Posts by Biobased Maine
“Time Running out for Maine to Cash in on Biobased…” Portland Press Herald.
Time running out for Maine to cash in on ‘biobased’ products, advocates say
Read MoreJUNE 3 PLANTS TO PRODUCTS FORUM
Partner with Biobased Maine as we bring together business leaders, manufacturers, technology companies, and other key stakeholders to network and discuss the potential for Maine to help respond to the rising global demand for products made from plants, not petroleum. BUY TICKETS NOW! 2016 PLANTS TO PRODUCTS FORUM Where: Maine Standard Biofuels 51 Ingersoll Drive, Portland, Maine When:…
Read MoreQ-Team Tree Service Awarded MTI Tech Start Grant
Q-Team Tree Service’s Biomass Torrefaction Facility project was recently awarded a $5,000 Tech Start grant from the Maine Technology Institute. Q-Team Tree Service, a member of Biobased Maine, will convert wood waste from its tree service operations to higher-value biocarbon products through gasification and torrefaction. This process involves roasting biomass at a high temperature without…
Read MoreIowa Biobased Chemical Road Map Useful for Maine
Iowa recently published a road map to biobased chemicals, which is a useful resource to inform Maine’s efforts to advance biobased manufacturing. The report, “Biobased Chemicals: The Iowa Opportunity” echoes a vision similar to our own, that “alternative value-added bioproducts are important for further growth of the biomanufacturing industry…” Conclusions reached by the Iowa report that are…
Read MorePlastics to Outweigh Fish in Oceans by 2050
A new report published by the World Economic Forum, “The New Plastics Economy: Rethinking the future of plastics” highlights the true cost of our reliance on petrochemical plastics. According to the report, after just one use, 95% of the value of plastic packaging is lost to the economy. And much of it ends up in the…
Read MoreWelcome New Member Casella Organics
Casella Organics is a Northeast leader in the beneficial use and recycling of organic and mineral resources. According to Jen McDonnell, Casella Organic’s Director of Sales & Marketing, “Casella Organics joined Biobased Maine because we believe that resource optimization and innovation is the key to Maine’s future. Biobased products are central to sustainable circular economies and we embrace…
Read MoreWelcome New Member OUR KATAHDIN
Our Katahdin is an all-volunteer nonprofit organization working to promote community and economic development in the Katahdin region. Our Katahdin’s three areas of focus include community development, entrepreneur development, and industry development. In the spirit of bringing people and funding together to move the region and its communities forward, Our Katahdin has developed a crowdfunding…
Read MoreBooming Global Bioplastics Market
Here at Biobased Maine, we’re always saying that there’s a rising global demand for biobased products. This is absolutely true. Just ask us for numbers and data if you’re curious about the “demand” we’re talking about. One of the fastest growing areas is bioplastics, particularly for the food and beverage market. Here’s the latest: The…
Read MoreWar on Plastic Won with Trees?
Bloomberg recently published an article entitled, “War on Plastics Will Be Won With Trees, Stora Enso CEO Says” Stora Enso, a global pulp and paper company, is making the shift to biomaterials, and its CEO makes some interesting points, such as: (1) Anything you can make with petrochemicals (derived from crude oil and natural gas),…
Read MoreHigher-Value Products from Wood
The temporarily low cost of oil means that biomass plants are shutting down because wood can’t compete with cheap oil. Recently, shut-downs of the West Enfield and Jonesboro biomass plants were announced. There’s also a glut of softwood pulp. California is experiencing a similar situation with its biomass plants, which can’t compete with solar. Yet…
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