article thumbnail

CSU Announces Redesigned “Dream” Biodegradable Plastics

Brag

While they are biodegradable in the ambient environment, they are brittle and cannot easily be melt-processed and recycled. CSU states that PHAs are a class of polymers naturally created by living microorganisms or synthetically produced from biorenewable feedstocks.

article thumbnail

Climate change is the greatest design problem of our time. Mushrooms to the rescue?

Environmental News Bits

Mycelium offers an exciting change to upcycle agricultural waste into a low-cost, sustainable, biodegradable construction material. Read the full story at Fast Company. Even NASA wants to use mycelium on Mars. Read more →

Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

article thumbnail

DOE Publishes New Strategy for Plastics Innovation

Brag

This is further complicated by the need for more robust processes that can convert diverse and contaminated plastic waste streams into useful chemical intermediates that can be upcycled into high-value products.

article thumbnail

Save the peels: How bananas can be used to fight the plastic waste crisis

Environmental News Bits

How can banana peels help fight the plastic waste crisis?

Waste 40
article thumbnail

From Dust You Were Made, From Dust You Shall Return: On Human Composting & Upcycling (in some cases)

Acoel

Natural organic reduction – also known as ‘terramation’ — involves placing a dead body in a reusable vessel with biodegradable materials such as wood chips and straw, that aid in its transformation into nutrient-rich soil. Yes, pun intended.

article thumbnail

DOE Invests On Next Generation Plastics Technologies

Brag

The selected R&D projects, led by industry and universities, will focus on converting plastic films into more valuable materials and designing new plastics that are more recyclable and biodegradable. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. ” According to DOE’s EERE, less than ten percent of plastics are recycled currently.

article thumbnail

DOE Announces Investment In R&D For Plastic Recycling Technologies

Brag

There are many obstacles to plastic film recycling, including collection, sorting, contamination, and lack of economically viable methods for recycling and upcycling.