Bottled Water Business Is on the Decline

By Dana Chivvis, Sphere, Dec. 18, 2009

After nearly two weeks of disappointments in Copenhagen, environmentalists can celebrate one small piece of news today: Bottled water sales are down and are expected to continue to fall next year, according to the Beverage Marketing Corp.

The $11 billion bottled-water industry saw nothing but growth for three decades, peaking in 2007 when each person consumed 29 gallons of bottled water a year, MSNBC reports. That number was down 3.2 percent in 2008 and is expected to drop another 2 percent this year.

The fall in consumption may have to do with a movement to make people aware of the effects plastic has on the environment. Because it takes plastic up to 1,000 years to break down naturally, water bottles contribute greatly to the buildup of trash in the environment.

One place particularly hard hit is a swirling area of water in the Pacific Ocean twice the size of Texas, called the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. The water in this area is filled with an estimated 3.5 million tons of trash, much of which is plastic.

Environmentalists also point to the toxicity of plastic production and the health hazards that exist from drinking or eating from plastic containers. In 2007, scientists discovered that one of the chemicals used in plastic, bisphenol A, interferes with embryonic development in a way that may lead to obesity in adults.

If that's not enough to make you put down the bottle, the Sierra Club adds that water companies are drying up household wells and lakes, affecting wetlands, and using three times the amount of water that goes into one of their bottles to produce the water itself.

But the environmental movement might not be able to take all the credit for the decline in bottled water sales. The dip could be because of the recession. Bottled water sales fell less than all other beverages this year, according to the Beverage Marketing Corp.

"Environmental concerns among consumers may have had an effect on bottled water sales, but the primary reason sales are soft is the economy," said Gary Hemphill, managing director of the Beverage Marketing Corp.

Still, some bottled water producers have taken the environmentalist's message to heart. Nestlé, the world's largest bottler, has begun producing bottles that use less plastic and has introduced a new brand, called Resource, that uses bottles made from 35 percent recycled plastic. The company is also giving out money for local recycling programs, MSNBC reports.

Tom Lauria, spokesman for the International Bottled Water Association, said the industry is even working on plastic bottles made from biodegradable corn.

"We will see in our lifetime biodegradable plastic, and this whole controversy will disappear," he said.

But while he sees the controversy inherent in his industry, Lauria doesn't think the environmentalists have had any effect on bottled water sales.

"People love their bottled water."

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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Real Christmas tree is best for environment

By Joe Lamp'l, Scripps Howard News Service, FayObserver.com, Dec. 13, 2009

Over the last several years I've researched a lot about various aspects of living a more eco-friendly life. But when it comes to choosing a Christmas tree, everything I thought I was doing right for the environment by using an artificial tree went out the window. And it looks like the message is getting out.

According to the National Christmas Tree Association, Americans purchased about 33 percent fewer fake trees in 2008 than in the previous year. Rick Dungey, public-relations manager for the association, shared a few eye-opening thoughts on the real environmental impact of artificial trees in a recent conversation.

Artificial trees never biodegrade

Although artificial trees can last for years, eventually they are discarded and remain in a landfill forever more. Fake trees are not biodegradable, so they never break down.

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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.

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What’s Cooking? Recycled Kitchen Countertops!

Upgrading your kitchen can be a daunting task. And while you probably want the most modern kitchen you can afford, it’s also important to think about the environmental impact of any new items you purchase.
Greenopolis, Dec. 14, 2009

Consumers are more aware than ever about sustainable choices for products for their home improvement projects. A kitchen makeover is a great place to incorporate some earth-friendly choices into your remodeling goals.

For instance, wood countertops, including reclaimed wood countertops, are becoming popular again.

White oak, maple, even madrone - a hardwood known for its reddish hue - are popular choices today. Beautiful, durable, and sustainable, wood is a warm alternative to granite and manufactured stone. Wood has its own natural beauty, holding its own against surfaces with cooler colors and textures.

Many companies also now make butcher block from reclaimed or salvaged wood. Reclaimed wood countertops can be made from pallets, water tanks, even telephone poles. Butcher block can also be made from bamboo, a sustainable wood source. Interested in wood countertops? Start with Endura Wood’s maple butcher block.

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Disruptive tech will transform consumer packaging

Time-temperature indicators, active packaging, battery-free printed RFIDs and high-barrier biopolymers to have major impact on everyday food, pharma and beverage packaging.
PRESS RELEASE, Converting Magazine, Dec. 14, 2009

Capable of eventually displacing an existing technology and transforming the industrial landscape, disruptive technologies are now revolutionising the consumer packaging industry, according to a major new study by Pira International.

Based on primary research and expert analysis, Forecasts of Disruptive Technologies in Consumer Packaging to 2019 seeks to identify and assess the various, exciting disruptive technologies that are being commercialised in the consumer packaging sector. Classifying technologies on the basis of components (e.g. RFID labels, bioplastics) and end-use packaging products (e.g. beverage containers, blister packs), the study examines the possible integration of these innovative technologies into corporate business strategies and plans.

Generally seen in low or high-end niche markets, a disruptive technology is essentially a new, emerging technology that upends an existing technology and eventually replaces it, or at least is accepted as its equivalent. This occurs even though the new technology originally appears to be inferior or too expensive. These technologies tend to cultivate slowly at first, then grow at an exponential pace. Once established and available at a reasonable benefit-cost ratio, the technology may act like a virus wiping out more conventional technologies and eventually taking over the mainstream.

Recent trends impacting consumer packaging technology include material and energy cost fluctuations due to volatile oil prices, growth of sustainable packaging and new innovations in materials and packaging formats (e.g. increased penetration of flexible packaging and rigid plastic in food packaging).

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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.

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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."

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Keep toxins out of our water by buying biodegradable

Keep our waterways cleaner by paying close attention to what you send down the drain.
By Aileen Brabazon, Homemakers.com, Dec. 7, 2009

Have you ever thought about what goes down your drains?

Besides water, toothpaste, hair dye, shampoo, soap, laundry detergent and bathroom and kitchen cleaners swim through your pipes and eventually end up in our waterways.

And if these products contain chemicals that don't neutralize into harmless compounds, there's a big ecological price to pay. For example, surfactants -- the stuff that makes solutions foam up and spread well -- found in some degreasers, disinfectants and cleaners breakdown into agents that can feminize fish, Adria Vasil reports in Ecoholic (Vintage Canada, 2007). Eek!

To help keep our waters and marine life healthier, choose personal care and cleaning products that are as chemical-free as possible and choose items that quickly biodegrade (the best products often have a certified biodegradable stamp on the bottle and state how long it takes to break down).

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S'pore businesses eye green SIM, smartcards

By Vivian Yeo, ZDNet Asia, Dec. 07, 2009

SINGAPORE--Mobile operators in the country are exploring the use of biodegradable SIM (subscriber identity module) cards, should the technology become more pervasive.

Spokespersons from all three local operators SingTel, MobileOne (M1) and StarHub told ZDNet Asia they were interested in deploying the eco-friendly alternative.

StarHub's corporate communications manager Cassie Fong said in an e-mail the telco would soon commence "initial talks" with its SIM card supplier "to find out more on the product".

In an e-mail, a SingTel spokesperson noted that the company is already using biodegradable paper material for its pre-paid mobile top-up cards and is currently evaluating the use of biodegradable paper for all its SIM cards.

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Government wants your input on plastic bags

By Staff Writer, Winnipeg Free Press, Dec. 8, 2009

WINNIPEG - Conservation Minister Bill Blaikie wants your thoughts about what to do with plastic bags.

Blaikie said in a news release today the province wants ideas from consumers, vendors and bag manufacturers. Proposals already before government include:

* plastic carry-out bags sold and distributed in Manitoba contain a minimum of 25 per cent post-consumer recycled material, increasing to 50 per cent within five years;
* all larger stores that distribute plastic bags have take-back programs for recycling plastic bags;
* all plastic bags sold or distributed in Manitoba be imprinted with a message reminding users to recycle or reuse the bag; and
* all compostable or biodegradable plastic bags sold or distributed in Manitoba be required to meet national or international standards and be certified as such.

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Project to Promote Use of Biodegradable Bags Launched

Project to support recommendations for bioplastics environmental policy
PR Newswire, Dec. 4, 2009

BANGKOK, Thailand - The National Innovation Agency (NIA), Deutsche Gesellschaft fuer Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ: German Technical Cooperation), Thai Bioplastics Industry Association (TBIA) and BASF today launched a pilot project to highlight the potential of composting as a feasible and effective waste management option. The pilot project is a first for Thailand and will demonstrate the use biodegradable plastic bags to collect household organic waste in the most efficient way, as well as the potential of producing organic matter or fertilizer from organic waste.

The project will support the recommendations for the bioplastics environmental policy to build composting facilities in Thailand, as it is the infrastructure required to fully realize the potential of composting. When the model is endorsed, the potential production capacity of high quality organic fertilizer is 6 million tons annually, which could be exported.

"The pilot project is a key initiative towards the development of the bioplastics industry as one of Thailand's new wave industries. In evaluating and developing sustainable options for end-of-life product waste management, we have to remember that landfilling of organic, biodegradable waste generates methane - a greenhouse gas 23 times more potent than carbon dioxide - and composting helps to reduce emission levels of this harmful green house gases. For the first time, since we put forth the road map for the development of the bioplastics industry which was approved by the Cabinet in 2008, we are implementing measures at a community level," said Dr. Suchinda Chotipanich, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology and Chairman of the Bioplastics Industry Development Subcommittee.

As part of the launch, which was held at the pilot plant site in the Kradangar District of Samut Songkhram Province, a community outreach group consisting of community leaders and students promoted the use of biodegradable plastic bags to 730 households.

"The pilot project further demonstrates that Thailand is well-placed to achieve its goals backed by strong supporting industries, international alliances, active industry cooperation and supportive governmental policy. We believe that the project will provide useful information to support recommendations for the bioplastics environmental policy. Additionally, to further raise environmental awareness and encourage the use of environmentally friendly products as a new social norm. This in turn will be a significant boost to Thailand's ambitions of becoming a key bioplastics player in the region" said Dr Supachai Lorlowhakarn, Director of NIA.

Recommendations for the bioplastics environmental policy, which is expected to be completed within the next six months, will outline the infrastructure, framework, instruments and guidelines to promote the use and production of bioplastics in Thailand.

The biodegradable plastic bags could be made of cassava starch and calcium carbonate compounded with BASF's Ecoflex, a fully-biodegradable, compostable polyester which is tear-resistant, puncture-resistant, waterproof, printable and elastic. Ecoflex significantly improves the functionality of raw materials based on renewable resources and as such has been used in the production of the biodegradable bags to provide very demanding mechanical properties.

"Fully biodegradable and compostable polyesters can make a significant contribution to efficient biowaste management. BASF is a global market leader in the area of biobased and biodegradable polyesters, and our Ecoflex is already commonly used in Thailand for organic waste bags, carrier bags and shopping bags. Our participation in the pilot projects demonstrates our firm commitment and contribution towards Thailand's ambitions of developing the bioplastics industry. We believe this project will also be an excellent showcase for other countries in the region which are considering a similar initiative" said Dr. Jens Hamprecht, Head of Global Product Management, Biodegradable Polymers, BASF.

About BASF

BASF is the world's leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics and performance products to agricultural products, fine chemicals as well as oil and gas. As a reliable partner BASF helps its customers in virtually all industries to be more successful. With its high-value products and intelligent solutions, BASF plays an important role in finding answers to global challenges such as climate protection, energy efficiency, nutrition and mobility. BASF posted sales of more than euro 62 billion in 2008 and had approximately 97,000 employees as of the end of the year. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (AN). Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at http://www.basf.com .

MEDIA CONTACTS

National Innovation Agency
Asaya Siriaoutan
Tel: +66-2-644-6000 ext 111
Email: asaya@nia.or.th

GTZ
Siriporn Treepornpairat
Email: siriporn.treepornpairat@gtz.de

BASF
Beverley Tan
Communications Manager
Biodegradable Polymers
Specialty Plastics Asia Pacific
Tel: +65-6432-3284
Mobile: +65-9791-9182
Email: beverley.tan@basf.com

Supriya Kaewjai
Corporate Communications
BASF Thailand
Phone: +66-2-664-9222 ext. 1207
Email: supriya.kaewjai@basf.com

SOURCE NIA; GTZ; TBIA and BASF

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Are Biodegradable Bags a Viable Option for Composting?

By Jennifer Berry, Earth911.com, Dec 10, 2009

Industry and governmental groups partnered to launch a campaign in Thailand to test the option of composting as an effective means of waste management for the country, utilizing biodegradable bags in the collection of household organic waste in the process.

The pilot program will also serve as a foundation for developing Thailand’s bioplastics industry, which was initially conceived in 2008. Some estimates put Thailand’s potential fertilizer generation capacity in the range of 6 million tons annually, creating a potential export product for the country.

As composting programs continue to grow in cities such as San Francisco, broader means of collecting organic waste could be a future challenge.

The use of bioplastic bags could address this issue, and in Thailand, will “further raise environmental awareness and encourage the use of environmentally friendly products as a new social norm,” according to Suchinda Chotipanich, permanent secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology and chairman of the Bioplastics Industry Development Subcommittee.

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Nutek, LLC Introduces New Soy-Based, Biodegradable Lubricating and Cleaning Wipes

Nutek, LLC press release, Dec. 8, 2009

CLEVELAND - Launched in 2007, Nutek brings high-performance products to the market with a Smart Green(TM) focus. With 100% biodegradable formulations, superior performance and recyclable packaging, Nutek's products continue to provide safe alternatives to petroleum-based and environmentally-toxic competitors.

Nutek's products are on the shelves of Home Depot, Ace Hardware, True Value, Northern Tool and others. Bolt Off(TM) helps to reduce the frictions that make nuts, bolts and other rusty objects hard to move. LubFix(TM) is a multi-purpose lubricant for squeaks and creaks around the house. Shield It(TM) is a dry lube that protects surfaces from friction, even under tough climate conditions. Simply Soy(TM) is a 100% biodegradable lube that is safe to use around children, pets and food prep areas.

The Chagrin Falls, Ohio Company launched this week its newest line of biodegradable wipe products that both lubricate and clean. This line features extra large, biodegradable wipes or towelettes with soy-based lubricants and environmentally-friendly cleaners. Unlike tube packages, these biodegradable wipes can be kept in a glove compartment, garage storage area or at home with no risk of drying out.

Simply Soy(TM) biodegradable wipes feature the same safe chemistry as the Simply Soy (TM) lubricant, and can be used to clean and lubricate tools and other metal surfaces to prevent rust-build up. The wipes are certified for safe use in food areas. With gentle hand cleaning action, Gas Off(TM) wipes are extra-large and heavy-duty to thoroughly remove, suspend and absorb gas smells from your hands and other surfaces. Grime Off® removes drips and smears from many non-porous surfaces like tools, equipment and much more. These wipes remove oils, dirt, brake dust, grease, hydraulic fluid and other potentially-hazardous chemicals from your hands and other surfaces.

Nutek, LLC is a company that stands for new technology solutions for your everyday, household needs. The company focuses on the creation of greener, sustainable, bio-preferred products that provide businesses and consumers with superior, cutting-edge performance results.

For information, contact either Cathy Horton or Kimberly Novotney at 1-888-NUTEK4U or visit www.nutekformulations.com.

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Alternative packaging from biodegradable farm waste

By Jean-Louis Santini, AFP, Google News, Dec. 6, 2009

WASHINGTON — Two young American businessmen have developed a green alternative to ubiquitous polystyrene packaging -- made from farm waste and mushrooms -- that uses 10 times less energy to produce, and biodegrades into a natural fertilizer.

Called EcoCradle, the product can also be used as insulation and is grown, not manufactured, with no greenhouse gas emissions, such as CO2, as a byproduct, co-inventor Eben Bayer, 24, told AFP in an interview.

"We have developed a platform that we think is perfect for replacing the polystyrene that is used in packaging, because... it is biodegradable and it's created using almost no energy, almost no CO2 emissions," he added.

Bayer and Gavin McIntyre, classmates from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York, founded Ecovative Design in 2007 to produce EcoCradle.

"For each unit of EcoCradle we produce, compared to the same unit or volume of polystyrene, we use ten times less energy and emit eight times less CO2 over the life of the product from production, use and to disposal," Ecovative Design CEO Bayer said.

"Our long-term vision is actually to replace all plastic and foams and mitigate their environmental consequences... and this natural platform we have discovered or invented will allow us to do that," he said.

EcoCradle is a patented trademark in the United States and 30 other countries, including the European Union members.

Currently polystyrene, a plastic, is so prevalent in the packaging industry it accounts for 30 percent of all the waste in US landfills, Bayer said.

EcoCradle, on the other hand, degrades naturally in contact with water or moisture and has "a positive impact on the environment... as a natural fertilizer for plants."

The new product is made from agricultural byproducts including cottonseed hulls, buckwheat hulls and rice husk that are mixed with a filamentous fungi -- mycelium -- as a bonding agent -- and allowed to grow inside molds.

The mycelium secretes a powerful enzyme that decomposes the organic waste as it grows. After seven days at room temperature in the dark, a compact, ultralight, malleable material is formed that can resist temperatures of up to 800 degrees Celsius (1,472 Fahrenheit), Bayer said.

The production cost is comparable to that of polystyrene, he added.

EcoCradle is planning to take on the 20-billion-dollar a year polystyrene industry dominated globally by a Dow Chemical subsidiary.

At present, Ecovative Design has a factory in northern New York state, where a staff of eight churn out thousands of EcoCradle packaging for several companies.

"Our vision is to take the same plant we have designed and deploy it next year as a larger facility in the midwest United States, then in Europe and in Asia over the next three years," Bayer said.

The factories require "a fairly low capital investment, in the order of millions of dollars," he said.

"It's low-tech biotechnology... it's almost closer to cooking or farming vegetables than it is to genetic manipulation."

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Now You Can Even Die Green: Biodegradable Eco-Coffins Introduced in U.S.

By David Gutierrez, NaturalNews.com, Dec. 5, 2009

A Colorado-based company is now offering U.S. consumers the option of being buried in a fully biodegradable casket made out of banana sheaves and bamboo.

"As more and more American families and communities look for eco-friendly solutions to everything in life, Ecoffins provides fitting tributes to those choosing to honor their environmentally conscious lifestyle at the time of their death," says the company, Ecoffins USA, on its Web site.

According to Ecoffins USA's marketing director, Joanna Passarelli, the coffins have proved particularly popular in New Mexico, where there is strong support for eco-friendly ceremonies. Passarelli says that the company has also found interest among Jewish and Muslim communities.

Jewish and Muslim tradition discourages anything that would prevent the body from returning quickly naturally to the earth, such as embalming or cremation. This sentiment is shared with supporters of natural burial.

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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.

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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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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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Western Washington wins green cleaning award

By DAVE GALLAGHER, THE BELLINGHAM HERALD, Dec. 1, 2009

Western Washington University has won the 2009 Green Cleaning Grand Award for Schools and Universities from American School and University magazine, the top award given in the category nationally.

"We're honored to receive this prestigious award and to be recognized as the national leader in green cleaning. We work hard every year to make our cleaning practices more sustainable and environmentally friendly, and are always seeking ways to improve - and I think that shows in awards such as these," said Tim Wynn, WWU's director of Facilities Management in a press release. "The hard work of our cleaning staff has really paid off."

The award is sponsored by American School and University magazine, The Green Cleaning Network, and Healthy Schools Campaign.

WWU's Academic Custodial Services has been a "green" department for the last six years and has been on the nationally recognized leading edge in the green-cleaning movement for the past nine years. The department has divested itself of petrochemical cleaning products and has begun using compostable trash liners with a goal of reducing the university's waste stream to zero in a few years.

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Biodegradable Bags Are Good For The Environment And Good For Your Business

Promotional Merchandise, Dec. 1, 2009

For companies that deal with a lot of merchandise, biodegradable bags are an excellent way to help control the amount of damage that your business does to the environment. These bags are designed to dissolve when exposed to the elements. As the process of breakdown is not immediate, the bags are suitable for general purpose use. When it is left out in the environment, they will degrade within several weeks to compounds that can be absorbed into the soil and used by plants as a form of nutrients. In addition to this, depending on the type of bag you invest in, the bags may be recyclable, which allows the materials to be reused several times before it ends up degrading beyond usability. However, there are a few things that you need to keep in mind if you are intending on purchasing a lot of paper or other natural material bags.

First, you should determine the type of biodegradable bags that you are interested in. The most standard type of bag purchased are paper bags. These are made from trees, which can have both negative and positive consequences on the environment. If the trees that produce the paper are grown exclusively on tree farms, they are always young trees that are kept separate from natural ecosystems and forests. This removes risk of destroying habitats while also allowing the young trees to filter carbon dioxide and convert it to oxygen. However, if the trees are cut from standard forests in the wild, they remove necessary habitats for animal and plant species. If you are concerned about this, it is important that you identify the source of the trees. Using recycled papers for your bags can limit the amount of damage done to the environment as well. The other types of bags are crafted from corn or other vegetable matter. These bags are known to deteriorate far more quickly than paper does, dissolving within weeks of exposure to the elements. This is extremely useful, especially if you anticipate your bags of being discarded extremely quickly. These bags are ideal for food products that have no more than a two week shelf life, as the bags are known to decay after that length of time.

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Click here to view biodegradable bags available from Carolina Green FoodService Supply

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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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New machine turns waste into fertilizer

By MIKE TRELEVEN, Napa Valley Register, Nov. 27, 2009

At the St. Helena restaurant Press, gone are the days when kitchen staff scraped leftovers into trash bags destined for the landfill.

Instead, the restaurant has installed a state-of-the-art dehydrating system that takes wet food-waste along with other compostable materials and turns it into a dry, nutrient-rich soil additive.

The St. Helena restaurant is the first eatery in the Napa Valley to install the technology, which was developed in South Korea, where it has been in use for 12 years. It has been in the United States for 18 months.

Press’ kitchen staff will never have to cope with flies, rodents and smells or worry about clogging the sewer system with the food waste.

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Pipe-clogging cooking oil recycled into eco-friendly fuel

By David Kernodle, News 14, Nov. 27, 2009

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CHARLOTTE -- Black Friday isn't just a busy day for shoppers. Plumbers often spend the day clearing pipes clogged with discarded oil from Thanksgiving dinner.

But there are alternatives to dumping it down the drain. Charlotte Energy Solutions owner Mark Englander collects, refines, repurposes and eventually resells any and all old cooking oil -- most commonly for fuel.

“Five gallon jugs for $1.50 a gallon,” he said.

Englander says demand for recycled cooking oil for fuel purposes is so high he can hardly keep up. One of his customers, Vince DiFrancesco, brought in two containers, about four gallons, of leftover cooking oil from Thanksgiving, and less than 10 minutes later, a buyer was in line to ready to fuel his car.

The Charlotte Energy Solutions cooking oil drop-off site is located at 337 Baldwin Avenue, near uptown Charlotte.

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Plastic bags: Should we tax the sacks?

By Dorothy Pellett, The Burlington Free Press, Nov. 29, 2009

What flutters ghost-like from tree limbs, clogs storm drains and plugs the stomachs of sea turtles — OR keeps your library books dry in a storm and stashes your excess zucchini to be hung on a neighbor’s door? Plastic bags can be like a helpful household servant with an evil twin, their usefulness unquestioned but their damage to the environment occurring silently.

Taxing, banning, reusing or simply cutting down on their use — all are solutions up for debate as Vermont environmentalists search for the best solution, and the Legislature is poised to consider bag-tax measures in the upcoming session.

A bill before the House Ways and Means Committee would charge consumers 17 cents for each lightweight plastic bag they take home. State Rep. Johannah Leddy Donovan, D-Burlington, was the lead sponsor among 19 legislators on the bill, which was introduced last session.

“The 17-cent amount seemed significant enough to catch the attention of shoppers,” she said this month. “If we are going to change behavior, we must have a tax that is going to be meaningful.”

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Atlanta airport gets pet-friendly with new dog park

AP, USA Today, Nov. 27, 2009

ATLANTA — Furry travelers now have a place to stretch their legs at Atlanta's airport.

A new fenced-in dog park is part of the ground transportation center on the west end of the passenger terminal at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

The 1,000-square-foot park, which opened on Nov. 18, can accommodate two pooches at a time and features flowers, grass, rocks, benches and two original pieces of art.

Biodegradable pet waste bags are also available there.

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Algae Could Be the Key to Ultra-Thin Biodegradable Batteries

By Ariel Schwartz, Inhabitat, Nov. 25, 2009

Algae is often touted as the next big thing in biofuels, but the slimy stuff could also be the key to paper-thin biodegradable batteries according to researchers at Uppsala University in Sweden. Eventually, the bio batteries could compete with commercial lithium-ion batteries.

Conducting polymers have long been thought to be a solution in developing lightweight, flexible, nonmetal batteries. But up until now, these polymers have had been impractical because regular paper can’t hold enough of them work effectively. Now Uppsala researcher Maria Stromme and her team has found that the smelly algae species that clumps on beaches, known as Cladophora, can also be used to make a type of cellulose that has 100 times the surface area of cellulose found in paper. That means it can hold enough conducting polymers to effectively recharge and hold electricity for long amounts of time.

The algae-based paper sheet batteries hold up to 200% more charge than regular paper-based cellulose batteries, and they can recharge in as little as 11 seconds. Eventually, they could be used in any application that requires flexible electronics — for example, clothing or packaging that lights up. Perhaps most importantly, the algae batteries could one day cut down on e-waste from conventional metal batteries.

Via Live Science

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Huge Emissions Savings, Other Environmental Benefits Achieved Through Urban Compost Collection Program

Recology Press Release, Earth Times, Nov. 24, 2009

SAN FRANCISCO (Business Wire) - Officials and local farmers announced today that city residents and businesses have composted more than 620,000 tons of material, mostly food scraps, through the city’s green cart program. By composting all that food since the program was created instead of sending it to landfill, San Francisco:

* Avoided creating 137,000 tons of methane gas, which the Environmental Protection Agency reports is 21 times more potent than CO2 as a greenhouse gas.
* Sequestered, or put back into the soil, 18,400 metric tons of CO2. That is the equivalent of keeping nearly 3,600 cars off the road.
* Created a total C02E benefit (methane avoided and carbon sequestered) of 155,000 tons. That’s equal to reforesting 35 square miles of sustainable forest for 23 years or offsetting emissions from all vehicles crossing the Bay Bridge for 311 days.

Blumenfeld, Director of San Francisco’s Department of the Environment, and Obama appointee to head US EPA Region 9, said “The reduction in air emissions achieved through the compost program represents real progress and tell us two things. We should compost all our food scraps, and this program should be replicated in many other cities. That would go a long, long way to reducing greenhouse gases.”

These numbers are based on a current, approved protocol set by the Climate Action Reserve. In addition to reducing air emissions, by placing food scraps in compost collection carts San Francisco residents and businesses help local farms improve soil health and structure, increase drought resistance, and reduce and even eliminate the need for supplemental water, fertilizers, and pesticides.

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More West Coast communities banning PS products

By Mike Verespej, Plastic News, Nov. 24, 2009

WASHINGTON - The bans and initiatives to ban polystyrene takeout food packaging on the West Coast continue to grow.

The town of Issaquah, Wash., with a population of 11,000 some 17 miles east of Seattle, has approved a ban on PS takeout packaging, effective Oct. 1, and said that food service providers should immediately begin to make “reasonable efforts” to purchase recyclable or compostable packaging instead of PS packaging.

Pre-packaged soups and pre-packaged foods that grocery stores, restaurants and food vendors purchase and resell to customers are exempt from the ban, which was enacted Nov. 16.

In California, the town of Del Ray Oaks, with an estimated population of 1,650 three miles east of Monterey, is expected to approve a PS ban when the ordinance is read and heard for the second time Dec. 15. The ban will go into effect 30 days after that.

On a larger scale, Monterey County, which issued a study and a draft proposal for a PS ban earlier this month, will hold three public hearings in December on its proposal and plans to approve the ban early next year with an effective date one year after it is passed.

The Monterey County ban would apply to the approximately 170 restaurants, grocery stores and food vendors that operate within the unincorporated areas of the county. There are estimated 2,200 restaurants, grocers and food vendors in all of Monterey County, with PS bans already in effect in Monterey, Pacific Grove and Carmel, and with Del Ray Oaks expected to soon join them.

Altogether, 26 California towns and two counties have banned PS takeout packaging, most of them in northern California from the Monterey area to just north of San Francisco. Five California cities and one county have banned the use of PS takeout packaging at city facilities or events.

Further up the coast, Seattle, Portland and Issaquah have PS bans.

On the East Coast, Boston is considering a proposal introduced last month to ban PS takeout packaging at food-service establishments that have more than 5,000 square feet or more than five different locations in the city.

Three of the underlying reasons the bans continue to grow is that legislators view PS takeout packaging as a litter and landfill problem and because PS takeout packaging manufacturers, the industry and restaurants have developed very few programs to recycle PS — which has led to a conviction on the part of legislators that PS food service packaging is not recyclable.

“There are currently no meaningful ways of recycling polystyrene-based food packaging,” said the Issaquah city council in its summary statement that recommended the adoption of the ban.

The Del Ray Oaks council made a similar assertion. “Food service ware made from polystyrene foam is not biodegradable, returnable or practically recyclable,” the Del Ray Oaks council said in its findings. “It is not economically feasible at this time to recycle polystyrene foam in or near the city” — a thought that was echoed by Monterey County in the draft of its proposed ban.

In addition, legislators, in general, have a negative view of PS food service products, even after they receive feedback from packaging manufacturers, grocers, restaurants and industry associations.

For example, the Council Sustainability Committee in Issaquah held six meetings to get feedback from the companies and businesses the ordinance would impact.

But the final summary statement from Issaquah city council still made the assertion that “polystyrene packaging … has many detrimental effects, including the chemicals released during the manufacturing process, the lack of ability to recycle the material in Washington, [and] the volume of landfill space” it occupies. Its “non-biodegradable nature … makes it a major contributor to the litter found along our roadways and in our waterways.”

Its ordinance was equally as blunt in its disrespect for PS food service packaging. “The use of polystyrene-based … food packaging and service ware serves a limited purpose that is disproportionately detrimental to the welfare of the environment [as it is] often used, and disposed of, in minutes or days,” read the bill. “There is no meaningful method of recycling polystyrene-based food packaging and service ware.”

Del Ray Oaks made a similar assertion.

“Take-out food packaging that is biodegradable, compostable or recyclable is the most responsible and sustainable choice for the tourist economy, the citizenry and the environment,” said the Del Ray Oaks council in its findings “Biodegradable takeout packaging [products] do not harm the environment and are not a permanent blight on the landscape.”

The Issaquah ban applies to PS containers, clamshells, bowls, plates, trays, cartons, cups, lids, straws, utensils and any other items used in the food service business, including containers for leftovers. But it won’t apply to lids, containers, knives, forks and spoons used for hot foods and beverages until May 1, 2011.

The Issaquah law also requires all food service business utilize either a commercial food waste recycling service for compostable products and recyclable materials or provide containers onsite for recycling and composting.

Food service operators are also required to use compostable products made solely of organic substances or recyclable products, defined as products made from materials that can be separated from a waste stream and collected and delivered to a processor for reuse or remanufacture.

The Del Ray Oaks ban, expected to be approved Dec. 15, would not apply to single-use plastic straws, cup lids and utensils. It does not have an exemption for hot foods and hot beverage containers, lids and utensils, but, like the city of Issaquah, it will permit food service operators to sell pre-packaged food that food service operators buy and resell to customers.

The Del Ray Oaks ordinance would also require food service operators to use biodegradable, compostable or recyclable products. It defines recyclable plastics as plastics coded with resin identification codes of 1-5 and recyclable as any material that is accepted by the city of special district recycling program, including, but not limited to, paper, glass, aluminum, cardboard and plastic bottles, jars and tubs.

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Environmentalists target foam food trays

By Laura Isensee, Reuters, Nov. 24, 2009

LOS ANGELES (Reuters Life!) - Environmentalists and green businesses are targeting foam food trays used to sell vegetables, fruits and meat in grocery stores.

The ubiquitous trays, which are made from polystyrene, have a long shelf life in landfills, much like plastic bags which the green brigade also took aim at in recent years.

"The developers of expanded polystyrene made the perfect material. They brought the costs down. Functionally it works great. There are no complaints ... But it never goes away," said Richard Feldman, chief executive of G4 Packaging.

The Los Angeles-based company makes trays primarily from sugar cane pulp that can be composted in 90 days or recycled.

Some U.S. cities have started to limit the use of foam trays. Portland, Oregon passed a ban in 1989 and last year Seattle, Washington voted to ban foam containers from all businesses serving food.

Seattle will ratchet up its measure next year. Beginning in July grocery stores will have to stop using foam trays for meat packaged on site and all businesses must use food containers that are compostable, as well as recyclable.

"Most plastics have pretty significant environmental impacts and we didn't want them sent to the landfill," said Dick Lilly, the business area manager for waste prevention at Seattle Public Utilities.

Smaller cities in Washington followed Seattle's lead while the Costa Mesa, California-based nonprofit Earth Resource Foundation is pushing for statewide ban in California.

"This plastic problem is as big as global climate change ... It hurts your health, the economy and the environment," the group's executive director Stephanie Barger said.

Feldman believes legislative pressure could help to propel eco-friendly trays into a $100 million market.

His two-year-old company has more than $300,000 in monthly sales. Its deals include supplying trays for zucchini and peppers sold at upscale grocer Trader Joe's. A veteran of the food packaging industry, Feldman has previously worked with fast-food giant McDonald's Corp.

But going green in groceries will cost money -- a major hurdle even when the economy is on an upswing. Trays made from natural materials like sugar cane pulp or bamboo weigh more and cost more than traditional foam trays.

Trays made by G4 Packaging can cost 8 cents each, about double the cost of a traditional container, Feldman said.

"At some point more and more people will say I as a consumer am willing to pay three or four cents more in order to go ahead and see this change," Feldman said.

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World's first bio-sourced degradable smart cards

plastemart.com, Nov. 24, 2009

The world's first bio-sourced degradable smart cards has been introduced by Gemalto. The card body is made from renewable material, is easily recyclable and compostable, and can be incinerated without emissions of toxic fumes. Also, the company offers packaging made from recycled paper and vegetable inks that significantly reduce the product's environmental impact. These bio-sourced smart cards will be ready for mass production in Q1-2010.

This innovation meets the global demand from banks and operators - a bio-sourced smart banking card and a bio-sourced SIM card, each compliant to the industry standards in their respective sector. The bio-sourced smart cards complement Gemalto's portfolio of eco-friendly cards, made from paper-based materials for short-term use (e.g. scratch cards), as well as ABS and PETG based products, a chlorine-free alternative to PVC cards. The company opted for non-chlorine polymers in the late 1990's and today, adopting material stemming from agro-products is a major step forward in promoting sustainable solutions for card vendors and end users alike.

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European Bioplastics Conference breaks visitor record

Packaging, Nov. 24, 2009

The fourth bioplastics industry conference held recently in Berlin set a new visitor record despite the difficult financial situation.

Three hundred and eighty visitors and 27 exhibitors attended the conference hosted by the European Bioplastics Association.

Experts still expect continued growth in the field of compostable and biobased materials.

"Where will the industry be in five years' time?", "What are the trends?", "Which materials will dominate the market?", "How can we communicate the advantages for the environment? and what are the optimum utilisation fields for bioplastics?"

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Biogas made available to UK homes

Envirotech Online, Nov. 23, 2009

A sustainable energy firm in the UK is set to offer biogas as an alternative fuel to British households.

Power company Ecotricity has announced that it can now supply biogas using a combination of green and brown sources, with the intention of increasing the percentage generated from green fuel as its customer base grows.

The organisation will take compostable waste that would usually go straight to landfill and use it to produce biogas.

According to Ecotricity, approximately 18 million tonnes of food is wasted by British households annually, which could be used to produce enough biogas to supply more than 700,000 homes.

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Mixed Waste Composting Review

Twelve facilities composting mixed municipal solid waste in the U.S. continue to fill a niche, turning difficult waste streams into useful product.
By Rhodes Yepsen, BioCycle November 2009, Vol. 50, No. 11, p. 23

COMPOSTING mixed municipal solid waste (MSW) is an attractive solution for many communities that want to divert organics from landfills, but don’t have the population density to support a source separated organics (SSO) scheme. These facilities are capital intensive and not always successful, however. About half of the facilities constructed in the U.S. in the last 25 years have closed, with only 12 remaining. Most recently, the plant in Cobb County, Georgia, built to process 200 tons/day of mixed waste, was converted into a materials recycling facility (MRF).

“In the European Union we’re seeing a push for biomechanical waste processing, but that’s in response to mandatory landfill diversion goals,” says Robert Spencer, an environmental planner who helped start up a few MSW composting facilities, including Cobb County. “Without a mandate, economics rule, and right now there aren’t many places in the U.S. with the right conditions.”

Ultimately, the success of MSW composting facilities comes down to site-specific circumstances, such as area landfill fees, local government commitment and possible markets for MSW compost. “There are several variables that can be controlled, such as installing sophisticated screening technology,” says Spencer. “Also, the most successful plants in the U.S. are co-sited with a landfill, which allows for internalized residuals disposal cost and a destination for possible off-spec compost as cover material.”

The MSW composting facility in Delaware County, New York is colocated with a landfill, and Susan McIntyre agrees that this is significant. “Quite a few municipalities tour our MSW composting facility and are interested, but it’s difficult to determine how viable it would be for them,” says McIntyre, Solid Waste Director of the Delaware County, Department of Public Works. “We are uniquely advantaged — isolated, high organics waste stream content, and we can control the waste because we own-operate the adjacent landfill, meaning we aren’t dependent on tip fees to make revenue or meet payroll.”

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There's only one winner in green diapers

By Ryan Roff, Tainted Green, Nov. 19, 2009

In the past, a green diaper was a cloth diaper. If a family wanted to be eco-friendly and avoid the harsh realities of a diaper sitting in a landfill for half a millennium, they would have to devote a lifetime (or at least it feels like a lifetime) to redundant cleaning and washing. Now, however, hybrid diapers offer the eco-friendly benefits of a cloth diaper with the convenience of a disposable diaper.

Green diapers have become a hot topic because of the distressing statistics surrounding the disposable diaper industry. According to the Real Diaper Association, 27.4 billion disposable diapers end up in landfills. The EPA estimates that is more than 3.4 million tons of waste.

The $5.7 billion disposable diaper industry continues to grow and with its growth, the amount of carbon emitting waste also continues to grow, but a new segment of the market, green diapers, may actually have an environmentally friendly impact.

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A Surge of Student Involvement

Those involved with the Associated Students of the University of Arizona have initiated a composting program, and are involved in a range of other efforts on campus to promote sustinability efforts.
By Lew Serviss, UANews.org, Nov. 23, 2009

On Veterans Day, when classes were adjourned and many buildings were dark, three environmentally conscious students gathered shortly after 2 p.m. in an aromatic corner of the Student Union Memorial Center basement to weigh kitchen garbage.

Lesley Ash, sustainability director for the Associated Students of the University of Arizona, found their quarry: a garbage can whose lid bore the warning: ASUA Compost, Do Not Touch. Inside were assorted kitchen scraps with a dusting of coffee grounds.

Alex Harris, a sophomore chemical engineering student, hoisted the can onto a scale and Jennifer Tobin, a senior chemical engineering student, read it off: 109 pounds.

The exercise, "a waste audit," was repeated at 9 p.m. After about three weeks of weighing the offerings, the students will have an idea of the amount of compost volume and the capacity of the composter they'll need to buy to begin a student-run composting program. Ash said the projection was that the various Student Union kitchens would produce two tons of compostable food waste a day. This day was especially light because of the holiday.

"We would divert several hundred tons of waste annually," said Ash, a veterinary science senior. She said estimates were that the program could save the University almost $80,000 a year in tipping fees. A small percentage of the compost will be used on campus and the rest will be sold in bulk for bioremediation purposes at the mines or to consumers, she said.

The composting program is just one of eight groups working under the banner of sustainability for the ASUA. Participation has soared from a year ago, Ash said. Her composting group has grown to eight students, each working fours hours a week, from largely just herself a year ago.

This year, more than 50 students have joined the sustainability program as interns – receiving some sort of academic credit – compared to 15 active volunteers a year ago, she said. In fact, there's a waiting list.

The response has been gratifying. "Part of it is to make a measurable difference on campus," Ash said, "but what really drives me is to see students who didn't know about environmental sustainability at the end of the day say, ‘Oh my gosh, I really can make a difference.' It's really cool to see that switch in a student."

In addition to the composting project, the ASUA sustainability program has seven other teams: General Sustainability, Sage Fund, Education/Outreach, Athletics, Garden in the Desert, Solar Dorm Initiative and Earth Day.

The Solar Dorm group is working to install a cogeneration, solar and hot water system on the roof of Posada San Pedro. "We hope to set up live energy monitoring so it would be a good comparative study," Ash said. "From a practical standpoint, we're hoping to save students money" in lower dorm costs.

The Garden in the Desert group was expected to break ground in November for a demonstration and productive garden of native plants at Udall Plaza, Ash said. "The idea is to expand to a larger productive garden where the produce grown would be sold to the Student Union, which would in turn generate compost in a closed-loop cycle," she said.

The General Sustainability group has taken "this really interesting direction," she said. One of their projects is to develop a multilayer interactive map of sustainability elements on campus. "We could give input to campus planners." Students tracked bicycle thefts, mapped high-theft areas and recommended changes to combat theft. "People will ride bikes, hopefully, if there's less of a probability that they will be stolen," Ash said.

The General Sustainability group will also map water flow from campus roofs to identify sites for water harvesting.

The Sage Fund is staffed by interns, Ash explained, but provides seed money to campus sustainability programs independent of the ASUA. The fund was set up that way so that it would not be impeded by a less sustainability-minded ASUA administration, she said.

"Ideally the purpose is the grant cycle, where not just students but faculty can apply for a grant or loan that involved sustainability." The money comes from fundraising, teamed up with the alumni foundation and UA Cares. They're seeking other partnerships as well. "We're seeing where this leads."

The Athletics team has taken on the challenge of trying to establish the carbon footprint of the athletics program.

Education/Outreach is working with elementary and junior high schools near the campus to develop a sustainability curriculum. The group has produced sustainable fashion shows called "Project Greenway," which feature recycled and used clothing to demonstrate "you can be sustainable and be fashionable at the same time," Ash said. "Actually, some of the recycled clothing looked pretty cool."

Ash said she hopes the increasing student involvement signals a change in culture. "It's bringing to a peak in recognition that this is important," she said, "and that ideally it won't regress but it will become second nature." She said a significant number of freshmen have become involved. "They have very original ideas."

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Students participate in composting programs

BY MARCY MIRANDA, coloradoan.com, Nov. 16, 2009

Students at Lesher IB World Middle School are learning a lesson in waste and recycling: If it was ever alive, it's compostable.

Lesher is one of two Poudre School District schools participating in composting pilot programs, said John Holcombe, the district's environmental and safety coordinator.

Kinard Core Knowledge Middle School has also been trying to reduce its impact on landfills by sorting its waste into compostable material.

"Composting is more sustainable," Holcombe said.

Lesher began its program in September and Kinard in October. Both average between 60 and 90 pounds of compost per day, Holcombe said.

Many everyday items that are not recyclable are compostable, said Annie Carey, marketing director for Clean Air Compost, which is working with Lesher.

Students have been learning items such as egg shells, vegetable peelings, paper towels and coffee grinds can be broken down instead of dumped in a landfill, she said.

Larger composting facilities that use heat to break down materials are also able to break down items not typically recommended for home composting, such as toilet paper rolls, corn-based containers, cups, disposable silverware and meat bones, Carey said.

Her company is also working with several restaurants in town, collecting their compost in an attempt to reduce waste.

"If you think of the volume of food waste, leftovers, cardboard boxes, they can significantly reduce their trash volumes and reduce their trash bill, their cost of compost," she said.

Holcombe was approached by Clean Air Compost, which asked about the possibility of setting up a composting program with the school district. Before taking it districtwide, Holcombe randomly chose Lesher as a pilot site. After getting approval from the principal, the cafeteria added a third waste bin to collect compost.

Students separate their lunch waste into recycling, composting and trash. The compost bin is equipped with a rack and a vent to separate and air out the water from the material, Carey said.

Each day, a different student serves as compost monitor, said Wiley Cate, a counselor at Lesher. Monitors help keep trash, recyclable and compostable material separate and educate their fellow classmates about composting.

"We've been having kids learn about composting and how it really lessens the amount of trash we put into the dump," Cate said. "I know our custodian said it's been cut significantly."

Carey said 18,000 pounds of compost have been picked up from Lesher since September.

At Kinard, the school's environmental group has a worm compost to help reduce the amount of garbage they created, Holcombe said. The success of the worm composting program was so great, the group realized it had more compost than it could feed the worms.

The school approached Holcombe to see if they could also participate in a composting program.

"We are trying all kinds of different things to try and divert the food from landfills," he said.

Holcombe hopes to add a third school to the composting program in January.

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Biopack Announces Initial Sales of New Water Resistant Trays

Filing Services Canada, Nov. 23, 2009

Hong Kong - Biopack Environmental Solutions Inc. a leading designer, manufacturer, and supplier of 100% biodegradable packaging products, is pleased to provide the following update to its press release dated October 22, 2009 and announce initial sales of a water resistant or "coated" fish tray to one of the largest international food conglomerates in the world. Biopack has designed, tested, manufactured and shipped this new coated fish tray that was custom made upon request to meet packaging needs of the food conglomerate, which operates nearly 3,000 retail stores in the United States and Europe under 11 different brand names generating approximately $40 billion in annual revenue.

Biopack's eco-friendly, 100% biodegradable and compostable coated fish tray was specifically made to complement an existing product within this retailers Sustainable Seafood Program, a 10-point policy which dictates how seafood is purchased and sold, based on social, ecological and economic considerations. The goals of this retail giant for delivering sustainable seafood into its stores are to:

* Promote the sale of seafood that is harvested in a sustainable way;
* Avoid the sale of species that have been over-fished or are in jeopardy;
* Actively work with the industry, NGOs, and governments to monitor and improve long-term viability of fish stocks.

Many global corporations are placing more emphasis on going green and sustainability. For example Walmart's Sustainability Index, announced earlier this year, is part of a major attempt by the retail giant to develop a more transparent supply chain. The index will show what is in each product and how the product is made - from raw materials to disposal. Eco-friendly sourcing of product and eco-friendly packaging are becoming more visible in many companies' business initiatives.

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Freedonia Focus on World Bioplastics

MarketResearch.com, Nov. 30, 2009 report date

This report discusses world bioplastics demand for the years 2003 and 2008, with forecasts for 2013. Topics covered include demand by product and market; production trends; regional demand overview; demand in North America, Western Europe, Asia/Pacific, and aggregate other regions; industry composition and leading participants. Product segments include biodegradable (starch-based and other) and non-biodegradable bioplastics. Market segments cover nopackaging and packaging. This 28 page report also includes a highlights summary and a resources section.

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KAIST/LG Chem Improve Bio-Plastics Process

New process cuts cost and complexity for biodegradable plastics.
By Levi Beckerson, DailyTech, Nov. 23, 2009

Polylactic Acid doesn’t sound like a friendly neighborhood chap, but it is in fact a common plastic. Not only is it biodegradable, it can be made from renewable resources like sugarcane and corn starch. The current common technique for producing PLA is both expensive and complex, involving bacterial fermentation and then chemical polymerization.

A collaboration between KAIST University (Korea) and LG Chem, led by professor Sang Yup Lee, has developed a new process which produces PLA using the same resources. The process is a one-step direct fermentation, but it utilizes a slightly unsavory, though common bacterial component: E. coli.

“By developing a strategy which combines metabolic engineering and enzyme engineering, we've developed an efficient bio-based one-step production process for PLA and its copolymers. This means that a developed E. coli strain is now capable of efficiently producing unnatural polymers, through a one-step fermentation process,” explains Lee.

“The polyesters and other polymers we use everyday are mostly derived from fossil oils made through the refinery or chemical process. The idea of producing polymers from renewable biomass has attracted much attention due to the increasing concerns of environmental problems and the limited nature of fossil resources. PLA is considered a good alternative to petroleum based plastics as it is both biodegradable and has a low toxicity to humans.”

Though the use of E. coli in the process seems at first unsettling, the benefits of such a process are readily apparent. Reduced production cost would allow for greater use of PLA in plastic products, possible reducing or even replacing the need for many of the non-biodegradable, petroleum-based products presently in use. Though it may indeed be a small step, Lee’s team’s research adds another bio-friendly product to a stack of growing “greener” products and resources.

The research work is published in the 50th anniversary of the journal Biotechnology and Bioengineering.

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Globe Guard Introduces Eco Friendly Bubble Wrap, Breakthrough in Biodegradable Packaging

PRWEB, Nov. 10, 2009

Plainfield, IL - Another gap in sustainable packaging has been filled by the Globe Guard Products division of Salazar Packaging, Inc. with the introduction of Eco Friendly Bubble Wrap.

The new material, a general purpose void fill, cushioning, and surface protection packaging product, is now in stock and available for immediate shipment throughout the U.S. market.

Eco Friendly Bubble Wrap is 100% recyclable, 100% degradable, and 100% biodegradable. In addition, it is CFC free / non toxic and does not deplete the ozone layer.

Beyond its impressive sustainable and biodegradable packaging characteristics, the material has excellent stretch to wrap securely around sharp corners and edges, superior strength to maintain protection in harsh shipping conditions, and high air retention to provide long lasting cushioning.

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