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The Guardian, “Researchers Race to Make Bioplastics from Straw and Food Waste” Imperial College London, “New Enzyme Boost Could Hasten Biofuel Production” GreenBiz, “Ambitious Alliance Mobilizes Value Chain for Bio-Based Polymers”

By Lynn L. Bergeson On July 16, 2018, Anellotech and Suntory announced that a new milestone had been reached in developing a 100 percent biobased plastic bottle. Anellotech is using a thermal catalytic process called Bio-TCatTM to confirm non-food based feedstocks into BTX aromatics, renewable chemicals that are structurally identical to traditional plastic components.  The BTX is now undergoing purification studies to make bio-paraxylene, a key chemical for the renewable bottles....

Plastics Insight, “EU-Funded Researchers to Develop Eco-Friendly Bio-Based Materials for Aircraft” Biomass Magazine, “ISO Committee Advances Development of Standards for Solid Biofuel” University of Portsmouth, “John McGeehan Key Player in Discovery of ‘Promiscuous’ Enzyme That Converts Plant Waste into...

By Lynn L. Bergeson On July 5, 2018, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd announced that it had developed a 100 percent biobased, thermally formable, biodegradable material, that is suitable for furniture applications.  This product is an attractive alternative to wood and other biocomposite materials that are already available in the market, with the added benefit of formality and coloring properties.  "All the goals we set were achieved: the material is 100% bio-based,...

By Lynn L. Bergeson On July 10, 2018, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Office of Procurement and Property Management announced it was amending the Guidelines for Designating Biobased Products for Federal Procurement to add 12 sections that designate product categories within which biobased products will be afforded federal procurement preference by federal agencies and their contractors via a final rule.  83 Fed. Reg. 31841.  The Federal Register publication...

CosmeticsDesign, “Personal Care Ingredient Maker Green Biologics Teams with Marianna Industries and Sally Beauty on Bio-Based Acetone Nail Polish Remover” Bio-Based World News, “The Mango-Based Packaging That's Four-Times More Effective Than a Fossil Alternative” Ohio's Country Journal, “OBIC Bioproducts Innovation Center Launches Awareness...

By Lynn L. Bergeson On June 19, 2018, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (National Academies) published a press release announcing the availability of a final report entitled Biodefense in the Age of Synthetic Biology.  According to the National Academies, the final report concludes that “[s]ynthetic biology expands the possibilities for creating new weapons -- including making existing bacteria and viruses more harmful -- while decreasing the time...

On June 18, 2018, Richard E. Engler, Ph.D., Director of Chemistry, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®) and The Acta Group (Acta®), presented “New TSCA and Green Chemistry Innovation” at the American Chemical Society’s (ACS) Green Chemistry & Engineering Conference in Portland, Oregon. This presentation covered specific changes to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and the impact of those changes for new chemicals, including innovative “green”...

By Lynn L. Bergeson On June 18, 2018, DOE’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO)-funded Algae Technology Educational Consortium (ATEC) announced its first graduates from the algal certificate program at Santa Fe Community College in Santa Fe, New Mexico.  DOE states that these first ATEC graduates “received their Associate Applied Science Degree in Controlled Environment Agriculture with a certificate in Algae Cultivation” on May 12, 2018. The program was conceptualized...

Lynn L. Bergeson, Richard E. Engler, Ph.D., And Susan M. Kirsch Contribute To ABA SEER’s The Year In Review 2017: Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®) is pleased to announce the publication of The Year in Review 2017: Environment, Energy, and Resources Law by the American Bar Association (ABA) Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources (SEER). The Year in Review 2017 provides an annual summary of developments in environmental, energy, and resources law....