.com
About The Natural Baby Company:
The Natural Baby Company's mission has always been to create the ultimate in cloth diapering and natural baby products. Gro Baby(TM) a revolution in the cloth diapering has taken the market by storm. The Natural Baby Company's product lines include: Gro Baby(TM), Dream Eze, Tiny Bubbles, Wonder Wraps, Kiwi Pie and Magic Stick(TM). Each product was designed out of necessity and innovation. Buying from The Natural Baby Company means you are purchasing well made, often organic, products that have been tested and proven in the marketplace. Since its inception NBC has practiced supporting small businesses that help sustain healthy lifestyle choices, such as cloth diapering.
Most of us use a lot of oil without ever driving a car
By Harry Fuller, ZDNet.com, Dec. 1, 2009
Nearly all the plastic and resins in our daily life are–you guessed it–made from petroleum. The case on your iPod and the food wrappers in the vending machine: processed from oil. I recently talked with the CEO of a small firm that hopes to help change that.
He’s Frederic Scheer, Founder and CEO of Cereplast, Inc. The California-based company has two plants turning out plastic resin, one in California and one in Indiana. The raw material for their resins are biomass, from potatoes to corn. Any good source of vegetable starch. Scheer says Cereplast is now working toward using wood chips and other biomass not a potential food.
TWO CLASSES OF PLASTIC RESIN
Cereplast, says Scheer, is already selling two classes of resin. One is compostable. The other is permanent or “hybrid.” The plastic tableware or the biodegradable dog poop bags are in the first class. Plastics for permanent use are found in appliances, toys, toothbrushes, credit cards, card keys, hand-held devices, and cars. That’s the permanent variety.
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Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Drive for 'zero waste zones'
Restaurants unite with businesses for greener disposal of garbage.
By Meridith Ford Goldman, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Dec. 1, 2009
Stop. Wait a minute. Did you just throw out that dryer lint? Think of all those Thanksgiving leftovers that might make your garden grow. Did you know that they — along with a multitude of other garbage such as coffee grounds, tea bags, yard trimmings and that apple core you were just about to throw away — are all compostable?
Steve Simon of Fifth Group Restaurants knows. In a move toward helping Midtown become a “zero waste zone,” he’s leading restaurants such as Ecco, La Tavola Trattoria and South City Kitchen into a new era of composting and recycling.
Industry and the private sector setting an example for saving the planet? Did we hear that right?
“As recently as a year ago,” Simon says, “I was the poster child for what not to do.”
Now, he and other members of the Green Foodservice Alliance (an environmental affiliate of the Georgia Restaurant Association, but working to be its own association) are helping restaurants and businesses work to produce “zero waste.” The goal is to recycle, compost, reuse spent grease for biofuel and donate consumable food to charity.
“I don’t know if the restaurant industry is the largest producer of trash, but it’s certainly a possibility,” Simon says. Ecco, Fifth Group’s flagship restaurant in Midtown specializing in Mediterranean cuisine, no longer dumps waste into the garbage — kitchen workers and servers scrape scraps into a compost heap. Fifth Group restaurants no longer have garbage Dumpsters on their restaurants’ sites.
So did big business suddenly get a conscience?
“I think what’s happened over the last few years is that the collaboration between government, the private sector and trade associations has helped get the kinks out of a very kinked-up system,” says Holly Elmore, the founder and executive director of the alliance. Ten years ago, just getting a trash or recycling hauler to come to your business on a regular schedule was a “nightmare,” according to Simon. Now, entrepreneurs such as Farmer D Organics are actually making money from trash and waste.
The bottom line was a motivating factor. “When businesses in Georgia, particularly Atlanta, started losing conventions because the city and state aren’t perceived as ‘green,’ it got business owners’ attention,” Simon says. “It’s really an ‘oh, by the way, this is the right thing to do’ kind of thing.”
Trash as a moneymaking investment aside, why are composting and recycling so important?
Well, let’s go back to environmental protection 101: landfill use would be tops on the punch list. Producing less waste creates smaller landfills. Composting and recycling properly are the way to start. Methane emissions at landfills are contributing factors to global warming, and Americans, according to the EPA’s Web site, produce 4.4 pounds of garbage per person, per day — a figure that has nearly doubled since 1960. Simon’s research estimates that 80 percent of what’s in our landfills might have value — in other words, it could be recycled for profit.
So what can this urban tale teach the average consumer? First, it’s up to you to “take responsibility and learn,” Elmore says. Don’t expect your overworked local government or municipality to lead the way.
“Know your city’s plan and regulations. The last thing we want is for contamination to occur in single stream recycling [all recyclables in one bin] — one mistake, and the whole bin could end up in the landfill,” Elmore explains.
She recommends using a compost tumbler (available at Farmer D Organics and most Whole Foods Markets) for composting, and stresses the importance of proper disposal of kitchen grease. “Don’t pour your grease down the drain!” Elmore exclaims.
Follow the restaurants’ lead and recycle it by storing it in a plastic container, then finding a source in your area such as Green Grease, Inc., a business in Clarkston that has just begun consumer-based programs for dropping off kitchen oils for recycling. Entrepreneurs Todd Williams and Warren Brawley will provide a plastic recycling bin for your used cooking oils for $7, and arrange when to pick it up based on the amount of oil generated. Or you can drop it off at Green Grease in a plastic container. Either way, it’s better than eventually throwing it in the trash.
“Everytime you buy something,” says Elmore, “you really should be thinking about how you’re eventually going to dispose of it.”
Not all garbage is suitable for consumer composting. Recycling and composting regulations differ. Know your city and county’s regulations. For more information, go to www.georgia.uscity.net
/Recycling_Centers or www.earth911.com or www.gacompost.org. Contact Green Grease at 678-754-4887 or 404-447-2217.
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Bioamber and Sinoven Partner for Biobased Succinic Acid
PR Newswire, Dec. 1, 2009
PRINCETON, NJ - Bioamber (a joint venture between DNP Green Technology and ARD) and Sinoven Biopolymers Inc. have signed a supply agreement for biobased succinic acid. Under the terms of the agreement, Bioamber will be Sinoven's exclusive supplier of biobased succinic acid, enabling Sinoven to produce renewable modified polybutylene succinate plastic (PBS).
Sinoven's revolutionary modified PBS has better performance than other biodegradable polymers sold today, with heat resistance above 100 degrees C, excellent strength properties and the ability to be processed in existing production equipment. Sinoven will be the first company to commercialize PBS with renewable content above 50%. Sinoven's modification technology has opened up new markets for PBS, fulfilling end user cost and performance requirements not currently met by other biodegradable polymers. Applications include foodservice coffee lids, cups, dishes, cutlery, straws and stirrers, as well as consumer use products such as disposable razors, writing instruments and cosmetics packaging.
"Affordable, biobased succinic acid is the key to renewable, high performance PBS that can cost effectively compete with today's petrochemical based plastics. Bioamber is the only company supplying commercial quantities of biobased succinic acid. This agreement will enable Sinoven to rapidly move into biobased commercial production and meet the needs of our customers." says Ray Balee, President and CEO of Sinoven. "The fact that the production of biobased succinic acid is a significant consumer, rather than producer, of harmful CO2 greenhouse gas is an added benefit for our customers".
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Monday, November 30, 2009
Uw-Stout takes initiative on 'green' food packaging
Move will save energy, reduce carbon dioxide
By Pamela Powers, Leader-Telegram, Nov. 30, 2009
MENOMONIE - UW-Stout's University Dining Services started the semester working toward going more "green."
The service switched to commercially compostable packaging for all food and beverages served in disposable containers.
All of the products used in the university's residence dining halls for take-out food are compostable.
In the university's nine dining retail operations, more than 80 percent of the packaging has been replaced with materials that are compostable.
This includes cutlery, hot and cold cups and lids, plates, hot and cold bowls, straws and clamshell-style hinged containers.
Some packaging is made from corn starch or a material reclaimed from sugar cane, said Ann Thies, director of dining services.
It costs about 60 cents total for a hinged container, a cup and cover, and cutlery, about twice the cost of Styrofoam and plastic, Thies said.
The extra cost is passed on to the people buying take-out food in the cafeteria. In the dining retail areas, the extra expense also is built into pricing.
While the compostable products cost more, their production uses less energy and produces less carbon dioxide compared with the traditional Styrofoam and plastic.
Using a program developed by Eco-Products of Colorado, the primary supplier of compostable packaging, UW-Stout has estimated it will save 2,755 gallons of gasoline and 27,146 pounds of greenhouse gases this school year by not using petroleum-based products.
"From my perspective, it is an important first step," said Sarah Rykal, UW-Stout environmental sustainability coordinator.
The next step will be to find a commercial compost site, which the university hopes to accomplish by January, Thies said. University officials met last month with a waste hauler about the project.
Currently the compostable items are going to a landfill, where they will not turn into compost.
When composting begins, the materials can be reused as ground cover for soil.
Powers can be reached at 715-556-9018 or pamela.powers@ecpc.com.
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Bio-breakthrough in Missoula
Company says it has found way to mass produce environment-friendly, wide-purpose chemical
AP, Spokesman.com, Nov. 30, 2009
MISSOULA – A former University of Montana chemistry professor said he and other scientists have discovered a way to cheaply produce large volumes of an environment-friendly chemical that has wide applications.
Don Kiely said the new technique means biodegradable glucaric acid can be produced in large enough quantities to make it feasible.
He said glucaric acid can be converted into high-value, bio-based chemicals to be used for such things as road salt and detergents. That means glucaric acid products could replace petrochemicals and phosphates that can last for centuries and harm the environment.
“We all have a chance to save the world bit by bit,” said Kiely, 71. “Our contribution to that would be improving water quality. So many harmful chemical products end up in our groundwater and are our major pollutants. But we think we are onto something that could change that.”
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Reportlinker Adds Lactic Acid - A Global Market Report
PR Newswire, Nov. 30, 2009
NEW YORK - Reportlinker.com announces that a new market research report is available in its catalogue:
Lactic Acid - A Global Market Report
http://www.reportlinker.com/p0164411/Lactic-Acid---A-Global-Market-Report.html
World consumption of lactic acid stands enthused by its use in key industries such as cosmetics, biodegradable plastics and food additives. The recently uncovered potential of lactic acid as a pH balancer in shampoos and soaps, and other alpha hydroxy acid applications, is expected to pep up consumption in this market. Use of lactic acid in biodegradable plastics is expected to gather momentum, given the rising demand for environmentally friendly packaging. Emerging application possibilities are additionally expected to prop up the market's growth in the upcoming years. Use of lactic acid bacteria in anti microbial compounds, food additives, flavoring agents, and as a substitute for hazardous solvents in industrial applications, will all help ensure steady consumption into the future.
These and other market data and trends are presented in "Lactic Acid: A Global Market Report" by BizAcumen, Inc. Our reports are designed to be most comprehensive in geographic coverage and vertical market analyses.
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