Borealis launches portfolio of circular plastomers and elastomers based on renewable feedstock
01.06.2023
Borealis introduces the Bornewables™ line of Queo™, a range of plastomers and elastomers based on renewable feedstock. The introduction follows the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC PLUS) of Borealis' production site for the Queo™ portfolio, in Geleen, the Netherlands.
Shape memory polymers: more efficient tooth correction thanks to TPU
31.05.2023
The treatment of malocclusions can sometimes be lengthy and cost-intensive. A new corrective splint (aligner) is needed for each individual therapy step. So-called shape memory polymers can help not only to make the therapy more patient-friendly, but also to reduce material waste.
Renewable energies: Bringing wind power forward with PU resins
26.05.2023
At Covestro's Wind Technology Center, research is being conducted into making wind technology more efficient. To do this, a close look is taken at wind turbines – where are opportunities to use special materials that drive renewable energy? The big goal behind it: Climate neutrality and a circular economy.
Luminescent solar collectors: Silicone makes power generation more flexible and colourful
22.05.2023
Plastics contribute to climate protection. As fibre-reinforced plastics for wind turbines or films for solar cells, they already play an important role in power generation from renewable energies. But the conventional solutions are not equally suitable for every area of application. This is where a new type of material comes into play that was developed at Saarland University.
LAPP uses new bio-based plastic from BASF – Organic ETHERLINE® now available too
18.05.2023
The company LAPP is using a new bio-based plastic from BASF for the sustainable version of its ETHERLINE® FD P Cat.5e for Industrial Ethernet. The bio-based plastic is Elastollan® N, the thermoplastic polyurethane from BASF, which is part of its circular economy strategy.
Enzyme that breaks down PET plastic: Leipzig scientists increase efficiency
18.05.2023
A research team at the University of Leipzig has further improved the functioning of an enzyme that can degrade PET plastic. Through computer simulations and experiments, they were able to rationally improve the enzyme and are now working on developing the third generation of the enzyme.
CO2BioClean: Turning CO₂ into biodegradable plastics
17.05.2023
CO2BioClean is using an innovative process to produce biodegradable plastics and polymers from CO₂ as a circularly sourced feedstock. What is driving them is their vision for a sustainable future and the potential of their technology to contribute towards global efforts to reduce CO₂ emissions and the use of fossil fuels in the production of plastics.
Logistics: eco-friendly and economical transport with plastic pallets
16.05.2023
Eight to ten times on average a wooden pallet is used in the handling area of logistics before it shows a defect and has to be sorted out. This is neither particularly economical nor good for the environment. Pallets made of plastic offer a more sustainable solution.
PackTheFuture Award 2023: These are the winners!
12.05.2023
56 entries, 10 winners, 1 special prize and 1 honourable mention - that's the positive balance of the PackTheFuture Award 2023. The results were announced at the award ceremony at interpack in Düsseldorf. The award honours innovative and sustainable packaging solutions made of plastic.
Chemists redesign biological PHAs, 'dream' biodegradable plastics
11.05.2023
Colorado State University polymer chemists have created a synthetic Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) platform. These newly designed PHAs are mechanically tough, even outperforming the two most common commodity plastics. Among other things, this is intended to address the thermal instability of conventional PHAs and is a major step toward sustainability.
Covestro expands its range of more sustainable polycarbonates
11.05.2023
Covestro AG offers a polycarbonate with a 90 percent recycled content of plastic from post-consumer waste (PCR) that can be used in consumer electronics, among other applications. The company is collaborating with Jabra on the Evolve2 headset and making progress on climate-neutral solutions through mass balancing.
Automated Lab: Robots optimise adhesive development
10.05.2023
Robots already take over a large number of monotonous, repetitive tasks today – freeing up time and resources for creative and more exciting tasks. Henkel is also automating work steps in its new Inspiration Center Düsseldorf (ICD). In a data-driven laboratory, new adhesive formulations are automatically prepared and tested around the clock.
High-performance additives for sustainable plastics: Evonik invests in Interface Polymers
04.05.2023
Evonik Industries AG has invested in the British company Interface Polymers Ltd. This investment from the Sustainability Tech Fund strengthens Evonik's position in sustainable products and recycling processes. Interface Polymers' technology enables easier processing and recycling of plastics.
Better recycling of plastic packaging: New process extracts fragrances
04.05.2023
Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute have developed an environmentally friendly process to remove fragrances from plastic packaging. The process is based on pressurized water extraction and removes the fragrance limonene from HDPE packaging. By evaluating the data using machine learning methods, it was possible to optimize the extraction parameters.
BluCon Biotech welcomes strategic investment by major chemical group LG Chem
27.04.2023
The two companies BluCon Biotech GmbH and LG Chem Ltd entered into an investment agreement. Together, they plan to work on a novel process to convert lignocellulosic non-food raw materials into high-purity lactic acid.
First comparative study on automated analysis methods of large data sets in microplastics research
27.04.2023
The lack of standardized analytical procedures for microplastic data has led to significant deviations, especially for small particles with high hazard potential. Researchers from the University of Bayreuth and the Alfred Wegener Institute have compared two automated analysis procedures and called for standardization to improve the comparability of data.
A status check on the UN's plastic waste agreement
24.04.2023
Plastic pollution is a serious threat to human health and the environment. After years of awareness-raising, there is strong and widespread alignment on the need to act. This was the unmistakable and welcome message from the U.N.'s first negotiating session on a global agreement to end plastic waste in December.
Circular Collaboration Platform: for more recyclates in food packaging
21.04.2023
The share of recycled material in plastic products is growing. The exception: food packaging. The requirements for the quality of the material for food contact are high, but in the case of recyclates there is still often a lack of corresponding information today. The project COPPA wants to create transparency in this area – with an open digital platform.
Covestro expands production capacity for polycarbonate films in Thailand
20.04.2023
The company Covestro plans to further increase its global production capacity for polycarbonate (PC) specialty films by starting to build new extrusion lines at the Map Ta Phut Industrial Park in Thailand. The completion is planned by 2025 and the investment is in the higher double-digit million euro range.
Project STOP marks major milestones and expands waste collection services to over 300,000 people
20.04.2023
Project STOP, co-funded by Borealis and Systemiq, has created positive social and environmental impact in three cities in Indonesia, including the launch of the scale-up programme Project STOP Banyuwangi Hijau from Muncar into the Banyuwangi Region.
Solar-powered system converts plastic and greenhouse gases into sustainable fuels
13.04.2023
Researchers at the University of Cambridge have developed a system that can convert plastic waste and greenhouse gases into sustainable fuels and other valuable products – using energy from the sun alone. In the system, two waste streams are simultaneously converted into two chemical products.
A wholly sustainable plastics economy is feasible
13.04.2023
In a study under the leadership of the ETH Zurich, the scientists point out that plastic products must be better aligned with the circular economy in future. The study finds that circular plastics are feasible within planetary boundaries. This would require at least 74 percent of the plastic to be recycled.
"Wonder Matter(s)" – Plastics at Milan Design Week 2023
12.04.2023
Plastic is a wonderful material. It can take on almost any shape, colour and texture. This versatility opens up countless possibilities for designers. This is also proven by the exhibition "Wonder Matter(s)", which will take place during the Milan Design Week 2023 and in which innovative plastics will be presented in partly extraordinary installations.
First PET Bottle-to-Bottle Recycling Line in Kenya
12.04.2023
Megh Group company T3 (EPZ) Limited is going to install the first PET recycling system for bottle-grade rPET and resin in Kenya and Eastern Africa, a Starlinger recoSTAR PET 165 HC iV+ recycling line, in Athi River just outside Nairobi.
LANXESS software calculates carbon footprint for Group's own products
05.04.2023
With the "Product Carbon Footprint Engine" developed by LANXESS, the CO2 footprint can be calculated automatically for the Group's products. With this innovation, the speciality chemicals company aims to help its customers achieve their sustainability goals.
Researchers use light to convert abundant lignin into plastic that can be continually recycled
05.04.2023
Boston College chemists have developed an approach that uses light to transform lignin into sustainable plastics. The findings advance a potential strategy for the waste-free system of polymer manufacture and re-use known as the circular plastic economy.
The first edition of K China Symposium was successfully held on 23rd March 2023. Expectations were achieved!
30.03.2023
The first edition of the K China Symposium was successfully held at the Shanghai International Convention Centre on 23 March 2023. Participants praised the opportunity for professional exchange, business expansion and inspiration offered by this new, international platform.
Parcel logistics: the future belongs to reusable plastic boxes
29.03.2023
Cardboard dominates parcel logistics. Shrinkage and return transport costs have so far been too big hurdles for reusable containers made of plastic, even though there is a lot to be said for them in terms of sustainability. BOOXit overcomes these hurdles – and adds one on top: the reusable system is not only sustainable, but also robot-compatible.
Covestro to build its largest TPU site in China
20.03.2023
The company Covestro will build its largest Thermoplastic Polyurethanes (TPU) site in Zhuhai, China. The TPU site will be built in three phases. The first phase will be completed in late 2025 and the final phase in 2033.
LyondellBasell and KIRKBI invest in APK to develop recycling technology
20.03.2023
The two companies LyondellBasell and KIRKBI signed an agreement to make an investment in the company APK. APK has developed the unique solvent-based Newcycling® process, which separates the different polymers of multi-layer packaging materials and produces recycled materials with a high degree of purity suitable for new packaging materials.
Sustainable plastic packaging: AI supports design and production
15.03.2023
Plastic packaging made from recycled material? Yes, but please as high quality as possible – and recyclable! This poses great challenges for manufacturers, because the use of recycled materials still often leads to downcycling. One key to more sustainable plastic packaging lies in digitalisation. This is also where the KIOptiPack project comes in.
Borealis Borcycle™ C chemical recycling provides circular solutions for crosslinked polyethylene for the Wire & Cable and Infrastructure sectors
13.03.2023
The company Borealis is using its Borcycle™ C chemical recycling process to recycle crosslinked polyethylene (PE) types into recycled polyethylene. The EverMinds™ approach provides innovative and viable solutions to recycling challenges in the Wire & Cable and Infrastructure industries.
Degradation of Plastic Waste using newly Developed Biocatalysts
13.03.2023
A research team from the University of Greifswald, together with scientists from Covestro AG, has identified enzymes capable of degrading polyurethanes and polyvinyl alcohol. The research helps to establish a sustainable and environmentally-friendly process to recycle these polymers.
Stable yet degradable: researchers develop chemical pre-determined breaking points in polymer chains
08.03.2023
We encounter high-density polyethylene (HDPE) every day, for example as detergent packaging or films. HDPE is particularly stable and resistant. In terms of sustainability, however, it still has a long way to go, because its high stability is often accompanied by poor degradability.
Neste, Uponor, Wastewise Group and Borealis enable chemical recycling of hard-to-recycle plastic waste into new high-quality plastic pipes
06.03.2023
Neste, Uponor, Wastewise and Borealis have successfully produced pipes made of cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) which was based on feedstock gained from chemically recycled post-industrial waste plastic from PEX pipe production, using an ISCC PLUS certified mass-balancing approach. The partner companies believe this project is among the first implementations of chemical recycling of PEX.
From the sea into the tunnel: KraussMaffei customer Oldroyd uses 100% sea plastics for its products
06.03.2023
What do a tunnel and hiking boot have in common? Both have a membrane that prevents the ingress of rain. In the case of the tunnel, the Norwegian company Oldroyd is an expert for the membrane and its injection-molded fixing product. It uses CX machines from KraussMaffei and 100% sea plastics.
Covestro: New ultra-durable material solution for healthcare and life sciences
01.03.2023
Both healthcare and life sciences applications – ranging from drug delivery devices, wellness and wearable devices, to single-use containers for biopharmaceutical manufacturing – all have one thing in common. They must be tough and durable and able to withstand everyday use while maintaining their structural integrity.
The future of plastics: JKU Linz trains the plastics engineers of tomorrow
01.03.2023
Plastics must be newly thought and designed - that is the credo at the Johannes Kepler University in Linz. From autumn 2023, courses on plastics technology will be offered here. Plastics don't just play a supporting role there, they are the star of the show. Because they are a key factor for both the present and the future.
Ice Ice Baby! Sustainably packaged with Styropor® Ccycled™ by BASF
21.02.2023
Imballaggi Alimentari, an Italian based company specialized in the production of ice cream packaging, has launched the Remaxigel boxes made of Styropor® Ccycled™. The boxes made of EPS (expandable polystyrene) boast excellent performance and were primarily designed for artisanal ice-cream shops.
SABIC enables Scientex in developing worlds first PP flexible food packaging using PCR ocean bound plastic
21.02.2023
SABIC, a global leader in the chemical industry, collaborates with Scientex in the packaging value chain to enable the manufacturer to develop material for the world’s first flexible food packaging made based on advanced recycled OBP, using SABIC® certified circular polypropylene (PP). The material is being used in a premium brand noodles packaging sold in Malaysia.
Bioplastics for medicine: sustainability and quality in harmony
17.02.2023
The healthcare field produces lots of medical plastic waste. The idea of designing medical products with sustainability in mind is certainly not new. However, medical-grade plastic materials must meet strict regulatory requirements, often prompting the aspect of sustainability to take a back seat.
Back to the cycle: #tide turns ocean plastic into high-quality recyclates
15.02.2023
Plastic is a resource without which our life today would not be possible - and thanks to recycling, we can even use it several times over. However, we know from reports what can happen if the recycling process does not run properly: the plastic sometimes ends up in the sea. Getting it back into circulation from there and turning it into a usable product is not easy.
Covestro and Lanxess cooperate to produce more sustainable raw materials with reduced CO₂ footprint
14.02.2023
Chemical companies Covestro and LANXESS are cooperating in the energy-intensive production of basic chemicals at their Lower Rhine sites in Germany and make them more climate friendly. LANXESS procures chlorine, caustic soda and hydrogen from the ISCC PLUS-certified sites of Covestro in Leverkusen and Krefeld-Uerdingen.
Automated simulation software creates a world map of polymer properties
14.02.2023
"Materials informatics (MI), a new branch of materials research that combines materials data with data science, is gaining traction," said co-corresponding author Yoshihiro Hayashi, assistant professor, Institute of Statistical Mathematics in the Research Organization of Information and Science (ROIS).
Suraj Logistix adopts innovative solutions for a more sustainable cement packaging
06.02.2023
Woven sacks are made of a single polymer family and are therefore already quite easy to recycle. Sustainability requirements for packaging products have increased worldwide and at the same time the need to develop better packaging products to protect the packed commodity has also gained further importance.
Bio-based flame retardants for bioplastics in electrical engineering and electronics
06.02.2023
Fraunhofer researchers, in collab with industrial partners, have achieved initial success in the development of bio-based flame retardants in bioplastics. In the future, it could therefore be possible to utilize plastics in electronics and electrical engineering that consist of 100% bio-based materials. Processing was tested by means of compounding, injection molding and additive manufacturing.
Turning plastic waste into a valuable soil additive
02.02.2023
University of California, Riverside, scientists have moved a step closer to finding a use for the hundreds of millions of tons of plastic waste produced every year that often winds up clogging streams and rivers and polluting our oceans.
Plastics industry meets Metaverse: igus presents products in virtual reality
31.01.2023
Studies show that we are up to nine times more likely to remember something we have experienced in virtual reality. This knowledge can also be interesting for the plastics industry. With the iguversum, igus has created a digital space in which the manufacturer's products can be discovered. In the future, engineering projects will also be carried out there.
Performance meets circularity: fibre-reinforced plastics become recyclable
27.01.2023
Recycled plastics are often less efficient than new plastics. But they can be upgraded - namely by using fibre composites. In turn, they make the plastics difficult to recycle. The All-Polymer project shows how both are possible: high-performance materials and a closed cycle.
BASF and StePac partner to develop sustainable packaging for shelf-life extension of fresh produce
23.01.2023
BASF SE and StePac Ltd. have joined forces to create the next generation of sustainable packaging specifically for the fresh produce sector. Supplying StePac with its Ultramid® CcycledTM, a chemically recycled polyamide 6, BASF will provide its partner greater flexibility to advance contact-sensitive packaging formats to a higher sustainable standard within the circular economy.
traceless: material made from plant-based polymers protects climate and environment
19.01.2023
As early as 1908, textile engineer Jacques Brandenberger invented cellophane, a film made of natural polymers. However, the material was displaced by synthetic polymers with the development of numerous plastics. In the wake of the climate crisis, natural polymers are now coming back into focus as an alternative to fossil raw materials. traceless offers such an alternative.
Turning plastic trash into pharmaceuticals
16.01.2023
A novel method developed by USC pharmacy and chemistry researchers has exciting implications for plastic waste collecting on Catalina Island and L.A.-area beaches.
Sumitomo (SHI) Demag joins the R-Cycle Community
16.01.2023
With 80.000 all-electric machines in operation around the globe, Sumitomo (SHI) Demag’s strong focus is on the sustainable and resource saving operation of injection molding machines in the plastic processing industry.
ENGEL launches Pay per Use
09.01.2023
ENGEL breaks new ground in injection moulding machine distribution. Blazing a trail for its industry, the machine manufacturer now offers its customers a pay-per-use model on top of classical machine purchases. This helps processors to reduce their investment risk while at the same time boosting flexibility in production.
SABIC debuts new copolymer resin for PV connectors, delivering highest CTI level to support emerging 1.5KV systems
04.01.2023
SABIC, a global leader in the chemical industry, launched today a breakthrough polycarbonate (PC)-based copolymer resin, well-suited for photovoltaic (PV) connector bodies, that meets stricter performance and regulatory requirements for emerging 1.5Kv solar systems.
Innovation venture of Covestro awarded: Niaga® wins Circular Economy Prize
04.01.2023
Niaga®, an innovation venture of Covestro, is the winner of the 2022 European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) Community Circular Economy Prize in the Digital Products Passports (DPP) category. The EIT Circular Economy Community awards relevant start-ups and SMEs (small and medium sized enterprises) with significant new solutions accelerating the circular economy.
From old to new: Evonik produces PEBA from used tires
03.01.2023
Many raw materials deserve a second life, and especially in view of resource conservation and the circular economy, the reuse of raw materials is particularly important. Evonik shows how it's done: The company produces PA-12 elastomers from old tires.
Dow launches the world's first recyclable silicone self-sealing tire solution
26.12.2022
The company Dow has announced the launch of the world's first recyclable self-sealing silicone solution for tires. The new silicone sealant technology, called SiLASTIC™ Self-sealing Silicone, is designed to form a self-sealing layer on the inside of a tire.
All tidied up: Customizable cleaning solution for light-based 3D printing
21.12.2022
As the saying goes, one cannot make an omelette without breaking eggs – in a metaphorical sense, this is also the case when it comes to the 3D printing process. In most cases, material residue must be removed manually and then discarded. Cubicure delivers a different way that's automated, customizable, and sustainable.
Orthopaedic insoles made of Elastollan® – more comfortable, sustainable and individual
19.12.2022
Shoe insoles made of Elastollan®, BASF's thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), offer a high degree of individualization freedom. The production of shoe insoles in 3D printing enables smooth transitions between soft and hard structures.
Circular clothing – recycling of polyester-containing textiles
13.12.2022
The overall eco-balance of polyester is better than that of natural fibres like cotton. Nevertheless, textiles containing polyester do not have a good reputation. Today, one property of the material in particular is criticised: it does not decompose naturally. This makes a collection and recycling of such textiles all the more important. But a circular economy for polyester does not yet exist.
Acting Responsibly: Jungle feeling at the Röchling stand at K 2022
08.12.2022
This year, the company Röchling SE & Co. KG chose the design of a jungle at K 2022 in Düsseldorf to present its sustainable product families as well as innovative new products. Under the motto 'Acting responsibly' the concept was well received by visitors and customers.
Plastics of the future will live many past lives, thanks to chemical recycling
01.12.2022
A research team at the University of Colorado Boulder has discovered how durable plastics used in the aerospace and microelectronics industries broken down into their most basic building blocks and then formed again into the same material. In the process, they do not lose their physical properties.
K 2022: Heat-resistant C-PET light cup promotes circular economy – a transparent alternative for hot-fill applications
01.12.2022
Together with Sukano AG and Kiefel Packaging B.V., the company SML Maschinengesellschaft mbH has developed a cup made of C-PET light that is heat-resistant and combines transparency and recyclability.
Bend it like PU – Plastics in sport
30.11.2022
Today, no one can imagine leather balls, wooden rackets, bamboo poles or cinder tracks in sporting competition. Natural materials have now been almost completely replaced by other materials: plastics. They are light, robust and highly functional. Thanks to intensive research, they are also becoming more and more efficient – and ultimately lead to new world records.
Borealis and REHAU accelerate circularity for furniture products with Bornewables™ premium circular polyolefins
22.11.2022
REHAU chooses Borealis' Bornewables™ over conventional polypropylene (PP) for production of their RAUKANTEX evo sustainable edgebands. The robust and durable Bornewables™ feature color-stable chemistry and flexibility and are suitable for processing straight and contoured edges.
EREMA Group focuses research and development on circular economy for PET fibres
22.11.2022
With its new business unit "Fibres and Textiles", the EREMA Group is intensifying the development of recycling solutions focusing on PET fibre materials that are produced in fibre production and in further processing steps. In a dedicated fiber pilot plant, a cross-company team is working on recycling solutions for fiber-to-fiber applications.
Covestro collaboration with SABIC unlocks improved recyclability for mono-material flexible plastic pouches
21.11.2022
The company Covestro AG has developed a new heat-resistant coating for use on mono-material stand-up pouches made with SABIC's PE/BOPE technology. The coating facilitates high-speed industrial production of stand-up pouches made with SABIC® BOPE biaxially oriented polyethylene. The new solution enables simpler, single-stream recycling.
Sustainable face masks: recyclable and climate-friendly
21.11.2022
With the development of the first 100 percent recyclable FFP2 mask, the Austrian Grabher Group is taking an important step towards sustainability. The sustainable FFP2 masks made of polypropylene are not only fully recyclable, but also cause significantly fewer CO2 emissions during their manufacture than conventional protective masks.
Wonderfully versatile: Plastics shape the car of the future
17.11.2022
The versatility of plastic is one of its strongest characteristics, and it makes it particularly popular amongst designers. Plastic is also a favored material for BASF's design team: in collaboration with Citroën, the chemical company rethought the classic car - with plastic as the central building block that made the implementation of the innovative concept possible in the first place.
Wallbox control panel is manufactured using the IMD process
15.11.2022
Sumitomo (SHI) Demag is focusing on sustainable development in the field of machinery and equipment. The new innovation in the form of an all-electric injection molding machine called IntElect2 220/660-1100 with low scrap rates and thanks to platen parallelism is an example of the plan. It is used to produce a wallbox using the IMD process.
First Boeing 777 with AeroSHARK takes off on passenger flights
15.11.2022
The first Boeing operated by Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) took off on a passenger flight equipped with the new Surface technology developed jointly by Lufthansa Technik and BASF. Modified aircraft now begins validation of savings potential in daily flight operations. The fuel and emissions savings of around one percent calculated.
Building and construction sector: An industry relies on plastics
08.11.2022
Polymers are as diverse as their chemical composition. Plastics come in hard, soft, flexible, brittle, opaque, transparent - just as required. They impress with their durability, cost-effectiveness, impermeability to water, high formability, corrosion resistance and low weight. This makes them the ideal building material - and an environmentally friendly alternative to other materials.
Rebirth for shampoo bottles & co: launch of the first deposit system for plastic packaging from the bathroom
02.11.2022
The demand for high-quality recyclates has exceeded the supply on the market for years. So far, too much high-quality plastic is still being burned as waste instead of being recycled. The Berlin-based start-up Circleback wants to change that by setting up a deposit system for plastic packaging from the bathroom.
No longer gone with the wind: Fraunhofer Institute develops concepts for rotor blade recycling
28.10.2022
After about 25 years, the rotor blades of a wind turbine have usually had their day. But what happens to them then? Together with the Institute for Energy and Circular Economy (IEkrW), the Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy Systems (IWES) is developing concepts in a project that should enable rotor blades to be better recycled and reused.
Recycled PET bottles are turned into adhesive tapes
26.10.2022
The company tesa® supports the field of sustainability. The new tesa® 60412 packaging tape has a backing made of 70% recycled PET and a water-based acrylate adhesive system. The production process is completely solvent-free. Used PET products are recycled and used as raw material for the backing material.
Researchers develop plastic film that can kill viruses using room lights
26.10.2022
Researchers at Queen's University Belfast have developed a plastic film that uses room light to kill viruses that land on its surface. The technology used to manufacture the film also ensures that it is degradable. This self-sterilizing film is inexpensive to produce, easy to scale and could be used for disposable aprons, tablecloths and curtains in hospitals.
"We are looking at how to redesign products and how to re-use parts of them"
21.10.2022
Collaboration between Borealis, Neste and MAM brings new soother to market made with renewably-sourced feedstock
11.10.2022
The MAM company is accelerating circular economy measures in partnership with Borealis through the launch of MAM Original Pure pacifiers and packaging enabled by Borealis Bornewables™ portfolio of recyclable polyolefins. Upstream value chain partner Neste is the supplier of renewable feedstock Neste RE™ based on waste and residue streams for the manufacture of Bornewables polypropylene.
BASF and ARCUS sign agreement on the production and procurement of pyrolysis oil from mixed plastic waste
03.10.2022
ARCUS plans to start up first commercial pyrolysis plant for mixed plastic waste in Germany and will supply the company BASF SE with pyrolysis oil. This will enable further expansion of BASF's ChemCyclingTM business. The Agreement foresees take-up of up to 100,000 tons of pyrolysis oil per year.
Innovative technology makes flexible packaging recyclable
03.10.2022
A new technology from Covestro weakens the bond strength of PU adhesives. Laminated films in multilayer packaging can be separated after use and the individual materials can be recycled later. At the K 2022 trade fair, the team will be presenting the technology to the plastics industry for the first time.
Safely packaged: recyclable reusable transport box protects the environment and sensitive goods
20.09.2022
Packaging materials are often not very sustainable. This is partly because they are only designed for single-use transport. Researchers in the Fraunhofer LBF's Plastics department have taken this fact as an opportunity to develop an alternative. With their recyclable reusable transport solution for sensitive goods, the climate, the environment and resources can be protected.
Covestro invests in the production of more sustainable polycarbonates in Asia Pacific
19.09.2022
Covestro plans to set up its first dedicated mechanical recycling (MCR) plant for polycarbonates at its integrated site in Shanghai. The company also plans to convert an existing compounding facility in Thailand into a mechanical recycling plant.
Gorgeous plastics – circular aesthetics
14.09.2022
Few materials can compete with plastics when it comes to functional versatility, but the same can also be said for creating aesthetic expressions with plastics. At a time when they are often associated with generally negative press most consumer brands want to shy away from it is a material family. It needs to readdress the balance and play to more durable, higher-value stories.
Sustainability by digitalization: Inventory machines become capable of communication
13.09.2022
What's old is far from bad. This also applies to machines - however, they are often not capable of communicating. Yet it is precisely this ability that is of interest when it comes to evaluating data or correcting errors. Injection molding machine manufacturer Steinl has found a way to connect even older machines to a communication network.
Engineering enzymes to help solve the planet's plastic problem
12.09.2022
Researchers at the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology (MIB) have developed a new enzyme engineering platform. The focus is on plastic-degrading enzymes that can be improved through directed evolution. To test their platform, they engineered a new enzyme, HotPETase, through the directed evolution of IsPETase.
LANXESS: Entire value chain to become climate-neutral
12.09.2022
The chemicals company LANXESS aims to make its upstream and downstream supply chains climate-neutral by 2050. In order to achieve the so-called Scope 3 targets, LANXESS has launched the Net Zero Value Chain Program. The focus is on sustainable raw materials, green logistics and climate-neutral products.
Pioneering recycling turns mixed waste into premium plastics with no climate impact
08.09.2022
Carbon atoms in mixed waste can replace all fossil raw materials in the production of new plastic. Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden are demonstrating this with a new thermochemical recycling method. It is modeled on the natural carbon cycle and could eliminate the impact of plastics on the climate or even clean the air of carbon dioxide.
Redefining sustainability with antimicrobial solutions for plastics
06.09.2022
Plastic is one of the most versatile materials on earth, it has influenced all areas of our lives. However, in the last few decades, the reputation of plastics has been tarnished by the environmental threat predominantly associated with single-use, disposable products that cover landfills and pollute our oceans.
Energy costs and climate protection in industry and commerce: decarbXpo launches
05.09.2022
A lot is happening in the field energy technology, not least as a result of rapidly rising energy prices. Spurred on by falling costs for renewable energy technologies, innovative storage solutions, intelligent energy management systems and new opportunities are also opening up for industrial and commercial companies.
BASF enters power agreements for clean energy supply of more than 20 BASF sites across the United States
01.09.2022
The BASF company is focusing on renewable energy in the field of electricity supply in the United States. BASF enables renewable energy projects by signing virtual power purchase agreements (VPPAs) totaling 250 MW. In addition, the amount of solar and wind energy in the grid offsets the energy supply of more than 20 production sites.
Climate-neutral with a plan – sustainability in the plastics industry
30.08.2022
Successful business means sustainable business. Because according to KraussMaffei, sustainability has both ecological and economic advantages. Recently, the company reaffirmed its goal of being climate-neutral by 2030. Its strategy includes recycling solutions, energy-efficient construction and heating, and sustainable product development.
Augmented Reality in the plastics industry: individualized instructions for the entire product life cycle
25.08.2022
Individualization is the trend. In the plastics industry, too, more and more individualized machines are coming onto the market. Of course, these machines also require individualized manuals with instructions tailored specifically to them. However, this is not yet a reality today. The AdaptAR project wants to change that – with the help of Augmented Reality and an app.
"They are recyclables, not waste" – Recycling of rigid polyurethane foams
23.08.2022
Circular Economy is teamwork. Everyone can contribute, and every single step counts. Covestro is making its contribution – together with other partners such as Circularise – with the CIRCULAR FOAM research project. This is about recycling rigid polyurethane foams that are used in the insulation of buildings or refrigeration appliances.
BASF's IrgaCycle™ stabilizes recycled plastics used to protect pineapples from sunburn in Malaysia
20.08.2022
The two companies BASF and 3T Industries Sdn Bhd are helping pineapple plantations in Malaysia to increase yields and conserve resources. 3T Industries has used BASF's IrgaCycle™ UV033 DD to improve the production of 100% recycled high-density polyethylene (HDPE) sheets to protect pineapples from solar radiation.
Cloeren GmbH invests in solar energy
19.08.2022
Cloeren GmbH has completed installation of a solar power plant at its Micheldorf, Austria facility to move towards carbon neutral manufacturing. The solar plant investment added 200 KW of solar produced energy, allowing us to reduce C02 emissions 90 tonnes per year.
Public obligations for recycling: Germany – a good role model?
16.08.2022
With the Packaging Act, Germany is taking a further step towards an all-encompassing raw material cycle for packaging. One of the requirements aims to significantly increase the amount of recyclable packaging. Packaging used in mail order or "dispensed" for to-go products has recently been required to be registered in the LUCID Packaging Register.
Saves energy and costs: two-stage process makes plastics recycling more efficient
16.08.2022
In recycling, plastics are usually sorted, cleaned, ground, compounded and regranulated to be reprocessed as regranulate. The material must therefore be melted twice – first for granulation, then for injection moulding. ENGEL has now developed a process in which plastic waste can be processed as flakes in injection moulding directly after grinding. This makes it highly energy-efficient.
TRINSEO introduces sustainable ALTUGLAS™ R-Life Acrylics
15.08.2022
The Trinseo company has launched a new series entitled: ALTUGLAS™ R-Life Acrylics. This comprises chemically and mechanically recycled, reused and bio-based polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) for cast and extruded sheets, resins and compounds.
Borealis introduces a portfolio of circular base chemicals
15.08.2022
The Borvida™ portfolio introduces sustainable base chemicals to Borealis' range of product offering. The range will initially be based on non-food waste biomass, and chemically-recycled waste. In the future it will also draw from atmospheric carbon capture. The traceability of the content will be based on Mass Balance, which is ISCC PLUS certified.
Digitization, automation, networking: "We have the whole wide bandwidth!"
09.08.2022
Twenty-year-old Yannick Herzog trained as an electronics technician for automation technology at Arburg and now works in the company's printed circuit board production. Since August 2021, he has been responsible for SPI and AOI for quality control of printed and assembled PCBs, respectively, in a production line. These are used in the control systems of the Arburg machines.
LyondellBasell helps to close the loop on Polypropylene by joining NEXTLOOPP initiative
08.08.2022
LyondellBasell (NYSE: LYB) is participating in the NEXTLOOPP initiative, which aims to produce circular recycled food-grade polypropylene (FGrPP) from used packaging. NEXTLOOPP is able to close the loop of polypropylene (PP) by means of a combination of cutting-edge technologies. Polypropylene is separated from the rest and the polymer is decontaminated.
Functional plastics – designing for circularity
27.07.2022
Few, if any, materials can compete with plastics in terms of adaptability and versatility – many different material properties can be derived from the same basic chemistry, meaning that complex product assemblies can be made with a single type of plastic.
A guide to sustainable plastics
27.07.2022
As a designer, plastics and sustainability can be difficult to navigate. There are so many parameters to consider – from the origin and environmental footprint of raw materials to the durability and quality of specific materials and maximising the chances of recovery and recycling at the end of life of plastics products.
A unique catalyst paves the way for plastic upcycling
25.07.2022
After developing the first process inorganic catalyst to break down polyolefin plastics into molecules, a team led by Ames Laboratory scientists has now developed a strategy to accelerate the conversion without losing the desired products.The result is that larger platinum particles reacted more slowly with the long polymer chain, while the smaller ones reacted faster.
The "new KraussMaffei" is to be climate-neutral by 2030
25.07.2022
The KraussMaffei company confirms a sustainable corporate strategy: Climate neutrality in eight years. The consistent focus is on Circular Economy. One of the largest roof-mounted photovoltaic systems in Europe is currently being built at the new main plant in Parsdorf.
Superworms capable of munching through plastic waste
18.07.2022
University of Queensland scientists further research the common "superworm" Zophobas morio, which can eat through Styrofoam thanks to a bacterial enzyme in its gut.
Audi: Recycling plastic waste in-house
14.07.2022
For a year now, automobile manufacturer Audi has been running a pilot project for a closed plastic cycle. Assembly aids are produced from packaging material in a 3D printer. We took a closer look at the Neckarsulm plant to find out exactly how this works and what challenges have to be overcome.
Fresh impulses for wind energy
11.07.2022
Covestro is researching material solutions for sustainable energy generation at its new Wind Technology Center. They are focusing on the optimization and new development of PUR resins in collaboration with customers.
New PET-like plastic made directly from waste biomass
11.07.2022
Scientists from EPFL's School of Basic Sciences have successfully developed a biomass-derived plastic. Similar to PET, it meets the criteria for replacing several current plastics while being more environmentally friendly.
Rubber recycling: AZuR network advocates a second life for scrap tires
05.07.2022
The German AZuR Network was launched in June 2020. The "Alliance Future Tire" lives up to its name and has been pursuing the goal of finding and implementing new and innovative solutions for an ecologically and economically sensible tire cycle for two years now.
Reusing odor-contaminated plastics
01.07.2022
In the Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence Circular Plastics Economy (CCPE), the four Fraunhofer institutes are researching odor barrier skins for polymer compounds made from recycled materials. With special additives, odor barrier skins with a skin thickness of 0.25 mm can be effectively realized. The odor-contaminated plastic can be "packaged".
Solvay extends its sustainable polymer offering for smart devices and wearables
21.06.2022
Solvay launched the Kalix® 10000 series, a partially bio-based material made with renewable feedstock from non-food competing sources, is produced with 100% renewable electricity.
SK chemicals realizes good takeout with Dodori Cup made from Ecozen
21.06.2022
SK chemicals is planning a Realization of zero waste with Ecozen reusable cups that are used and returned. 5,000 so called Dodori cups used in this project are made from Ecozen.
A digital product passport for more sustainability
21.06.2022
The EU's Circular Economy Action Plan stipulates that by 2050 all plastic packaging must be completely recyclable and consist of at least 70 percent recycled material. The majority of plastic waste still ends up in landfills or incinerators – in the worst case, in the environment.
Clear plastics recycling using high-purity sorting and separation technologies
13.06.2022
The COVID-19 pandemic put acrylic (transparent) shields, better known as "sneeze guards," in high demand in their role as protective barriers. However, they pose a major challenge for recycling companies at the end of the product life cycle since the different plastics must be separated and sorted to maintain purity and facilitate reuse.
BASF and BMW Group rely on renewable raw materials for automotive coatings
06.06.2022
The BMW Group is the first automotive manufacturer to use OEM coatings from BASF that are certified according to the biomass balance process. By using new sustainable product variants, around 40% CO2 can be avoided for clear coat and dip coating.
Newly discovered enzyme breaks down PET plastic in record time
01.06.2022
Researchers at the University of Leipzig have discovered an enzyme that degrades PET plastic in a short time. The enzyme PHL7 is twice as active as the previous leader LCC. This should make biological recycling more cost-effective.
Silicones: All-rounders for healthcare, electronics and climate protection
27.05.2022
Baby pacifiers, plug seals, medical tubing – we encounter silicones in a wide variety of life situations. Why? They are flexible, water-repellent, heat- and chemical-resistant and even have electrical properties. In short, they are true all-rounders! WACKER, the German chemical group and K exhibitor from the very beginning, is considered a European pioneer in silicones.
New method to convert plastic trash into clean hydrogen fuel
23.05.2022
To convert plastic waste into hydrogen, researchers at the Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) have developed a new method. The new method is based on pyrolysis, a high-temperature chemical process. The project is also investigating the potential of other new technologies for decentralized waste management.
Made up out of thin air
19.05.2022
Innovations always emerge from something existing, something tried and tested. Approaching them in terms of their content requires a look at the fundamentals. This is also true for the question of how carbon dioxide (CO2) from exhaust gases can be used for the production of plastics.
Treated plastic waste good at grabbing carbon dioxide
16.05.2022
Researchers at Rice University have developed a technique to turn plastic waste into an effective carbon dioxide (CO2) sorbent for industry.
Taking the fight to microplastics with lasers
16.05.2022
The newly developed laser-drilled microplastic filter filters out tiny microplastic particles in wastewater. As part of the "SimConDrill" project, 59 million holes with a diameter of ten micrometers were drilled into a filter sheet using a multi-beam process. The process was developed at the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT.
Welcome to the family: COLOMBIAPLAST joins the K Global Gate portfolio
12.05.2022
Braskem and Sojitz Corporation join hands to bring renewable MEG technology to the market
09.05.2022
The two companies Brüskem and Sojitz cooperate within a partnership to produce and market the bioMEG (monoethylene glycol) and bioMPG (monopropylene glycol). This joint venture aims to promote sustainable development and combine the expertise of both companies.
thananit_s
Joint Mission: Circular Economy
04.05.2022
The mission of the new "We are plastics" alliance between the three major German Plastics Associations is to promote the circular economy. They focus on the dialog with consumers and NGOs, on the network between individual initiatives and on presenting facts and changes of the industry.
Brave new world – how design makes the plastics industry more sustainable
29.04.2022
When the first plastic was developed 150 years ago, it was a miracle for people at the time. Around 1950, the material contributed significantly to the economic miracle of the post-war period. Today, in view of the climate crisis, little is left of this image. In its exhibition "Plastic. Remaking Our World", the Vitra Design Museum wants to show how plastic can contribute to solving problems.
New enzyme discovery is another leap towards beating plastic waste
25.04.2022
Scientists have characterized an enzyme that has the ability to degrade terephthalate (TPA), one of the chemical building blocks of the plastic polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which is used to make disposable beverage bottles, for example.
Cost-effective, material-saving, local – Ultrathin Coating enables sustainable production of medical protective clothing
25.04.2022
We all remember the beginning of the Corona pandemic: the demand for medical protective clothing increased rapidly, leading to supply bottlenecks. Although the situation has calmed down again, the dependence of companies on global supply chains was exposed. Reifenhäuser is now specifically addressing this problem with its new Ultrathin Coating process.
Safely above the clouds – plastics in aviation
13.04.2022
Around 10,000 m altitude, speeds of almost 1,000 km/h, outside temperatures as low as -60°C. One of the reasons why we as airline passengers don't notice any of this is because of plastics. These are not only mechanically and chemically resistant, but also lightweight. And lighter aircraft cause fewer CO2 emissions, which is of great importance for achieving climate targets.
A previously unknown bacterial enzyme makes new type of biodegradable polymer
12.04.2022
Researchers have identified a bacterial enzyme that can produce a new type of polysaccharide similar to the biopolymer chitin. The new molecule could be useful for drug delivery, tissue engineering and other biomedical applications. It is also biodegradable.
Edible, biodegradable, anti-microbial plastic boasts higher tensile strength than petroleum-based plastic
12.04.2022
A research team at São Paulo State University (UNESP) made their bioplastic from type B bovine gelatin. Besides nanoclay the material is produced from clay and a nanoemulsion of black pepper essential oil.
SWISS equips entire Boeing long-haul fleet with AeroSHARK
11.04.2022
Twelve Boeing 777-300ERs will gradually be fitted by SWISS with the riblet films developed by Lufthansa Technik and BASF. The reduced frictional resistance makes the sub-fleet more economical and lower in emissions, thus reducing the environmental footprint.
New plant-derived composite is tough as bone and hard as aluminum
04.04.2022
MIT researchers has engineered a composite made mostly from cellulose nanocrystals mixed with a bit of synthetic polymer. The material could pave the way for sustainable plastics.
Mobile plastics recycling project wins WDO's World Design Impact Prize
30.03.2022
The Montreal-based World Design Organization has named a mobile, solar-powered, plastic-waste upcycling platform as the winner of its World Design Impact Prize™ for 2021.
WorldStar Award 2022 for school milk packaging made from 100% rPET
24.03.2022
A project for circular economy by Austria's school milk producers and the three Upper Austrian companies PET-MAN, Greiner Packaging, and Starlinger viscotec has received the WorldStar Award from the World Packaging Organization. Schools are supplied with dairy products in rPET cups that are recycled after use.
ERDE Recycling: recovery and recycling systems for agricultural plastics
18.03.2022
ERDE is a recovery and recycling system focused on the return of silage sheets and covers and agricultural stretch films in Europe. The company has big goals, such as a recycling rate of 65 percent in 2022, but also faces challenges, such as the cross-border transport of agricultural plastics.
From the idea to a (sustainable) company: Circular Valley promotes start-ups
11.03.2022
Mentoring in areas such as marketing and sales, direct contact with large companies, and support from industry experts – this is what every start-up dreams of. In the Circular Valley in Wuppertal, Germany, this is reality. Entrepreneurs from a wide variety of fields who want to contribute to the Circular Economy with their work are supported here.
Lightweight truck-mounted toolbox with novel plastic composite hybrid solution
09.03.2022
SABIC is cooperating with Dongfeng on the development of a novel plastic composite hybrid solution to produce a robust yet weight-saving toolbox for assembly on vehicles.
Massel innovates with liquid stock range in SIG-Carton Packs with SIGNATUR FULL BARRIER packaging material
09.03.2022
SIG's SIGNATURE FULL BARRIER packaging material is made from renewable, forest-based materials and responsible sources. The small amount of polymers used is certified. The Australian company Massel is now launching products in these SIG-Carton Packs.
Fish in packaging made from chemically recycled plastic
07.03.2022
Salmon fillets from Bömlo are supplied in the world's first EPS fish box. Ccycled is made from chemically recycled plastic and BASF, Vartdal Plast and Bremnes Seashore, the partners for this joint project, are contributing to making the circular economy a success.
Chemists develop radical way to make it easier, more profitable to recycle plastic
01.03.2022
By modifying carbon-hydrogen bonds, chemists from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill transform plastic trash into tougher, stronger material. They started with plastic foam packaging used to protect electronics during shipping that otherwise ends up in landfills.
Digital watermarks: sort post-consumer waste more intelligently
16.02.2022
How can plastic packaging become intelligent? By providing them with digital watermarks that can be read by sorting systems and thus simplify the sorting process. The fact that this technology works was proven in the pioneering HolyGrail 1.0 project with a proof of concept.
Neste and Ravago plan to set up a joint venture to focus on chemical recycling of waste plastic
14.02.2022
Neste and Ravago intend to establish a joint venture to build an industrial chemical recycling facility in the North Sea port of Vlissingen, the Netherlands. From there, global chemical recycling activities will be managed, building on the further development of thermochemical liquefaction technology by U.S.-based Alterra Energy, an innovative chemical recycling technology company.
New lignin based material to replace fossil plastics and adhesives
01.02.2022
Researchers at Stockholm University have developed a resource-efficient method to produce new lignin-based materials that can be thermally reprocessed and used to substitute thermosetting resins and adhesives.
Dishwasher components made from recycled plastic
01.02.2022
"We are plastics" – an initiative for the conscious use of resources
27.01.2022
"There is a lot of talk about the plastics industry, but too little talk with it," says the website of the German "Wir sind Kunststoff" initiative, which was launched in May 2021. It sees itself as a dialog platform for the industry on socially relevant aspects relating to plastics. To this end, eight associations pool their expertise and approach the public together as the faces of the industry.
Recyclable furniture from the creative workshop
24.01.2022
Plastic is a versatile material that can be used for a wide variety of projects. What's more, it is reusable and can be given new forms – so it can be given a second life in the sense of the circular economy. In the plastikfabrik in Saarbrücken (Germany), Daniela and Pascal Becher breathe such a second life into plastic.
Recyclability by Design – Electronics integrated in plastic becomes more sustainable
20.01.2022
The aim of the project ReIn-E project is to develop designs and sustainable materials to enable the recycling of the components.
Self-healing 3D printed plastic can repair itself by using only light
20.01.2022
Research by UNSW academics shows that special treatment of liquid resin used in 3D printing can cause the material to mend itself if it becomes damaged.
Jerome Romkey
20.01.2022
President, GN Thermoforming Equipment Co.
Bence Körmendi
19.01.2022
Petchem Business Unit Director, MOL Hungarian Oil and Gas Company Plc.
New additional service in the run-up to K 2022 in Düsseldorf: Monthly K-Talk starts online on January 20, 2022!
18.01.2022
Outlook, orientation, hot topics +++ exciting live discussion rounds with industry experts, users, and representatives from the media and politics +++ K-Talk enables global dialog even before the Leading Trade Fair in the fall +++ on-demand service
AlgX: from green algae to green plastic
18.01.2022
With AlgX, the French industrial project Eranova has developed a product that responds to two global problems: Plastic pollution and algae pollution. It is a technology patented in 30 countries that allows the production of bio-based, recyclable, biodegradable and compostable plastics from green algae in the spirit of upcycling.
Turning plastic grocery bags into sustainable fuel
17.01.2022
More than 300 million tons of plastic waste are produced annually, which causes serious environmental issues. Consequently, most plastic waste ends up in either a landfill or the ocean. A significant number of plastics break down into microplastics, which are ingested by fish and other marine life causing havoc to marine ecosystems.
Borealis acquires minority stake in UK-based sustainable packaging innovator Bockatech
10.01.2022
Borealis, one of the world’s leading providers of advanced and circular polyolefin solutions and a European market leader in base chemicals and fertilizers, announces that it has acquired a minority stake in Limited, a UK-based growth-stage green tech business and inventor of the innovative EcoCore ® manufacturing technology platform for sustainable packaging.
Young plastics researchers are on the trail of proper recycling
07.01.2022
The Pöppelmann Research Week on the topic of "Plastics and Recycling" brought young people closer to the topics of plastics and recycling.
Plant from plastics?
03.01.2022
Plastics have taken the world by storm over the last century, finding applications in virtually every aspect of our lives. However, the rise of these synthetic polymers, which form the basis of plastics, has contributed to many serious environmental issues. The worst of these is the excessive use of petrochemical compounds and the disposal of non-biodegradable materials without recycling.
Made to degrade
03.01.2022
There's a lot of plastic in the ocean. Much of it comes from the single-use items that we're all familiar with, such as food wrappers and microbeads that inadvertently wind up in the sea. But a growing amount is coming from plastics that are actually made to be used in marine environments, such as instrumentation used for an emerging ocean "Internet of Things."
Using circular economy principles to recycle toys
28.12.2021
Many of us are familiar with this scene in our children’s bedrooms: when the kids have outgrown their toys, the latter typically get boxed up until we finally take heart and purge them. But it doesn’t have to be that way: the initiative of the HolyPoly company takes recycling steps to create new toys – that look slightly different.
Reducing plastic pollution by adding RNA-inspired 'breaking points'
20.12.2021
Once plastic products are used and discarded, they can linger in oceans and harming sea life. One potential solution, a biodegradable polymer called polylactide (PLA), has so far not fully lived up to its promise, showing little sign of breakdown once in seawater. In a new study, researchers set out to address this issue by incorporating RNA-inspired breaking points to the polymer.
Turning a problem into a solution: Wasser 3.0 studies ways to remove microplastics from water without a filter
15.12.2021
Plastic is an important material and a virtually irreplaceable component in many products. However, the breakdown and disposal of plastics after use also goes along with microplastics. At the end of its life cycle, plastic material first ends up in the environment and then comes back to us: a study has found that we ingest about five grams of plastic every week without realizing it.
Covestro and Eco-mobilier collaborate for tackling next-level PU mattress foam recycling
13.12.2021
Materials manufacturer Covestro and Eco-mobilier, a French eco-organization and non-profit extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemer for the collection and recycling of used furniture, aspire to generate enhanced value aiming at mattresses and upholsteries.
Air Liquide and BASF welcome support from European Innovation Fund for joint CCS project
13.12.2021
Air Liquide and BASF are planning to develop the world's largest cross-border Carbon Capture and Storage value chain. The goal is to significantly reduce CO2 emissions at the industrial cluster in the port of Antwerp. The joint project has been selected for funding by the European Commission through its Innovation Fund, as one of the seven large-scale projects out of more than 300 applications.
Microfliers: Polymers on a mission for the environment
10.12.2021
They are the size of a grain of sand and resemble trundling maple seeds: the flying microchips that researchers at Northwestern University have now developed. In the future, they should make it possible to monitor air pollution or airborne diseases. Polymers play a fundamental role in this. John Rogers tells us more in an interview with K-MAG.
Scientific Council of K 2022 convenes First Meeting
08.12.2021
Renewable energies, resource-saving processes, climate neutrality – rising to major challenges is key. These global tasks require creative minds, innovative technologies and high-performance materials.
Program aims to help students tackle the challenges of plastics waste
07.12.2021
Plastics waste presents a major challenge for humanity. There are many innovative people taking impactful action to address this issue, but their efforts are often on a small scale or overlooked, with no good means to scale them to make a significant difference.
How a bacterium may help solve the plastic pollution crisis
06.12.2021
Plastic pollution is one of the most pressing environmental issues of our time. The accumulation of petroleum-based plastics is having devastating effects on our environment, wildlife and human health. Researchers revealed a bacterium that is not only able to degrade difficult-to-recycle petroleum-based plastics but can also sustainably produce more environmentally friendly biodegradable plastics.
Track and trace system as an answer to encourage reusable packaging
06.12.2021
The digital economy can help us prevent packaging waste, say researchers at Lancaster University and University of St Andrews, who are working with the founders of Reath, a start-up business based in Edinburgh, with a mission to build the digital infrastructure for reuse.
Plastics recycling deadlines loom – will companies meet their goals?
06.12.2021
Many of the world's largest consumer product companies, including Cocoa-Cola, Unilever and PepsiCo, have set ambitious targets for replacing virgin plastics with recycled ones – typically 25 percent of their total packaging by 2025. So far, however, most companies have made only modest progress and will need to ramp up their efforts to reach these lofty goals.
Commercially viable production of climate-neutral plastic is possible
01.12.2021
Since the early 1950s, plastics have found their way into almost every area of modern life. Between 1964 and 2014, plastic consumption increased twentyfold, from 15 to 311 million tonnes per year. Not only has environmental pollution from plastic waste increased during this time, but the amount of petroleum its manufacture consumes is large, as are the associated greenhouse gas emissions.
Special concrete additive made in Costa Rica
29.11.2021
The Center for Regenerative Design and Collaboration (CRDC) in Costa Rica aims to turn plastic waste into a valuable resource for the construction industry.
Digital marketplace for recyclates: cirplus networks entire value chain
25.11.2021
Sometimes you have to see a problem with your own eyes – or feel it with your own feet – to want to do something about it. At least that's how it was for Christian Schiller, who launched cirplus, a digital marketplace for recyclates.
COVID-19 and plastics: How the pandemic highlights the need for sustainable waste disposal
22.11.2021
The COVID-19 pandemic caused an explosive increase in the demand of disposable plastic products, stalled the implementation of sustainable policies, and evidenced the inherent problems of today's waste management schemes. Now, scientists comment on the necessary courses of action for governments, industries, researchers and consumers to help us transition to a sustainable plastic circular economy.
What recycled plastic can do: Blocks made from biocomposites for the "Classrooms of Hope" in Indonesia
17.11.2021
There is much discussion these days about the circular economy, and the means for incorporating plastics into this model. Recycling a used plastic bottle back into a clean, new bottle has some obvious environmental advantages. But a much more impactful model, in many cases, would involve turning tons of discarded plastics into products with a very long lifespan.
Scientists develop films with tunable elongation and fracture for various uses
08.11.2021
Elastomers, or elastic polymers, materials with high elasticity, are widely used for applications in industries, such as automotive, manufacturing, and oil and gas.
A new approach for recycling plastics
08.11.2021
Two EPFL engineers have come up with a revolutionary new method for tackling plastic pollution by harnessing the inner workings of proteins. The result? A whole new way of looking at plastic recycling.
URI launches 'Plastics: Land to Sea' web platform
08.11.2021
A new University of Rhode Island web platform, "Plastics: Land to Sea," has been launched to provide the science community with a burgeoning array of data resources and tools designed to inform and support dialogue concerning research focused efforts to start addressing plastics pollution. The platform can be found at: plastics.uri.edu.
Effective deconstruction of polyurethane by catalyst based on earth-abundant metal
08.11.2021
Polyurethane (PU) is one of the most versatile thermoset synthetic polymers which through careful choice of monomer and formulation, can be seen in a myriad of different forms ranging from rigid-, flexible and molded foams to adhesives and elastomers just to name a few.
Recycling: PolyWaste technology wants to make the term "plastic waste" obsolete
03.11.2021
It's no secret, and yet the numbers are shocking: less than one-tenth of the total amount of plastic produced to date has been recycled. Currently, the rate is 14 percent worldwide. A full 32 percent ends up in the environment. This urgently needs to change – which is what the Australian company PlasTech Recycling Limited thought as well. And so they developed an innovative technology.
NYU chemist receives Department of Energy grant for plastic "upcycling" research
02.11.2021
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded Tianning Diao, associate professor of chemistry at New York University, with funding for research on "upcycling" poly(acrylic acid), a plastic component commonly used in household products. Diao and her lab will work to develop chemical methods to repurpose the polymer as new functional materials.
3D nano-inks push industry boundaries
02.11.2021
Mechanical engineering researchers at Michigan Technological University have created a way to make a 3D-printable nanocomposite polymeric ink that uses carbon nanotubes (CNTs) — known for their high tensile strength and lightness. This revolutionary ink could replace epoxies — and understanding why its properties are so fantastic is a first step toward its mass use.
Water meets cellulose: Environmentally friendly plastic made from hydroplastic polymers
27.10.2021
Researchers at the University of Göttingen have developed a new method to create environmentally friendly bioplastics from renewable raw materials.
Simple thermoset plastic recycling using a peptide solution
25.10.2021
Epoxy resin is a type of thermoset resin commonly used in glue, paint and composite materials. NIMS and ISMA have developed a new thermoset plastic recycling system capable of easily decomposing epoxy resins in an aqueous solution of a naturally derived peptide.
Maritime rope could be adding billions of microplastics to the ocean every year
25.10.2021
The hauling of rope on maritime vessels could result in billions of microplastic fragments entering the ocean every year, according to new research. The study, by the University of Plymouth's International Marine Litter Research Unit, is the first to explore the potential for rope to become a source of microplastic pollution in the marine environment.
Fraunhofer IGB
Greenhouse gases headed for sustainability: How CO2 is turning into plastic
22.10.2021
Carbon dioxide is driving climate change. To combat it, emissions must be reduced. Fraunhofer researchers have developed an approach to use the climate gas as a raw material for plastics.
NSF EPSCoR grant will advance manufacturing of renewable and recyclable plastics
18.10.2021
Plastics are an indispensable part of today's society. These nimble polymers help keep foods fresh, cars safe, arteries clog-free and have countless other uses. But the benefits come at a cost. Each year millions of tons of discarded plastic pollute ecosystems, harm animals and exacerbate climate change.
Research guides future of plastic waste chemical recycling
18.10.2021
New research from Cornell University aims to ease the process of chemical recycling – an emerging industry that could turn waste products back into natural resources by physically breaking plastic down into the smaller molecules it was originally produced from.
$25 million investment in polymer upcycling research to reduce plastics waste
12.10.2021
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced $25 million in funding for 10 research projects to build the scientific foundations for new technology solutions that reuse discarded plastics to make valuable products and reduce plastics waste.
"If you never ask, you'll never know" – traineeship in plastics extrusion
12.10.2021
There is a desperate need for skilled workers in the plastics industry. Yet the industry has a lot to offer. Reifenhäuser GmbH also proves this with its diverse range of training programs.
Electrosynthesis: preventing cathodic corrosion
12.10.2021
Sustainability is an important issue in business and industry these days. Many companies recognize the need to find the best possible climate-neutral solutions for manufacturing their products and reduce their output of pollutants. This means they are looking for manufacturing options that do not require the use of fossil raw materials.
Degradation of biobased plastics in the soil
06.10.2021
The idea of biodegradable plastics sounds good at first. However, very little is known about how they are degraded in the soil and how this is influenced by climate change. In two recent studies, soil ecologists have shown which microbial community is responsible for degradation, what role the climate plays in this process, and why biodegradable plastics could still be problematic.
Bringing back the good name – a museum of plastic about plastic
06.10.2021
In May 2021, another museum of a special kind was created in front of the Reina Sofía Museum in Madrid: a Plastic Museum. It was not just a museum ABOUT plastic, but MADE OF plastic. The media response to the campaign of the EsPlásticos association was huge.
Sunlight can break down marine plastic into tens of thousands of chemical compounds
05.10.2021
Sunlight was once thought to only fragment plastics in the marine environment into smaller particles that chemically resemble the original material and persist forever. However, scientists more recently have learned that sunlight also chemically transforms plastic into a suite of polymer-, dissolved-, and gas-phased products.
The road to the future? New ways with used plastics
30.09.2021
Viewing used plastic not as waste but as a material can reduce the problem of littered oceans. One promising approach is its use in road construction.
Michael Davies
28.09.2021
Technical and Marketing Manager, Dover Chemical Corporation
The BPF Launches Online Recycling Resource with PlasticsEurope & RECOUP
22.09.2021
The British Plastics Federation (BPF), in conjunction with PlasticsEurope and RECOUP, has launched a new online recycling resource kit aimed at educating students about recycling plastics and the science of polymers.
Practice makes perfect – playfully educating children on the world of plastics
21.09.2021
The demand for skilled workers in the so-called MINT professions is constantly increasing. The plastics industry is also feeling the effects of this. PlasticsEurope's declared goal is therefore to promote STEM education in schools.
Microplastics from recyclable plastics on the rise
15.09.2021
Recyclable plastic has been recorded on popular beaches and urban watercourses in Adelaide, South Australia – highlighting the need for more efforts to remove and reuse all plastics from waste streams, particularly in urban areas.
RECOUP win innovate UK funding for plastics recycling communications research
09.09.2021
Charity, and leading plastics recycling organisation, RECOUP, have secured a grant from Innovate UK, the UK's innovation agency, to co-fund an industry-led communications and behaviour change research project in Kent.
ERDE Recycling fullfills voluntary commitment and collects over 50% of agricultural films
09.09.2021
Once more, the IK initiative ERDE (Crop Plastics Recycling Germany) was able to significantly increase its collection volumes in 2020. At 543 fixed collection points and 1936 mobile collections, a total of 26,910 tons of agricultural films were collected and recycled.
New method developed to solve plastics sustainability problem
03.09.2021
Plastics sustainability has come a long way in recent years thanks in large part to scientific advances. But even as plastics become more and more environmentally friendly, the world continues to be polluted as many industries rely on them for their widely used products.
Material development: getting there faster with co-pilot AI
24.08.2021
General conditions for chemical and materials companies are changing rapidly. But the thorough research, development and commercialization of new materials can be lengthy. AI can accelerate this process.
Eco-friendly plastic from cellulose and water
16.08.2021
Plastics offer many benefits to society and are widely used in our daily life. However, the production, processing and disposal of plastics are simply not sustainable, and pose a major global threat to the environment and human health. Eco-friendly processing of reusable and recyclable plastics derived from plant-based raw materials would be an ideal solution.
3D printing plastic yourself: students educate themselves about plastics in workshops
16.08.2021
Precisely because plastic is such a versatile material, future generations must also be taught how to use and recycle it responsibly.
Stand-up paddle board made from renewable lightweight materials
16.08.2021
Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Wood Research, Wilhelm-Klauditz-Institut, WKI, want to replace plastic boards with sustainable sports equipment: They are developing a stand-up paddle board that is made from one hundred percent renewable raw materials. The ecological lightweight material can be used in many ways, such as in the construction of buildings, cars and ships.
Bio-based coating for wood better than traditional synthetic options
09.08.2021
Due to the global efforts to meet sustainability standards, many countries are currently looking to replace concrete with wood in buildings. France, for example, will require that all new public buildings will be made from at least 50 percent wood or other sustainable materials starting in 2022.
Circular Economy: using digital tools to produce high-quality recyclates
03.08.2021
Only a small percentage of materials currently used in plastic processing are recyclates. Yet these secondary plastics are in no way of inferior quality to virgin material. The culprit is often a lack of data and poor communication between recyclers and plastic manufacturers. Digital solutions can help close material cycles in the plastics industry.
Carbon dioxide as a raw material for plastics and other products
03.08.2021
Carbon dioxide is one of the main drivers of climate change – which means that we need to reduce Carbon dioxide emissions in the future. Fraunhofer researchers are highlighting a possible way to lower these emissions: They use the greenhouse gas as a raw material, for instance to produce plastics.
Can biodegradable polymers live up to the hype?
03.08.2021
As consumers and corporations alike become more environmentally conscious, the chemical industry is working to find solutions to the plastic waste crisis. One idea is to use biodegradable polymers known as polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) as replacements for traditional plastic packaging and other materials.
Sensor-based symphony: sorting and recycling in perfect harmony
30.07.2021
What can be recycled, and what can't? Sorting waste is a challenge – for both people and machines. TOMRA, pioneer in this field has introduced its new generation AUTOSORT in 2020 under the motto "Symphony of all sorts". This is intended to take the plastics industry a big step further towards sustainability.
Röchling BioBoom: bioplastics make cars greener
27.07.2021
Alongside many other industries, the automotive sector is also moving in the green direction. Electromobility is booming. However, plastics produced from non-renewable raw materials such as petroleum are also installed in e-cars. Röchling Automotive has recognized the need for bioplastics that meet the high requirements for automotive applications – and has developed BioBoom.
'Plugging in' to produce environmentally friendly bioplastics
26.07.2021
Bioplastics – biodegradable plastics made from biological substances rather than petroleum – can be created in a more economical and environmentally friendly way from the byproducts of corn stubble, grasses and mesquite agricultural production, according to a new study by a Texas A&M AgriLife Research scientist.
Walmir Soller
22.07.2021
CEO Braskem Netherlands BV & Vice President Olefins/Polyolefins Europe and Asia
Recycling robot could help solve soft plastic waste crisis
19.07.2021
Despite an improvement in plastic recycling in recent years, landfill is a growing issue. Soft plastics like cling wrap and plastic bags are a major contributor to the problem, with 94 percent going to landfill in 2016-17.
Fraunhofer, SABIC, and Procter & Gamble join forces in closed-loop recycling pilot project
12.07.2021
The Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence Circular Plastics Economy CCPE and its Institute for Environmental, Safety and Energy Technology UMSICHT have developed an advanced recycling process for used plastics. The pilot project with SABIC and Procter & Gamble serves to demonstrate the feasibility of closed-loop recycling for single-use facemasks.
Supercomputer to help researchers develop more sustainable tires
12.07.2021
The environment around us is exposed to many different synthetic microparticles, potentially harmful for plants and animals. Some of these particles come from car tires and road surfaces and are generated when we drive.
Benjamin Von Wong: "I make your impact unforgettable."
08.07.2021
We love plastic. It is versatile, lightweight, durable – and sustainable, as long as it gets recycled or reused. Carelessly discarded in nature, (disposable) plastic products not only give the material a bad image, but above all lead to massive environmental problems. This is precisely the issue that Canadian artist Benjamin Von Wong has addressed.
Bacteria serves tasty solution to global plastic crisis
05.07.2021
Scientists have devised a novel way of tackling the mounting issue of plastic pollution – by using bacteria to transform plastic waste into vanilla flavoring
Vegan spider silk provides sustainable alternative to single-use plastics
05.07.2021
Researchers have created a plant-based, sustainable, scalable material that could replace single-use plastics in many consumer products.
Fraunhofer and the Technical University of Ostrava start German-Czech research collaboration for sustainable production
01.07.2021
In the scope of a future-oriented collaboration in the field of industrial production, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft is cooperating with the VSB – Technical University of Ostrava (VSB-TUO). The partners research and develop the potential offered by energy management technologies, artificial intelligence (AI) and intelligent production in industry.
Mardianto Adiguno
17.06.2021
Aegis Packaging Pte Ltd
Woodly Ltd. has raised EUR 3 million in growth funding
15.06.2021
Woodly Ltd., Finnish developer of wood based plastic, has raised EUR 3 million in growth funding for the commercialisation and internationalisation of their product innovation.
Bacteria-sized robots take on microplastics and win by breaking them down
15.06.2021
Small pieces of plastic are everywhere, stretching from urban environments to pristine wilderness. Left to their own devices, it can take hundreds of years for them to degrade completely.
Sustainable packaging: towards a circular economy in the Asian market
09.06.2021
Polypropylene recycling from carpet waste
07.06.2021
A significant part of carpet waste consists of petroleum-based polypropylene. As a non-recyclable product, disposing of it has previously meant incineration or landfill. However, a new solvent is now making it possible to recover virgin-standard polypropylene from carpet waste — with no perceptible reduction in quality.
Grass replaces plastic in take-away food packaging
01.06.2021
Soon, packaging for take-away foods might be completely based on local, sustainable materials instead of fossil-based products. In a new research project, a packaging solution based on upcycled grass fibres is being developed.
New technology converts waste plastics to jet fuel in an hour
01.06.2021
Catalytic process to efficiently convert polyethylene to jet fuel and high-value lubricants
Cleaning up the polluted edge of the world: Lindner and Comberplast recycle fishing nets
31.05.2021
Presented at K 2019 in Düsseldorf and now used to clean up the edge of the world: Lindner Recyclingtech’s Micromat 1500. Circular economy pioneer Comberplast has been using the machine to successfully shred old fishing nets and ropes collected from the coast of Patagonia.
VYTAL: the first digital reusable system for Take Away
27.05.2021
Today, the kitchen stays cold: if you don't feel like cooking, you simply have something delivered. However, the meals often come in disposable packaging that only has a short lifespan. This bothered the founders of VYTAL, who developed a deposit-free reusable system. They prove that plastic and sustainability are not necessarily mutually exclusive.
Today's waste becomes tomorrow's resource: "Waste4Future" paves new ways for plastics recycling
17.05.2021
A sustainable society with climate-neutral processes requires significant adjustments in the value chains, which are only possible through innovations. Seven Fraunhofer Institutes are pooling their expertise in the lighthouse project Waste4Future to develop new solutions for this goal, from the raw material base to material flows and process engineering right to the end of a product's life cycle.
Fraunhofer researchers develop recyclable, fiber-reinforced material made from 100 percent bio-based polylactic acid
17.05.2021
The Fraunhofer IAP wants to develop a composite material that consists entirely of bio-based polylactic acid (PLA) and is significantly easier to recycle than conventional fiber composites.
New process makes 'biodegradable' plastics truly compostable
11.05.2021
Most compostable plastics, made primarily of the polyester known as polylactic acid end up in landfills and last as long as forever plastics. University of California scientists have now invented a way to make these compostable plastics break down more easily, with just heat and water, within a few weeks, solving a problem that has flummoxed the plastics industry and environmentalists.
Plastic components with longer service life
10.05.2021
23 percent of global energy consumption can be attributed to friction losses. In the case of plastics, reduced friction can also reduce microplastics in the environment. With the development of microcapsules filled with liquid lubricants for plastics, the Potsdam Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP and the Plastics Center SKZ in Würzburg are supporting these goals.
Industry 4.0: "We should seize opportunities and create added digital value"
04.05.2021
The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the rise of the digital workplace. This also applies to industry in general, where massive amounts of data are collected from countless sources. The so-called Fourth Industrial Revolution (or Industry 4.0) aims to use this data to gain actionable insights and target the development of marketable products, technologies, and services.
Chemists create renewable plant-based polymers
03.05.2021
Researchers at the Laboratory of Cluster Catalysis at St Petersburg University have synthesised polymers from biomass. What makes them different is that they can be easily recycled.
It's snowing plastic
03.05.2021
The snow may be melting, but it is leaving pollution behind in the form of micro- and nano-plastics according to a McGill study that was recently published in Environmental Pollution. The pollution is largely due to the relatively soluble plastics found in antifreeze products (polyethylene glycols) that can become airborne and picked up by the snow.
Earth Day 2021: plastics industry vs. climate change
16.04.2021
April 22 is Earth Day. "Restore Our Earth" is the international motto of the action day in 2021. The plastics industry in particular can and must do its part to end environmental pollution and restore the earth to health. Since it was founded over 50 years ago, Earth Day has grown to become a worldwide environmental action day in around 200 countries.
PRISM – a data platform for the circular economy
06.04.2021
In mid-December, U.S. IT company IBM announced it had joined the Alliance to End Plastic Waste. Together, they are designing the PRISM platform – a unified ecosystem of NGOs, the plastic value chain participants, communities, regulators, and any organization looking to deploy and improve waste management decisions and programs.
A mild way to upcycle plastics used in bottles into fuel and other high-value products
01.04.2021
Plastic is ubiquitous in people's lives. Yet, when plastic-containing items have fulfilled their missions, only a small amount is recycled into new products, which are often of lower quality compared to the original material. And, transforming this waste into high-value chemicals requires substantial energy.
Fabricating the future with a new environment friendly method of polymerization
01.04.2021
Many materials in the modern world are constructed of polymers. Given their ubiquity and the evolving requirements of our world, finding better and more efficient methods of making them is an ongoing research concern. In addition, current environmental issues necessitate the use of methods and input materials that are environment friendly.
New biodegradable polyurethane foams are developed from wheat straw
01.04.2021
Every year around 734 million tons of wheat straw are produced worldwide, a large amount of waste, which is cheap and has had no well-defined use until now. Recently, research groups at the University of Córdoba have been able to give a new use to this agricultural excess material, by using it as the foundation in order to manufacture polyurethane foams.
Catalyst transforms plastic waste to valuable ingredients at low temperature
01.04.2021
For the first time, researchers have used a novel catalyst process to recycle a type of plastic found in everything from grocery bags and food packaging to toys and electronics into liquid fuels and wax.
The expanding possibilities of bio-based polymers
01.04.2021
Finding innovative and sustainable solutions to our material needs is one of the core objectives of green chemistry. The myriad plastics that envelop our daily life – from mattresses to food and cars - are mostly made from oil-based monomers which are the building blocks of polymers.
The pandemic will not stop the circular economy
22.03.2021
In the current crisis the sustainable use of resources is not centre stage. The top priority now is to do everything to overcome it. However, the pandemic also shows that the use of plastics must be improved if the world is not to be inundated by waste.
Sustainable Polyurethanes in your shoebox
18.03.2021
People around the world want embrace sustainability – a new mindset that also affects the fashion industry. But how can you make shoes that have been made with lots of plastic in recent decades more sustainable? Covestro is a world-leading supplier of high-quality polyurethane and teamed up with the Brazilian shoe manufacturer Calçados Beira Rio to put its best foot forward and create a solution.
Trinseo announces price increase in Europe
02.03.2021
Trinseo announces price increase for Polystyrene, Polycarbonate and Copolymers in Europe.
Milliken & Company announces acquisition of Zebra-chem
01.03.2021
Milliken & Company, a global diversified manufacturer with more than a century and a half of materials science expertise, has formally acquired Zebra-chem GmbH, a global chemicals company known for its peroxide and blowing agent masterbatches.
A strong alliance to end "Marine Litter"
24.02.2021
The pollution caused by debris and trash that ends up in oceans, seas, or other large bodies of water ("marine litter") is a challenge, experts around the world are working hard to address. It is undeniably a global concern we must tackle. The plastics industry takes an active role in getting to the bottom of the problem and creating solutions. It pays special attention to "microplastics".
Do not flush this down the toilet!
31.01.2021
The toilet may be inside the house, but it directs everything that is disposed in it, eventually, into the environment. Therefore, the toilet is not part of the municipal waste collection system.
Eliminating microplastics in wastewater directly at the source
18.01.2021
At the Institut national de la recherche scientifique, Professor Patrick Drogui’s research team has developed a process for the electrolytic treatment of wastewater that degrades microplastics at the source.
Plastics – Key Materials for Sustainable Development
09.12.2020
Interview and Abstract by Reinhold W. Lang Institute for Polymeric Materials and Testing Johannes Kepler University (JKU) Linz, Austria
Sustainable nylon production made possible by bacteria discovery
24.08.2020
Nylon manufacture could be revolutionised by the discovery that bacteria can make a key chemical involved in the process, without emitting harmful greenhouse gases.
Plastics make the mannequins’ world go round!
22.05.2020
Display mannequin manufacturers have not only been creative in terms of design. Resource-saving operations have also ranked very high on their agendas for years. There has been in-depth research in developing materials and processes and plastics continue to play a leading role.
Better drinking water thanks to plastics
20.05.2020
Around 2.2 billion people do not have an access to clean drinking water, although two thirds of the earth is covered with water. However, more than 97 percent of it is inedible salt water. So drinking water is a very rare commodity on earth. However, drinking water can be obtained from salt water. Polymeres could help.
Upcycling spongy plastic foams from shoes, mattresses and insulation
12.05.2020
Researchers have developed a new method for upcycling polyurethane foams, the spongy material found in mattresses, insulation, furniture cushions and shoes.
Watch out – there's a danger of infection! But: what are we supposed to do with the rubber gloves?
28.04.2020
Many people are convinced that they can protect themselves against SARS-CoV-2 with disposable gloves made from polymer materials and with a face mask that is polymer-coated on the inside. But what happens when the "confrontation" is over? Rubber gloves and face masks are, however, designed to be used just once, so that they land – or should land – in the garbage can.
Water replaces toxins: Green production of plastics
21.04.2020
Although organic plastics are not harmful to the environment themselves, toxic substances are often used during their synthesis. TU Wien shows - there is another way.
Alastair Curtis
30.06.2019
Chief Design Officer, Logitech
Alexis Olans Haass
30.06.2019
Director Sustainability, adidas PURPOSE
Sean Carney
30.06.2019
Chief Design Officer, Philips