Welcome to our blog, where we share insights, updates, and expert perspectives on the latest trends and innovations in sustainability and biobased material chemistry.
The Economics of Switching to Bio-Based Materials: Is Sustainability Still a Business Advantage?
For companies considering a switch from petroleum-derived materials to bio-based alternatives, the conversation often starts with sustainability. But the more important question is economic. Does
Why Strong Innovations Stall—and How to Prevent It
After more than four decades of industrial product development and commercialization, one pattern shows up repeatedly: strong ideas don’t fail because they don’t work–they fail
The Role of Agriculture in the Industrial Bioeconomy
Agriculture is the backbone of the industrial bioeconomy, supplying renewable carbon that can be transformed into fuels, chemicals, and materials. What differentiates today’s bioeconomy is
Mass Balance vs. Physical Bio-Based: Decoding the U.S. Chemical Sector’s Net-Zero Transition
Are you confused—like many across the industry and supply chain—about how U.S. chemical companies use the mass balance approach versus physical bio-based methodology in their
PFAS Restrictions and Replacements: Opportunity for Bioproduct Innovation
Poly and Per Fluoro Alkyl Substances (PFAS or “forever” chemicals) are a large chemical class characterized by having compounds with the Carbon-Fluorine bond. It is
Legislative Impacts on Sustainable Chemistry
Recent Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) policies under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), particularly those governing new chemicals, derail sustainable chemical innovation by creating disproportionate
Biomass Balance: A Practical Pathway to Sustainable Chemistry
In the evolving landscape of sustainable materials, the chemical industry is embracing innovative approaches to reduce its environmental footprint, particularly Scope 3 carbon emission or
Understanding Scope 3 Emissions in Life Cycle Analysis
In the chemical industry, understanding and managing environmental impact extends far beyond the immediate manufacturing facility. This is where Scope 3 emissions, a critical component
Green Chemistry for Sustainable Materials: The Role of Triglycerides – Part 2
In an earlier blog, we explored the chemical class of triglycerides — fats and oils that belong to the broader lipid family. Chemically, triglycerides are
Opportunities for Agricultural Biostimulants
The development of biostimulants for agricultural use presents a significant opportunity for the chemical industry, particularly as demand for sustainable and regenerative farming practices continues
Transforming Challenges into Opportunities: The Future of Sustainable Chemistry in 2025
In the wake of a challenging 2024, the chemical industry is poised for a transformative 2025, with sustainability at the forefront. According to Deloitte’s 2025
Emerging Trends in Biobased Chemistry for Personal Care
The personal care industry is entering a new era where sustainability and innovation intersect. As consumers demand products that align with their environmental values, brands
Renewable Plastics Packaging: A Collaborative Path Toward Sustainability
There is still no silver bullet for sustainable plastic packaging. While environmental sustainability goals are clear, it’s easy to focus on the challenges—ongoing development, infrastructure
Green Chemistry for Sustainable Materials: The Role of Triglycerides
The term triglyceride is a big word with a simple meaning: three fatty acids on a glycerin backbone. When triglycerides are mentioned, many people think
Navigating Chemical Regulations: Harnessing the Power of Biobased Alternatives
Sustainability and health are at the top of everyone’s mind today. One increasingly important aspect of sustainability and a healthy lifestyle is reducing exposure to
Improve Indoor Air Quality with Biobased Building Materials
Poor indoor air quality can cause or contribute to the development of infections, lung cancer, and chronic lung diseases such as asthma.1 Some construction products, like
Navigating the Certification Maze: Certifying Biobased Products for a Sustainable Tomorrow
Embarking on the journey towards a sustainable future may necessitate the certification of biobased products, a pivotal step that validates their environmental friendliness and adherence
Lubricants for Electric Vehicles: An opportunity for high oleic plant-based oils
The electric vehicle (EV) market is on an unstoppable trajectory of growth globally. With governments steadfastly supporting EV adoption through various policies and incentives, the
Building a Greener Tomorrow: Embracing Biobased Chemistry in Sustainable Construction
In recent years, the construction industry has been towards sustainability, and green building practices have gained significant momentum. As the world grapples with the challenges
Industrial Applications for Soy Meal and Protein
Most people know that soy meal is one of the most plentiful sources of vegetable protein in the world. It is critical to the livestock
Building Greenwashing Awareness
Greenwashing has been in existence for many decades. For years, hotels asked guests to reuse their towels to save the environment when the primary motivation
The Role of Life Cycle Assessments and Environmental Product Declarations
Corporations have been developing product Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) for over 50 years. Coca Cola first used Life Cycle Analysis to analyze the environmental impact
Renewable Materials Support UN Sustainability Goals
In September 2015, the UN General Assembly adopted its 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The core of this Agenda includes 17 Sustainable Development Goas (also
ESG in the Chemical Industry
Companies are rapidly accelerating the use of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) as a methodology to set sustainability goals and communicate progress to various stakeholders.
Emerging Technologies for Sustainable Biobased Surfactants
Biobased surfactants are eco-friendly products that are considered to be successful substitutes for petroleum derived synthetic chemical surfactants, for most applications. This class of surfactants
Bionaphtha: The Renewable Alternative to Fossil-Based Naphtha
As the production capacity of renewable diesel (RD) and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) grows, so will the output of the hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) process
The Four Pillars of Success in Commercializing New Biobased Chemicals
Recent years have brought the advent of numerous biobased chemistry technologies that have achieved varying degrees of broad-based adoption. To ensure success, it is necessary
Making Concrete More Sustainable with Biorenewable Materials
It is hard to imagine the modern world without the use of concrete. From roads and sidewalks to building foundations and soaring skyscrapers, concrete has
Biobased Polyols Improve the Sustainability in Polyurethane Applications
As companies aspire to develop sustainable products, demand for materials made from renewables-based polyurethanes also continues to grow. Biobased polyols are a crucial component in
New Product Development after the Pandemic
Now that the pandemic is subsiding, it’s time to get those new biobased products out into the market. A recent article by Bob Cooper in
HEMP – The next biobased and sustainable raw material
Hemp fibers and oil are getting ready to break through as an alternative to other industrial plant-based offerings. In both the U.S. and Canada hemp
Developing Sustainable Materials and Products
A new factor in new product market development is sustainability. Sustainable innovation and development considers the economic, environmental, and social aspects in the sourcing, production,
Plant-based Oil Chemistry Proving Successful Across Industries
The potential for a new variety of bio-based oil derived materials coincides with growing consumer interest in environmentally friendly, sustainable products in the past decade.