The latest news about safe, sustainable and bio-based materials and products

Walmart to Reduce Chemicals of Concern by 10% in Consumables by 2022

Last month, Walmart became the first retailer in the U.S. to set a deadline for the reduction of chemicals of concern in consumables, promising to reduce them by 10% by the year 2022.

Sustainability, EnvironmentJames EdeOctober 23, 2017Walmart, Boma Brown-West, EDF, Environmental Defense Fund, HPC, high priority chemicals, Sustainability, consumables, Walmart to Reduce Chemicals of Concern, 2022Comment

Comments Due for Nanoform-Specific Registration Requirements Proposed for E.U.’s REACH Legislation

On October 9th, 2017, The European Commission (EC) released a Draft Regulation that would amend the E.U.’s REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction) Regulation to address nanoforms.

Large Industrial Consortium & VTT Technical Research of Finland Launch EUR 4.5 Million Future Fibre Products Project

Thirty-three companies have come together, along with VTT Technical Research of Finland, to develop sustainable forest products which could be used as an alternative to petroleum based materials such as plastics.

Innovation, Sustainability, EnvironmentJames EdeOctober 16, 2017VTT Technical Research of Finland, Future Fibre Products Project, paper and board production infrastructure, pilot scale demonstrations, sustainable forest productsComment

Catch of the Day: Fish with a Side of Plastic Debris and Textile Fibers

Scientists studying fish and shellfish sold for human consumption in Indonesian and American fish markets found the presence of man-made debris.

EnvironmentJames EdeOctober 12, 2017man-made debris, fish markets, Vireo Advisors, Catch of the day, Fish with a Side of Plastic Debris and Textile Fibers, USA, Indonesia, plastic contamination, waste management techniques, human health effects, FTIR or Raman Spectroscopy, textiles, shellfishComment

Vireo Advisors Celebrates Nano Technology Day 2017

Yesterday was National Nano Technology Day 2017. The Vireo Advisors team celebrated in different ways!

Events, NanotechnologyJames EdeOctober 10, 2017nano technology day 2017, Vireo Advisors, Jo Anne Shatkin, Kimberly Ong, James Ede, Leslie Hockman, Horton Hears a Who, nanometer, nanomaterials, Michael Goergen, Ted Talk, Using Tiny Bit of Trees to Save the ForestComment

Cellulose Nanocrystals Increase Hydration and Flexural Strength of Cement Pastes

Recent research conducted by Fu and colleagues (2017) has shown increased hydration and improvements of flexural strength of cement pastes when cellulose nanocrystals are included as an additive.

Innovation, NanomaterialsJames EdeOctober 5, 2017Cellulose Nanocrystals, Increase Hydration and Flexural Strength, Cement Paste, Fu, Vireo Advisors, CNC, p3 Nano, U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities, U.S. Forest Service Forest Products LaboratoryComment

Nanotechnology: The Food-Packaging Resource for the Modern Consumer

Advances in material science, including nanotechnologies, are offering enhanced food packaging solutions.

Innovation, Nanomaterials, NanotechnologyJames EdeOctober 3, 2017Nanotechnology, food packaging, Mihindukulasuriya and Sharma, Vireo Advisors, Titanium dioxide, nanoparticles, nanoscale material in food packaging, nanocompositesComment

Flame Retardants Are Not All Created Equal

Here we discuss what exactly flame retardant chemicals are, why they are used in some classes of consumer products, and why blanket bans on such a diverse group of chemicals, such as the recent ban passed in Maine, is a bad idea when trying to protect consumers.

Environment, Policy, RegulationJames EdeSeptember 28, 2017Vireo Advisors, James Ede, Flame Retardants Ban, Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Maine, fire protection, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE), organohalogens, human health effects, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), potential neurotoxic effects in humansComment

EPA Begins CDX Electronic Communication

The EPA announced on Monday that they will begin sending electronic letters acknowledging receipt of Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Section 8(e) notices of substantial risk that were submitted electronically via the Central Data Exchange (CDX).

Policy, RegulationJames EdeSeptember 28, 2017CDX, EPA, electronic communication, TSCA, TSCA notices, Toxic Substances Control Act, Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Section 8(e) notices of substantial riskComment

Maine Bans All Flame Retardants in Upholstered Furniture; U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Calls for Removal of Organohalogenated Flame Retardants in Consumer Products

Maine has banned all flame retardant chemicals in upholstered furniture despite Governor Paul LePage’s veto.

Regulation, PolicyJames EdeSeptember 19, 2017Maine, Flame-retardant chemical, flame-retardant chemical ban, upholstered furniture, Vireo Advisors, Govenor LePage, exposure to carcinogens, firefighter groupsComment