1. Carbon Credit card - No interest fee for one year!
2. The life of a carbon broker
October 31, 2008
Treats from the Green Blog
Just wanted to greet everybody a Happy Halloween and as a treat, here are several climate change funny cartoons that I took from the web (hopefully I won't get sued for these!).
1. Carbon Credit card - No interest fee for one year!
2. The life of a carbon broker
More on this post...
1. Carbon Credit card - No interest fee for one year!
2. The life of a carbon broker
Carbon project guidelines
Although the feasibility of capturing, storing and even reusing carbon dioxide to reduce greenhouse gases is now acceptable within the scientific community, skepticism still exists (like the idea of clean coal I guess) some coming from green groups themselves such as the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).Environmental think-tank World Resources Institute (WRI) launched a preliminary guidelines and recommendations for the deployment of carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) technologies in the US specifically targeting developers, regulators, financiers, insurers, project operators, and policymakers.
October 29, 2008
Less emission from hybrid plastic
California-based bioplastic manufacturer Cereplast said the use of its Biopropylene hybrid resin (which can replace up to 50% petroleum-based plastic content) emits 42% less greenhouse gas emission compared to the use of regular polypropylene.In a study by a professor from Michigan State University, he found that approximately 1.82 kilograms of carbon dioxide are produced for each kilogram of Cereplast' Biopropylene used, compared to 3.14 kilograms of carbon dioxide emitted for the same amount of polypropylene.
October 28, 2008
Solar consumer products boom
Wal-Mart is expecting a bigger demand for solar-based consumer products and is already stocking its solar charger kits for sale next year, according to this press release from Canada-based ICP Solar Technologies, a manufacturer of proprietary solar panels and products.October 27, 2008
What bites corn plastic?
Here is one big reason why food manufacturers and consumer product goods retailers are still hesitant about using corn-based plastics.According to The Oregonian newspaper, it is difficult for recyclers to recycle corn-based polylactic acid (PLA) plastics because it melts at lower temperatures compared to traditional resins such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
Weekly News Roundup
I am way over my head this week with two articles on a deadline and trying to study for my mid-term exams (political science, English literature and classical studies if anybody is interested to know).
Expect the green blog to have some sputtering post moments in the next few days while I diligently work for ICIS Chemical Business in the morning, and try to cram federalism, Yeats, and Greek alphabets into my head at night- not at the same time.
Here is this week's news roundup!
Renewable product partnership
Elevance Renewable Sciences and start-up company Tetramer Technologies formed a partnership to develop and commercialize novel renewable specialty chemicals. Tetramer will bring to the partnership its organic synthesis, material science and analytical capabilities, while Elevance will provide marketing, technology, engineering and renewable feedstock processing capabilities.
More on this post...
Expect the green blog to have some sputtering post moments in the next few days while I diligently work for ICIS Chemical Business in the morning, and try to cram federalism, Yeats, and Greek alphabets into my head at night- not at the same time.
Here is this week's news roundup!
Renewable product partnership
Elevance Renewable Sciences and start-up company Tetramer Technologies formed a partnership to develop and commercialize novel renewable specialty chemicals. Tetramer will bring to the partnership its organic synthesis, material science and analytical capabilities, while Elevance will provide marketing, technology, engineering and renewable feedstock processing capabilities.
October 24, 2008
Record clean tech investments
Despite a worldwide financial downturn this past few months, venture investments for clean technology in North America, Europe, China and India are said to have reached a record $2.6bn just in the third quarter of 2008 alone, according to the market research and financial service Cleantech Group.Investments in the past three quarters of 2008 have totaled to $6.6 billion, exceeding the full-year 2007 total of $6.0 billion, the group reported. Major sectors receiving these green backings include smart grid companies, algae companies, and thin-film solar companies.
Green packaging is hot
ICIS Chemical Business released this Monday its feature on packaging and from what the magazine's editors have found out is that sustainability is definitely becoming more ingrained within this industry mostly driven by consumer demand. The benefits of cost-cutting and energy saving also add to packaging players' enthusiasm over this trend.In the article "Green Way Packers", industry players ranging from packaging manufacturers to consumer goods retailers, reported that their companies have increased their initiatives on sustainable packaging.
October 23, 2008
Wal-Mart enforces Chinese green rules
No cheating in Wal-Mart supply chain is emphasized at the company's China summit this week in Beijing, attended by the retail giant's more than 1,000 leading suppliers as well as Chinese government officials and non-government organizations.
Wal-Mart president and CEO Lee Scott said:
More on this post...
Wal-Mart president and CEO Lee Scott said:
"I firmly believe that a company that cheats on overtime and on the age of its labor, that dumps its scraps and its chemicals in our rivers, that does not pay its taxes or honor its contracts -- will ultimately cheat on the quality of its products."
And cheating on the quality of products is the same as cheating on customers. We will not tolerate that at Wal-Mart."
October 22, 2008
Science of Survival Exhibit
A former colleague from ICIS Chemical Business (the magazine I work for) asked how could the chemical industry help play a part in energizing teaching and putting the flair back into teenage science.
One sure-fire way to attract teenagers and young adults (even old crones like me) is to put science on their electronic brainwaves especially via video games and the internet. Just look at the growth of the billion-dollar educational toys market!
For example, maybe the chemical industry can design a website-based game where teenagers can be chlorine atoms and find out if they will either explode or create beautiful products together if they hook up with several of their nitrogen and hydrogen buddies under a certain atmospheric condition...
To get to my point, I mentioned attending the Science of Survival Exhibit in Liberty Science Center in New Jersey last week, and the idea of creating your own sustainable city in 2050 using interactive games is absolutely brilliant. You get to choose your lifestyle of living involving food and drink, mode of transportation, the stuff that you enjoy, the place you live in, and finally find out how that lifestyle will affect your future.
More on this post...
One sure-fire way to attract teenagers and young adults (even old crones like me) is to put science on their electronic brainwaves especially via video games and the internet. Just look at the growth of the billion-dollar educational toys market!For example, maybe the chemical industry can design a website-based game where teenagers can be chlorine atoms and find out if they will either explode or create beautiful products together if they hook up with several of their nitrogen and hydrogen buddies under a certain atmospheric condition...
To get to my point, I mentioned attending the Science of Survival Exhibit in Liberty Science Center in New Jersey last week, and the idea of creating your own sustainable city in 2050 using interactive games is absolutely brilliant. You get to choose your lifestyle of living involving food and drink, mode of transportation, the stuff that you enjoy, the place you live in, and finally find out how that lifestyle will affect your future.
Japan launches voluntary CO2 market
My Green Japan article in ICIS Chemical Business is now available online. In it are some examples of how the chemical industry is responding to the issue of climate change.
The article also reported about how the carbon emissions of Japan's industrial manufacturing sector (including energy, steel, chemical, petroleum, pulp and paper, cement, etc.) is closely being scrutinized by several Japanese green groups.
In relation to this, I just came across this news from Reuters about yesterday's government launch of a "voluntary" carbon trading market in Japan, which could become a forerunner of a mandatory carbon cap-and-trade scheme in the future.
More on this post...
The article also reported about how the carbon emissions of Japan's industrial manufacturing sector (including energy, steel, chemical, petroleum, pulp and paper, cement, etc.) is closely being scrutinized by several Japanese green groups.In relation to this, I just came across this news from Reuters about yesterday's government launch of a "voluntary" carbon trading market in Japan, which could become a forerunner of a mandatory carbon cap-and-trade scheme in the future.
October 21, 2008
Top 10 global pollution
International environmental groups Blacksmith Institute (US based) and Green Cross Switzerland issued the top ten worst pollution problems in the world. They said these pollutions are the main contributing factor to death and disability in the world.“Our goal with the 2008 report is to increase awareness of the severe toll that pollution takes on human health and inspire the international community to act," said Richard Fuller, founder of Blacksmith Institute. "Remediation is both possible and cost-effective. Clean air, water and soil are human rights."More on this post...
Green lining in GE's revenues
Sustainability is proving to be a good investment for General Electric (GE).According to the company, GE's 2008 revenues from its Ecoimagination business -- GE's products and technologies that targets energy efficiency, clean technology and other environmental solutions services -- rose 21% to $17bn despite the current economic turmoil.
Green struck film festival
Last week's opening of the 21st Tokyo International Film Festival was celebrated with an environmental theme in mind, and our good friends from Japanese chemical company Teijin, in collaboration with Coca-Cola Japan, did their part with the unrolling of their Green Carpet.Not only is it colored green (duh!), but the carpet is made completely from around 18,000 recycled polyethylene terephtalate (PET) half-liter bottles. Teijin, by the way, is selling their polyester fiber made out of recycled PET materials under the brand ECOPET.
October 20, 2008
Canada bans BPA-contained baby bottles
Canada's soon-to-enact BPA ban in baby bottles is another sign that maybe polycarbonate bottle manufacturers should look for alternatives now.The Government of Canada announced yesterday that it will immediately draft a regulation banning the importation, sale and advertising of polycarbonate baby bottles that contained bisphenol-A (BPA).
Weekly News Roundup
The green blog is having a bit of a trouble finding worthwhile news for the weekly roundup and wondering if this is a sign of possible hiccups in green investments due to the current economic crisis.
I've heard of a solar IPO being cancelled and another renewable energy company terminating their plans for an acquisition. The good news is that both US presidential nominees have big plans for renewable energy investments but research grants across the board is probably going to have massive cutbacks in the near- to mid-term, which might affect green chemistry R&D and other biobased material developments in government research agencies and university research centers.
On this somber note, here are this week's green news roundup:
Siemens partners with USDA
Siemens Energy & Automation and the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) have entered into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) to convert second generation biofuel feedstock into fuels and chemicals.
Biofoam in Brazilian cars
Brazilian Fiat vehicles and Iveco trucks will be using BioFoam seat cushioning produced by Canada-based the Woodbridge Group. The foam uses polyols derived from plant materials.
More on this post...
I've heard of a solar IPO being cancelled and another renewable energy company terminating their plans for an acquisition. The good news is that both US presidential nominees have big plans for renewable energy investments but research grants across the board is probably going to have massive cutbacks in the near- to mid-term, which might affect green chemistry R&D and other biobased material developments in government research agencies and university research centers.
On this somber note, here are this week's green news roundup:
Siemens partners with USDA
Siemens Energy & Automation and the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) have entered into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) to convert second generation biofuel feedstock into fuels and chemicals.
Biofoam in Brazilian cars
Brazilian Fiat vehicles and Iveco trucks will be using BioFoam seat cushioning produced by Canada-based the Woodbridge Group. The foam uses polyols derived from plant materials.
October 17, 2008
More hydrogen research
In connection with fuel cells, I just wanted to share these new R&D breakthroughs on hydrogen production.
The green blog mentioned this week about producing hydrogen using sewage feedstock but according to researchers from the US Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory and Ontario, Canada-based Kingston Process Metallurgy Inc. (KPM), you can also extract pure hydrogen from the hydrogen sulfide that naturally contaminates unrefined oil including oil sands.
More on this post...
The green blog mentioned this week about producing hydrogen using sewage feedstock but according to researchers from the US Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory and Ontario, Canada-based Kingston Process Metallurgy Inc. (KPM), you can also extract pure hydrogen from the hydrogen sulfide that naturally contaminates unrefined oil including oil sands.Fuel cell rumor from BASF
I just went this morning to the Liberty Science Center in New Jersey to attend the North American debut of a global exhibition called Science of Survival, and what a treat it was!
The exhibition, sponsored by BASF, Nissan and HSBC, uses an interactive "kid-friendly video game" like effects that challenges visitors, both kids and adults alike, to create their own sustainable city of 2050 using the latest technology and science available.
I will tell you more about this next week as I am currently waiting for a video clip from the exhibit organizers so I can show it to you. For now, I just wanted to tell the green blog readers that during the exhibit, there was this whispers and talks about a big BASF investment for fuel cell here in the US.
More on this post...
The exhibition, sponsored by BASF, Nissan and HSBC, uses an interactive "kid-friendly video game" like effects that challenges visitors, both kids and adults alike, to create their own sustainable city of 2050 using the latest technology and science available.I will tell you more about this next week as I am currently waiting for a video clip from the exhibit organizers so I can show it to you. For now, I just wanted to tell the green blog readers that during the exhibit, there was this whispers and talks about a big BASF investment for fuel cell here in the US.
October 16, 2008
Bottled water scare
Halloween is coming and there is nothing more scary than a report that said the bottled water your drinking has fertilizer, bacteria and drugs in it.
The US bottled water industry is trying to douse the flames of allegations made by the public health advocate Environmental Working Group (EWG), and this time it's not about plastics (although EWG mentioned a little bit about that too).
EWG released a report on Tuesday stating that laboratory tests conducted for EWG found ten brands of bottled water purchased from grocery stores and other retailers in nine states and the District of Columbia contain mixtures of 38 different pollutants, including bacteria, fertilizer, Tylenol and industrial chemicals, with some brands at levels no better than tap water.
More on this post...
The US bottled water industry is trying to douse the flames of allegations made by the public health advocate Environmental Working Group (EWG), and this time it's not about plastics (although EWG mentioned a little bit about that too).EWG released a report on Tuesday stating that laboratory tests conducted for EWG found ten brands of bottled water purchased from grocery stores and other retailers in nine states and the District of Columbia contain mixtures of 38 different pollutants, including bacteria, fertilizer, Tylenol and industrial chemicals, with some brands at levels no better than tap water.
October 15, 2008
FDA conflict of interest in BPA
Here's more drama brewing in the world of bisphenol A (BPA).
A US Congressional committee, which has been investigating the BPA issue since January, is said to be investigating a possible instance of conflict of interest involving the chairman of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory panel on BPA, Martin Philbert.
Philbert is said to be also the head of a research center that received a $5 million donation from Charles Gelman, a retired medical equipment manufacturer who has stated that BPA is “perfectly safe” and has also indicated that he has told Dr. Philbert of his opinion several times.
More on this post...
A US Congressional committee, which has been investigating the BPA issue since January, is said to be investigating a possible instance of conflict of interest involving the chairman of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory panel on BPA, Martin Philbert.Philbert is said to be also the head of a research center that received a $5 million donation from Charles Gelman, a retired medical equipment manufacturer who has stated that BPA is “perfectly safe” and has also indicated that he has told Dr. Philbert of his opinion several times.
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