Renewable

Natural rhamnolipids, or co-surfactant systems, for bioremediation applications and crude oil recovery. These rhamnolipid biosurfactants can facilitate the removal of hydrocarbons and heavy metals, making them effective in remediating soil and sludge. These rhamnolipids also contain a synergistic activity with many synthetic surfactants, resulting in a reduction in synthetic surfactant components. They are also biodegradable, with decompositions that are non-persistent and safe for the environment.

Packaging material made of renewable wood fibers. Paptic® is bio-based, recyclable, reusable, and biodegradable. It outperforms paper and has smaller environmental impact than cotton. The material is also distinctive in its texture and appearance. Paptic® is made using renewable, wood-based fibers from sustainably managed forests. Paptic® is produced using current paper machines that require slight modifications, making the process sustainable and scalable. Paptic is tear resistant, moisture resistant, flexible, soft, food contact approved, and porous.

Coverts abundant methane gas into biodegradable materials. Methane is the byproduct of several essential operations. Unfortunately, there are not many economically beneficial uses of methane. This company posits its factories next to existing methane production facilities. Using methanotrophs (a type of bacteria), the company naturally produces PHA; methanotrophs store carbon within their cell walls as PHA. More specifically, the methanotrophs produce pure P3HB, which is a member of the PHA family. The methanotrophs used in the process are also not genetically modified.

Polylactic acid (PLA) made from greenhouse gases. This process transforms greenhouse gases into PLA by using agricultural crops to sequester carbon and transform it to simple plant sugars through photosynthesis. The plants are milled to extract glucose as starch. Enzymes are then added to convert the glucose to dextrose via hydrolysis. Microorganisms then ferment the dextrose into lactic acid. Lactic acid is converted to lactide and lactide is polymerized into Ingeo™ PLA by opening the lactide ring and linking them together to form a long polylactide polymer chain.

Catalysts that use carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide to produce polymers. Carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide are ideal feedstocks for chemistry because they are abundant, renewable, and easily extracted at low costs. This technology polymerizes carbon dioxide and epoxides into polycarbonates that can be used as feedstocks to produce pharmaceuticals and plastics. Novomer Inc. uses polycarbonate coating in their electronics through a process called Novo™.

Plastic polymer made from the contact between methane-based gas mixture and common atmospheric gases. This technology uses natural ocean organisms to make PHB from air and greenhouse gases. This PHB is AirCarbon. AirCarbon can be melted and cooled into fibers, sheets, and solid parts in order replace synthetic plastic and animal leather. PHB is natural and natural microorganisms can consume it. AirCarbon anaerobically digests into greenhouse gases that can be used to make new Air Carbon.