9+ mon, 17+ hour ago   (293+ words) Finnish pulp and packaging group Stora Enso has partnered Krekelberg Flock Products and Flocktechniek – C&B Innovations to create a flocked version of its plastic-free wood foam, Papira. It turns the material into a three-dimensional substrate with a velvet-like surface....

9+ mon, 1+ week ago   (899+ words) In a groundbreaking study that reveals the potential of sustainable materials in modern applications, researchers led by Daniele Rossi have introduced a new method for synthesizing flexible polyurethane foams. What sets this work apart is the significant high bio-based content…...

9+ mon, 2+ week ago   (606+ words) British company Carbon Cell has used agricultural waste to make a carbon-negative and compostable alternative to polystyrene packaging and building insulation that avoids contributing to plastic pollution. Currently nearing production, Carbon Cell's self-titled product is a protective and insulating lightweight…...

10+ mon, 1+ week ago   (27+ words) Given a dozen hours, the enzyme can turn a foam pad into reusable chemicals. See full article... Polyurethane is the latest polymer broken down by designer enzymes...

10+ mon, 1+ week ago   (1009+ words) SOUTH PORTLAND — Kevin Murphy stood on the top rung of a ladder, sweeping a propane torch along plastic wrap shrouding a 22-foot boat. The torch hummed, and the pale green plastic melted into itself, bubbling and wrinkling before becoming smooth…...

10+ mon, 2+ week ago   (355+ words) A team of scientists at the University of Twente in the Netherlands has discovered a safer, cleaner way to recycle polyurethane foam — one of the world's most common and most problematic plastics. Found in everything from mattresses and furniture to…...

11+ mon, 3+ day ago   (478+ words) Plastic recycling startup Novoloop has inked a deal with a major manufacturer to produce its upcycled thermoplastic polyurethane at commercial scale, TechCrunch has exclusively learned. The agreement helps nudge the Menlo Park-based Novoloop through the so-called “valley of death” that…...

11+ mon, 2+ week ago   (452+ words) The world is facing a plastic pollution crisis that is increasingly threatening the future of our planet. An estimated 33 billion pounds of plastic enter the ocean every year — that’s roughly equivalent to dumping two garbage trucks full of plastic into…...

11+ mon, 4+ week ago   (399+ words) The next big plastic alternative doesn't come from a lab or a factory; it comes from a vineyard. Researchers have transformed discarded grapevine canes into packaging film that holds up better than plastic but breaks down in soil in just…...