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

A recent survey of randomly selected users of disposable contact lenses found that more than 20% of people flush their contact lenses down the toilet or washed them down the sink instead of placing them in the garbage.

Environment, GuidanceJames EdeOctober 1, 2018Flushed Contacts found in Surface Water, combination of poly(methylmethacrylate), silicones and fluoropolymers, disposable contact lenses, waste-water treatment plants, plastic pollution in waterways, Vireo AdvisorsComment

Jellyfish used to Combat Micro-Plastic Pollution

An international consortium of researchers is working to create a “gelatinous solution to microplastic waste” by forming a filter made of jellyfish mucus which could filter microplastics from sea and ocean water.

Innovation, EnvironmentJames EdeSeptember 10, 2018Go Jelly, Vireo Advisors, gelatinous solution to microplastic waste, jellyfish mucus, jellyfish mucus filter, marine systems, microplasticComment

Natural Plant Fibers Used to Make Buildings, Cars and Planes

The Economist published an exciting article looking at the various ways material scientists are using natural plant fibers to enhance everyday materials.

Innovation, Environment, Nanomaterials, SustainabilityJames EdeJuly 3, 2018CelluComp, Vireo Advisors, Lancaster University, nanoplatelets made of carrots, Stora Enso, University of Maryland, lignin, super wood, natural plant fibers, Natural Plant Fibers Used to Make Buildings, Cars and PlanesComment

India turning the Tide on Marine Plastic Pollution

India has announced elimination of all single-use plastic in their country by 2022 (with an immediate ban in Delhi)

Environment, Leadership, Regulation, PolicyJames EdeJune 27, 2018India, Delhi, UN Environment's Clean Seas Campaign, reduce plastic pollution, Indian Government, Vireo AdvisorsComment

NIST Researchers Develop New Composite Material using Wood Pulp and an Invasive Exotic Pest

Researchers from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have developed a new composite material using wood pulp and dried pieces of an invasive exotic pest called tunicates.

Innovation, Nanomaterials, Sustainability, EnvironmentJames EdeJune 18, 2018NIST, Vireo Advisors, tunicates, Johan Foster of Virginia Tech, Jeff Gilman, nanocellulose, wood pulpComment

Saltwater Brewery six-pack rings feed wildlife instead of hurting them

Saltwater Brewery (a Florida craft microbrewery) along with a startup called E6PR, has developed a biodegradable six-pack ring which can be used in the packaging of their beverages

Environment, Innovation, SustainabilityJames EdeJune 12, 2018Saltwater Brewert, Florida craft microbrewery, E6PR, biodegradable six-pack, wheat and barley, food for wildlifeComment

Israeli Firm says it can Turn Garbage into Bio-based Plastic

UBQ Materials, an Israeli firm, is commercializing technology to convert municipal solid waste into plastics which they say will dramatically change waste management systems throughout the world and make landfills a thing of the past.

Environment, InnovationJames EdeApril 11, 2018UBQ Materials, Vireo Advisors, CO2, landfills, garbage to plastic, Israel, waste managment system, Negev Desert, municipal waste, pilot plant, additive in plasticComment

EU May Ban Single-Use Plastic Across Europe

Single-use plastics include items such as plastic bags, straws, water bottles, and many forms of food packaging and the European Commission’s Vice-President of the Executive Cabinet, Frans Timmerman, hinted that the EU may soon be banning them.

Bottled Water found to contain Plastic Particles

Recent findings by researchers from the State University of New York (SUNY) at Fredonia and journalism organization Orb Media that found that 93% of bottled water showed signs of microplastic contamination, with an average of 10.4 and 314 particles per liter larger and smaller than 100 microns in size, respectively.

EnvironmentJames EdeMarch 27, 2018bottled water, microplastics, Vireo Advisors, State University of New York (SUNY), plastics in water, Orb Media, microplastic contamination, Nile Red, fluoresces, infrared spectroscopy, polypropyleneComment

Alberta, Canada: Working Towards a Circular Economy

The province of Alberta has created a Bio-Resource Management Information System (BRIMS) which allows companies to search for wood waste, agricultural products, and other raw materials that they could repurpose for their business needs.

Sustainability, Environment, LeadershipJames EdeFebruary 14, 2018Alberta, Canada, Alberta Innovates, bio-resource managment information system, BRIMS, Edmonton’s Silvacom Ltd, Michigan, circular economyComment