In a recent Letter to the Editor of Portland Press Herald, Biobased Maine’s Executive Director, Charlotte Mace, agrees with the paper’s June 21 article entitled “Biobased products seen as vital for Maine’s growth,” and points out that businesses in Maine eager to learn more about biobased can rely on the growing trade association, Biobased Maine,…

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Europe’s first pilot plant for nanocellulose is being planned by MoRe Research, along with the Swedish pulp and paper company Holmen, and the SP Technical Research Institute. The pilot plant will be based on technology developed by Melodea, as Israeli-based startup that is working to extract nanocellulose from the pulp and paper process. The pilot plant…

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What’s the connection between biobased and climate change? Biobased materials have a significantly lower carbon footprint than materials made from petroleum. Learn more about how the future of Maine’s economy is closely linked with climate change on June 12 at the Envision Maine Event, “Maine’s Economy & Climate Change: Challenges & Opportunities” at Bowdoin College.

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What’s the connection between biobased and climate change? Biobased materials have a significantly lower carbon footprint than materials made from petroleum. Learn more about how the future of Maine’s economy is closely linked with climate change on June 12 at the Envision Maine Event, “Maine’s Economy & Climate Change: Challenges & Opportunities” at Bowdoin College.

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Bioplastics will continue to command a larger share of the global plastics market, according to a recent report called “Bio-plastics Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2014 to 2020” published by Research and Markets. Here are some highlights from this report: Global bioplastics market drivers: Growing beverage packaging industry Government urging to purchase biobased materials Rising consumer acceptance/demand…

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Rayonier Advanced Materials  recently announced a joint venture with Borregaard ASA to manufacture natural lignin-based products at its Florida facility. Lignin, a natural component of wood, is typically used for its energy properties (i.e., it’s burned as fuel). This joint venture would instead convert lignin into higher-value products that are more environmentally-friendly than products typically made from…

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Globally, the market for biobased chemicals is growing in leaps and bounds.  According to a recent report published by the National Research Council, the U.S. is on track to experience an upsurge in biobased chemicals even larger than anticipated. According to the Council’s report, “Industrialization of Biology: A Roadmap to Accelerate the Advanced Manufacturing of…

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Cascades, a multinational paper making company, just announced that it’s investing $26M in an innovative, biorefinery technology at its Norampac-Cabano facility – the extraction of hemicellulose from wood chips. Hemicellulose, a natural polymer found in plant cell walls, is also called “cellulosic sugar.” It can be sold as a commodity or converted to advanced biofuels (ethanol) or…

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