Nitrile and latex gloves that scientists wear while they are measuring microplastics may lead to a potential overestimation of the tiny pollutants, according to a University of Michigan (U-M) study. The study found that gloves may unintentionally contaminate lab equipment scientists use to measure microplastics in air, water and other samples with nonplastic particles called stearates. U-M researchers Madeline Clough and Anne McNeil suggest cleanroom gloves, which release few

Non-edible rice bran touted as an alternative sustainable raw material in place of lignite for these engineering plastics lubricants and nucleators. Montan waxes, extracted from lignite, are a key additive input for engineering plastic compounds widely used in the automotive, electronics, and medical device industries and much more. They function as lubricants and nucleators in the processing of engineering plastics. With lignite being resources being rapidly depleted in in G

The EU-funded BioSupPack project has demonstrated that brewery waste can be transformed into high-performance bioplastics for sustainable packaging. Over five years, the 18-member consortium developed and validated polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA and PHB) materials and production processes that offer viable alternatives to fossil-based plastics while supporting compliance with the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). Six innovation results At a demonstrative scale an

Citroniq and Premier Product Marketing, a Vinmar company, have announced a 15-year binding offtake agreement for the supply of OrganiqPP resins, the world’s only 100% biogenic, carbon-negative polypropylene. Citroniq is a leader in carbon-negative materials, while Premier Product Marketing is a global leader in the marketing and distribution of petrochemicals and plastics. The agreement represents 50% of the planned production capacity of Citroniq’s manufacturing facility in

Rubi, the company behind pioneering enzyme-based technology that transforms carbon dioxide (CO2) into cellulose fibers for use in apparel and other industries, has announced a $7.5 million funding round and significant commercial traction, including multi-year offtake term sheets worth over $60 million with leading fashion brands and manufacturers, eight new commercial partnerships, and moving pilots into larger-scale production testing. The funding announcement follows a br