Welcome, Wednesday! Today's newsletter is full of amazing stories covering #bioplastics, batteries made from crab shells, #biomass and much more. And also, will #biotech overtake VC cash from digital tech? Read this week's feature story to find out.
Have a wonderful week.
FEATURE STORY
From data to matter: Venture Capital turns to the bioeconomy
Biomaterials can directly serve three of these: the energy transition (through biofuels), to agriculture and land use (through new bio-based farming inputs), and new materials (such as Bolt Thread’s platform for lab-cultured clothing textiles). As VC cash tightens, biotech may soon eclipse digital tech.
Battery made with crab shells offers high performance and sustainability
Using a biodegradable electrolyte made from the same substance as in crab, shrimp and lobster shells, researchers at the University of Maryland and the University of Houston have developed a sustainable zinc battery
Enviva publishes paper on the evolution of modern biomass
Enviva Inc. released a white paper titled Biomass: Unlocking a Future Beyond Fossil Fuel, discussing the further applications of biomass into industries such as steel, cement, lime, chemicals, and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), among others.
Heartland completes first industrial hemp fiber LCA for carbon negative plastic additives
Heartland has completed its Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to determine the carbon footprint of Imperium Filler from cradle to gate. This research shows that every 1 kg of Imperium Filler removes 3 kg of CO2e.
Test Valley Packaging and envoPAP reveal sugar cane waste packaging
Test Valley Packaging and envoPAP are working together to launch RAW (Reused Agricultural Waste), a line of packaging products made of by-products from sugar cane farms across India. RAW is thought to consume the same amount of energy as the production processes for paper and cardboard.
EU-backed BeonNAT Project aims to develop packaging from biomass
The Plastics Technology Centre, AIMPLAS is currently working on developing bioplastics that are suitable for active cosmetics packaging made from trees and shrubs, within the EU-funded BeonNAT Project.