April 2008 Archives

Green activities seem to be expanding and flourishing in Germany.

One particular session from the World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology & Bioprocessing conference being held in Chicago this week focused on recent industrial biotech developments in Germany as well as companies setting up shops in the region focusing on emerging renewable chemical platforms and value-chains of chemicals made from renewable-based feedstock.

A strong driver in Germany's burgeoning biotech industry is the role of research institutes, according to Steffen Rupp, head of molecular biotechnology at Fraunhofer IGB at the Fraunhofer Campus Stuttgart. The chemicals and biotech industries are also attracted to Germany's well-established chemical infrastructure, according to Marcus Wolperdinger, head of industrial biotech activities at InfraLeuna, the owner and infrastructure provider of one of Germany’s largest chemical sites. Both presented at the conference.

In the green energy sector, Germany is said to be the largest photovoltaic market worldwide with investment volumes expected to increase by 67% by 2010, according to Germany's investment promotion agency INVEST IN GERMANY.

The major driver for PV market growth in Germany is the country's Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG in German) that establishes a "feed-in" tariff on power generated from renewable sources.

By 2010, Germany is expected to have over 6.5 Gigawatts (GW) of installed PV capacity.

I apologize for the lateness of this week's news roundup as I'm preparing for next week's World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology conference in Chicago starting Monday April 28.

Plenty of green materials to cover from there especially on biobased products and chemicals so stay tune!

A natural fit for Yulex
The US Food and Drug Administration gave a thumbs up for the marketing of Yulex's medical gloves made from guayule, a desert crop native to the Southwest. Other guayule-based products are currently in the pipeline, the company said.

Cargill's European waxy deal
Cargill and the newly formed Elevance Renewable Sciences formed a joint alliance to market and develop vegetable-based waxes in Europe. Sales development activities will start in the summer.

Evonik's glowing course
Evonik AG and the Netherlands-based The Silicon Mine will build the first integrated production facility for solar silicons in the Netherlands. Production will begin in 2009.

Here comes REMA
A new group called REMA, the Renewable Energy Marketers Association, was created to promote the economic and national security benefits of domestic renewable energy. REMA is comprised of organizations involved in the creation, supply, purchase, sale, advocacy, and education about Renewable Energy and Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs).

A big pest for Scotts Miracle Gro
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ordered Scotts Miracle Gro Company to stop selling and recall some of its products that are said to be illegal, unregistered and misbranded pesticides. Until EPA has more information about the contents of these products, consumers are advised not to use these products and to store them in a safe, cool and dry place.

A plastic reprimand
The Vinyl Institute sent a letter to NBC producers stating inaccurate and misleading information about several types of plastics being broadcast on April 9 and 10 in the Today's Show. The particular plastic segment brought unnecessary confusion and alarm to those watching the show, the Institute said.

And in ICIS News (which requires subscription):
DuPont is touting its new nylon-free carpet and other renewable resource products as part of the company's shift towards biosciences and agriculture. Canada's Ontario plans to ban the sale of cosmetic lawn care pesticides that could take effect in Spring next year. US Senator Charles Schumer proposes a legislation banning the sale of children's products and food containers containing bisphenol-A. The Vinyl Institute plans to launch a major ad campaign explaining the environmetal-friendly aspects of PVC production.

The Society of Plastics Industry (SPI) released a video statement on Monday clarifying the intended purpose of the marked recycled numbers found on the bottom of most plastic bottles and rigid containers.

According to SPI President and CEO William Carteaux, the resin codes are simply to help sort the type of plastics that can be properly recycled or reused.

"The resin codes do not provide guidance on the safe or intended use of a bottle or a container, as well as the product inside the container. They should not be used for that purpose.”

"Look for number 1 on the bottom of the bottle," says MPI Packaging president Ron O'Brien.

This week DuPont also gave out its annual Packaging Innovation awards focusing on sustainability. Photos of this year's recipients and their products can be found on the DuPont website.

The US Environmental Protection Agency celebrated Earth Day with a photo contest, and most of the photos are really amazing to behold.

Here are this year's winners. You can also check out the finalists at the EPA website.

Category: Enjoying the environment

Category: Protecting the environment

Category: Nature and Wildlife

Last night, I was watching National Geographic's the Human Footprint show where they visually calculate a person's average consumption of food and other products in his or her lifetime.

My first reaction was, "do they really have to use all those materials and products just to prove what a wasteful human being I am?" I was especially appalled that they wasted thousands of nearly expired eggs when there are so many hungry people in other parts of the world.

I did admit to myself afterwards that I do have to conserve a bit on using water and electricity, and the show even made me feel guilty about eating meat when so much energy and resources are being consumed just by raising cows, pigs and chickens.

But in order for humans to progress, increasing consumption of the earth's resources is inevitable. What we need, I think, and what is now being researched on is the cradle-to-cradle approach, how to reuse, recycle and return back to earth all the things and products that we consume - to be reborn as new products.

Will that be possible? Maybe not in my lifetime but one can only hope.

If anybody saw this show, let me know your thoughts.

Green and sustainable cleaning is here to stay and that message was loud and clear at the Soaps, Detergents, Oleochemicals and Personal Care (SODEOPEC) conference I attended last week in Orlando, Florida.

In the conference's green session, scientist Libby Sommer from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was promoting EPA's Design for the Environment (DfE) Formulator program, which, through the use of the DfE logo, recognizes products that are certified safer for the environment and human health. Sommer said the Formulator program has resulted in a reduction of more than 40 million pounds/year of chemicals of concern.

Sommer also encouraged the cleaning companies present at the conference to apply for the EPA's Safer Detergents Stewardship Initiative (SDSI), which is primarily designed to encourage the use of safer surfactants - the raw materials used in detergents some of which have been under environmental scrutiny for decades. Deadline for this year's application is May 30.

Topher Buck, senior project manager at the GreenBlue Institute talked about the CleanGredients online database, which lists down chemicals that are said to be safer and healthier for use in cleaning products. The database for CleanGredients surfactants was launched in 2006. Coming soon will be a database for solvents, fragrances, chealting agents and other classes of cleaning chemicals.

Not sure where and how to start greening your cleaning products? Not to worry, said Theresa McGrath, lead chemist at NSF International, a non-profit certification company.

Some of NSF's services, said McGrath, is to help companies meet their green and sustainability goals such as obtaining the DfE logo for their products by using the ingredients listed on CleanGredients, or if they're raw material suppliers, help them assess the greeness of their chemicals for inclusion in the CleanGredients database.

And if all went well, your green cleaners - especially if they contain plant-based ingredients and chemicals, could soon be included under the US Department of Agriculture's (USDA) BioPreferred Program, said Marvin Duncan, senior agricultural economist at the USDA.

Federal agencies are required to purchase biobased products that are listed in the program, said Duncan. Several cleaning products categories are currently in the process of being designated as biobased.

All that hard work could be worth it especially when recent surveys indicate growing consumer purchasing preference for more sustainable cleaning products, said Brian Sansoni of the Soap and Detergent Association (SDA).

A 2008 survey by the SDA reported human health and environmental aspect to be the most important aspect when considering sustainable products, said Sansoni. Among surveyed consumers familiar with sustainability, 72% are willing to pay premium for sustainable cleaning products and the same number of consumers do expect to pay more for them.

With that kind of profit plus a good image, what cleaning product manufacturers would not want to venture into green?

[Photos source from the American Oil Chemists Society]

Being a dedicated green journalist that I am, I decided to contribute to celebrating Earth Day by sharing some deep insights on the green trend from reports and studies I came across for the past few weeks.

Dig in and enjoy reading! Happy Earth Day!

From a chemical industry perspective:

• Toxic Stock Syndrome report from IEHN. The group says many companies especially from the chemical industry are keeping shareholders in the dark on potential recalls, bans and other risks.
  
• 2007 Ethical chemical companies report by Covalence. An excerpt from the report gives some insight on why it is difficult for chemical companies to be perceived as ethical.

• PricewaterhouseCooper's report on sustainability movement in the technology industry. The report analyzes the potential for increased revenues and decrease expenditures via sustainability initiatives.
• OECD Environmental Outlook to 2030. Analysis of economic and environmental trends to 2030 as well as policies that will tackle key global environmental problems.

• Ecopinion survey on green brands and brand messaging. The report indicates continued consumer skepticism on green brands and company commitments on sustainability.
• Harris Polls on consumer support of renewable energy. The poll indicated that consumers in five largest European countries and in the US are supportive of renewable energy but are still unwilling to pay extra for it.
• Green ads survey from Burst Media. Like the Ecopinion survey, consumers are interested in green marketing but skepticism remains high.
• Market research on US and UK green buying habits by BuzzBack. The report says environmental concern is changing the buying habits of consumers.
  
  
  
  

The American Chemistry Council's (ACC) new plastic bag logo could induced consumers to recycle their used bags with its bigger and bolder graphics. Definitely way better than the microscopic recycle symbol currently found on the bottom of the bags.

The organization has been working hard persuading California to resort to recycling instead of banning plastic bags.

Last week, the ACC's Progressive Bags Affiliates group won a court ruling invalidating the recently passed plastic bag ban in Oakland, Calif.

The ruling was a big win for the ACC as it could set an example for other states that are considering plastic bag ban.

An interesting article from the Royal Society of Chemistry reported an ongoing internal investigation by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding the dismissal of one of its scientist Deborah Rice.

Rice was accused of bias by the American Chemistry Council and urged the agency of her dismissal when she made a public statement against the safety of a certain flame retardant, according to the article.

The House of Representatives is also investigating the situation and asked both the EPA and ACC to provide documentation on the incident.

Health Canada's decision last Friday (April 18) to possibly ban polycarbonate plastic baby bottles because of bisphenol A's (BPA) safety issues drove a flurry of announcements from consumer product manufacturers to phase out the use of BPA-contained plastic baby products and for retailers to remove some of the said products from retail shelves.

Wal-Mart Canada said it will immediately stop the sale of select baby bottles, sippy cups, pacifiers, food containers and water bottles containing BPA. Other Canadian retailers such as Hudson's Bay Company, Canadian Tire, the Forzani Group Ltd., Sears Canada, Rexall Pharmacies, and Home Depot Canada will also stop selling BPA-contained plastic products, the eco-group Environmental Defence stated on its recent press release.

In the US, plastic products manufacturer Nalgene, based in Rochester, NY, also announced the phaseout of BPA from its products, while multinational company Playtex said it will stop using BPA in all of its products this year.

“While US and worldwide regulatory bodies continue to deem the ingredient safe, we are listening to consumer concerns and we believe the right thing to do is eliminate any confusion or doubt that parents may have." - Playtex vp and general manager Gary Cohen

In the US, the plastic and chemical industry are doing some damage control by assuring consumers on BPA's safety with scientific studies.

A draft released last week by the National Toxicology Program confirmed that BPA had no serious adverse effects on human reproduction and development, according to the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association said. The American Chemistry Council is calling the FDA to update its review of BPA in food applications to help better inform the public.

One can't help but wonder if scientific studies will stop the snowballing of BPA bans across North America.

I just came back from a conference called Soaps, Detergents, Oleochemicals, and Personal Care (SODEOPEC) hosted by the American Oil Chemists Society in Orlando, Florida. One session from the conference was dedicated to green, sustainable and environmental issues which I'll blog about next week.I also wanted to blog about my Disney World experience but I was forbidden to do so = (

For now here's this week's green news and there are definitely plenty of them to sort through:

BASF's bioplastic stretches
BASF is raising the capacity of its bioplastic Ecoflex by 60,000 tons/year, which will start by 2010. Bioplastic growth, said BASF, is pegged at 20%/year.

Albemarle bags green tech
Albemarle is acquiring Sorbent Technologies, which Albemarle said will expand the company's green solutions portfolio with Sorbent's bromine-based mercury control technology. Last week, Albemarle also bags EU's approval of the use of tetrabromobisphenol-A (TBBPA), made and marketed by Albemarle as SAYTEX(R) CP-2000 flame retardant.

The beauty of cradle to cradle
Aveda said it is the first beauty company to receive cradle to cradle certification for four botanical ingredients: sandalwood oil from Australia, rose oil and lavender oil from Bulgaria and uruku from Brazil. The certification was assessed by the Environmental Protection and Encouragement Agency (EPEA).

Another green thumbs up
Henkel's epoxy-acrylic urethane coating system trademarked Aquence has been approved by the Environmental Protection Agency and California protection authorities for use in local plants. Henkel said it provides a 40 percent reduction in production-area footprint, improves paint shop flexibility, decreases energy consumptions, and eliminates heavy metal sludge.

Renewable greener resin
Ashland has now included Susterra bio-propanediol, a corn-based product of DuPont Tate & Lyle Bio Products, to its ENVIREZ renewable-based resins. The resins are used to produce molded parts for the agricultural, marine and transportation industries.

There are several solar news that I came across but due to space constraint...By the way, is it just me or do I see an increasing number of Chinese companies dealing in the solar market? Let me know your thoughts on this...

Big bites on solar wafer
Chinese solar wafer producer ReneSola Ltd. is increasing its previously guided yearly output of 300 megawatts by 10-20 MW. This week, Rene Sola signed a 6-year supply deal with Chinese solar cells producer Shenzhen Topray Solar, and another 6-year wafer supply contracts with more solar cells producers, Ningbo Solar Electric Power Co., and Eoplly New Energy Technology.

The end of $1bn polysilicon plant
Chinese manufacturer of solar photovoltaic materials, Trina Solar, said it will discontinue its planned $1bn polysilicon production facility in Jiangsu Province. Projected favorable long-term of polysilicon supply is said to be the driver for the decision.

And in ICIS news (which requires subscription):
Cereplast's CEO said they plan to increase their bioplastics capacity by 227,000 tons/year. The American Chemistry Council noted continued media coverage of the alleged health risks of bisphenol-A in food contact applications is overblown. President Bush launched a new emissions control initiative to halt greenhouse gas emissions growth in the US by 2025.

The 14-year old toxic clean-up battle in the Amazon jungle reached a new boiling point when a prestigious environmental award drew the ire of Chevron, the defendant against the ongoing $16bn lawsuit filed by the Amazon Defense Coalition, which represents 80 Ecuadorian communities and five indigenous groups in the class-action suit.

This year, two recipients of the $150,000 annual Goldman Environmental Award - considered the green equivalent of Oscar Academy - were Pablo Fajardo, the lead lawyer for the plaintiffs, and Luis Yanza, who represents the Coalition.

Fajardo and Yanza led the suit against Texaco (which Chevron bought in 2001) claiming the company dumped more than 18bn gallons of toxic waste water into Amazon waterways. Roughly 900 open-air toxic waste pits were left in the jungle between 1964 and 1990, they claimed.

The San Francisco-based Goldman Foundation defended their picks and stated:

"They are two ordinary Ecuadorians addressing a problem that impacts 30,000 of their countrymen: petrochemical waste spoiling hundreds of square miles of Amazon rainforest. Their work is motivated by a single desire: to ensure that their corner of the Amazon – one of the world’s most contaminated industrial sites – is cleaned up."

"While both Mr. Fajardo and Mr. Yanza are being lauded as environmental crusaders, the truth is their actions have protected the culprit -- state-owned oil company Petroecuador. They have even tried to block clean up efforts and extended miserable conditions for those they say they are defending."

Chevron said it will petition the court to void the report, claiming that it is biased and scientifically indefensible. Chevron said Cabrera is being paid solely by the coalition.

Whoever is to blame, this only goes to show how important social responsibility, facility management and ethics are to the manufacturing industry. And as the "he said, she said" battle continues, the Amazon community affected by the pollution are the only ones that really suffer.

In Newsweek's April 14 green cover issue, the question remains on who is the greenest among the three US presidential candidates.

According to the magazine, several green groups are having a hard time deciding whom to endorse. Obama and CLinton are said to be strong environmental candidates although McCain is reportedly also appealing to some environmentalists because of his green legislative record.

I wonder who is the most appealing green candidate for the chemical industry?

But whoever gets the job needs to have a sound environmental policy within days of his or her election, reported Newsweek, as the Kyoto Protocol is set to expire in 2009.

"The Kyoto Protocol will likely set the course of energy and technological change for the first half of the century, and if America wants to have a voice in the process, it must have leaders willing to engage in it."

[Photo source from Newsweek]

DuPont has been running around and drilling the minds of consumers (and auto makers) for some green tips.

According to a recent company-sponsored survey conducted by Market Tools, 65% of US consumers are willing to pay premium for renewably-sourced products.

Other findings include women tending to be more environmentally responsible than men (True or False?); income and age don't matter when it comes to being green; and consumers really find that it's not easy being green if it means calculating carbon footprints, and directly participating in alternative energy use.

In another survey conducted by DuPont and the Society of Automotive Engineers, 53% of respondents in the auto industry rank environment issues as a number one industry priority compared to 32% who cited costs.

In terms of materials selection, however, DuPont said 91% of the respondents rank cost reduction as a top criteria. Advanced composites are expected to grow the most in the next 10 years followed by bio-based renewable materials.

Celebrating Earth Day this month seems to bring out more green research and development news which all came out just last week.

According to the website Chemie.de, chemists from Virginia Tech have been developing a low-cost hydrogen producing system using plant sugars, water and a cocktail of enzymes. Improving the technology could eventually lead to production of sugar-powered vehicles, they said.

In California, the state's public utilities commission agreed to fund the University of California's new $600m green think tank, the California Institute for Climate Solutions (CICS), by adding surcharges to their customers monthly gas and electricity bills. Sources said the surcharge will probably cost just around 25c./month...probably.

At the American Chemical Society's 235th national meeting, scientists reported the growing promises of charcoal derived from heated biomass for use as fertilizer. Dubbed “black gold agriculture,” the revolutionary farming technique of using biochar can reportedly reduce greenhouse gases by trapping them in charcoal-laced soil as well as cheaply improve poor soil quality. Also at that meeting, another group of scientists from Colorado State University said they have discovered a way of making bamboo fabric that has antibacterial properties and is resistant to uv radiation from the sun.

Speaking of bacteria, chemical company Evonik is participating in a research from Germany's University of Freiburg where certain bacteria can absorb the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide and bind it via their metabolism. The new metabolic pathway not only has a potential in climate control but also in the field of chemical synthesis either to substitute chemical production processes with biotech processes or to develop new products using completely new methods, said Evonik.

This week, W.R. Grace will finally put to rest its asbestos burden; Ohio wants to energize their state with fuel cells; and fish fertilizer for sale. What's the most interesting? The lack of solar news!

Coup de grace
Principals of the law firm Cooney and Conway finally settled their asbestos class action suit against chemical company W.R. Grace for $3bn. The amount would settle all of Grace's present and future asbestos-related claims allowing the company to emerge from bankruptcy with no further obligations for asbestos injury liability.

Ohio's energy boost
The State of Ohio awarded 12 companies a total of more than $8.9m for the advancement of research, production and product commercialization of fuel cells. The investments are expected to bring more than 2,000 jobs to the state.

Air Liquide helps polish clean technology
Air Liquide is helping the European steel industry to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 50% by 2050 by joining in the development, building and testing of a pilot plant that can separate CO2 from blast furnace gases, and at the same time recovering residual gases. An industrial scale demonstration of the plant is expected by 2010.

Fishing for fertilizers
Boston-based Converted Organics will manufacture and market organic fertilizers using fish by-products brought from Pacific Seafood Group. The fertilizers will be produced in Gonzales, California.

Coal-based fuel lifts off
South Africa-based oil and chemical company Sasol received a first-time approval from the global aviation fuel specification authorities for its 100% synthetic jet fuel made from coal-to-liquids process. The approval marks a significant development in the adoption of clean burning alternative fuels for the aviation industry.

And in ICIS news (which requires subscription):

Indian chemical companies are increasingly becoming sustainable-conscious especially when selecting suppliers. A US Congressional committee is accusing the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of basing their safety decisions on bisphenol-A from studies allegedly funded by the American Plastics Council. BASF postponed its $2.4bn coal gasification project, which would produce gas to make methanol and ammonia, due to costs uncertainties of Europe's emission trading scheme. Epoxy resins demand in the wind energy market is expected to grow at least 20%/year in the next five years according to Dow Chemical.

Market data provider Mintel is confirming what most consumers have been seeing in the retail market in the past several years: the bombardment of eco-friendly, sustainable and renewable-based products.

Mintel said 328 eco-friendly products were launched last year compared to 5 in 2002.

"Manufacturers have responded with everything from recyclable packaging to products that maintain the body's health to entire brands that support environmental causes."

Major US retailers are especially making it easier for their customers to shop green by bringing in more choices this year.

JCPenney said they're slapping their SimplyGreen label to a wide range of private brand merchandise to highlight the products' greenness whether they be organic, renewable-based or recyclable.

For this Spring and summer, Wal-Mart's offerings now include garden mulch made from recycled tires; organic fungicide spray; Forest Stewardship Council certified furnitures; biodegradable plant pots and solar-powered outdoor lighting.

Office Depot last week launched its Office Depot Green, a line of environment-friendly office supplies. The line includes recycled paper products, re-manufactured inks and cartridges, recycled-content chairs, non-toxic cleaning supplies, energy-efficient bulbs and other electronics/technology, lower-chemical content furnitures, and refillable writing instruments.

International green groups has given the World Bank's recent announcement of a $4.2bn clean energy investment in India a very coal-d reception.

IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, will finance in the building of a total 4,000 megawatt coal-fired power plant in the Mundra region, with the first 800 mega-watt unit to start in mid-2011. IFC says the facility will use supercritical technology making the plant's carbon emissions 40% less compared to existing coal-fired power plants in India.

The plant is still expected to emit 23m tons/year of carbon dioxide, hence, the protests coming from green groups such as the Environmental Defense Fund, Friends of the Earth US, National Wildlife Federation, Bretton Woods Project and the International Accountability Project.

In this Reuters article, the green groups argued that the cost advantages of coal have already diminished because of coal's rising prices. India also has to import coal adding to its unsustainability as a domestic energy source.

Coal is actually at the top of green group Sierra Club's worst fossil fuel, according to a report from Oil and Gas Investor magazine. Carl Pope, Sierra Club's executive director, said they are more in favor of natural gas among fossil fuels although the group still favors solar and wind energy than fossil fuels.

"The more carbon there is in a fuel—and there’s a lot carbon in coal—the more possible pollution consequences you have to deal with." - Sierra Club

US coal price is said to have doubled in the past year to more than $80/ton because of surging US export demand, according to major coal producer Arch Coal as reported by Reuters. Prices are expected to go higher this year when US utilities rebuild their stockpiles, Arch Coal CEO Steven Leer.

Boeing said it has successfully flown a hydrogen fuel cell-powered airplane last week, the first in aviation history.

Fuel cells have the potential to power small manned and unmanned vehicles and on the long run, could be used as a secondary power-generating systems for large commercial airplanes, said Boeing.

However, Boeing does not envision large commercial airplanes flying solely from fuel cells. I wonder why...Maybe it's because of their bulky size or maybe fuel cells don't generate enough power to handle bigger planes...

Personally, it would be years maybe even a decade or two before somebody can convince me to fly in one of those things. Fuel cell powered-cars, yes, but use those cells up in the air and an exploding metal blimpie comes to my mind. But that's just me.

Speaking of cars, General Motors (GM) is urging the energy industry and various governments to help promote and expand the fuel cell powered-auto market by building more hydrogen stations.

"While automakers continue to commit resources to the development of fuel cell-electric vehicles, there appears to be comparatively little parallel investment and resource allocation for development and deployment of commercially-ready retail hydrogen infrastructure."

Multinational retailer IKEA finally shelved their use of plastic bags after their one-year program of selling the bags for 5-cents each.

IKEA said more than 92% of their customers opted on not buying their plastic bags during the program. The company decided to stop offering plastic bags as well as paper bags altogether starting October 1.

IKEA already stopped offering plastic bags in the UK last year in July, and IKEA Australia last year December.

Plastic bag bans worldwide are spreading like wildfire but a recent report from the Times of London noted exaggerated numbers quoted by environmental groups on animal deaths due to plastic bags.

In an article from ICIS Chemical Business, several chemical companies and industry groups also noted some of the false myths clinging to plastic bags' villainy to the environment as well as the potential consequences of plastic bag bans.

The chemical industry is currently promoting recycling as a more viable solution to plastic bag littering. According to the American Chemistry Council, recycled plastic bags are currently being used to manufacture decks, fencing and other outdoor living products.

Major plastic bag recycler and deck producer Trex Company said an average 500 sq. foot deck that they manufacture contains about 140,000 recycled plastic bags. The company recycles 1.5bn grocery bags each year to manufacture Trex products.

Worried about sudden plant inspections? Is the facility you're buying up to regulatory requirements? Want to assure your reliability to your customers?

Joe Acker says you're in good hands if you're a member of SOCMA.

The president of Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturers Association wrote in his blog last week about performance improvement programs such as SOCMA's ChemStewards as akin to having insurance to mitigate risks and prevent issues from arising.

"The general sense from small companies ...we do not need to implement a performance improvement program. But think of T2 and Synthon. They probably thought that way also. Now they are gone - except for the lawsuits."

If SOCMA can help company reliability , then 15 minutes or more of talking to them might really save you money from lawsuits and fines!

But what do I know? I'm just a 100+ pound chemical blogger writing for a living...

In this week's news - more opportunities in emissions reduction technology; solar investments going strong (I think I mentioned that for the past few weeks); and new advances in green chemical processing.

Certifiably 100% green
Independent testing laboratory Beta Analytic has certified that Braskem's new green butene is 100% made from renewable raw materials. The Brazilian chemical company said they are the first to manufacture linear polyethylene made from 100% renewable raw materials.

Waste-based steam is hot
California oil and gas producer Aera Energy will be using biomass-based steam produced by Global Greensteam LLC, for enhanced oil recovery operations replacing Aera's steam generated by natural gas fired units. Operation is scheduled to begin in late 2008.

China brightens Korea
Chinese photovoltaic (PV) manufacturer Yingli Green Energy enters Korean market through new sales contracts with renewable energy company Korea Electric Power Industrial Development Corp., and Kaycom Corp., a distributor of electronic components and PV devices.

Germany's slimming PVs
MALIBU, a joint venture of Schuco International KG and energy giant E.ON will start producing thin film photovoltaic modules in its new $135m facility in Magdeburg, Germany, in the fourth quarter this year.

Emitting potential profits
Fuel Tech and environmental services provider Chem-Mod have joined to market their combined technologies in reducing sulfur dioxide, mercury and other heavy metals emissions from coal-fired utility and other industrial plants. The companies expect their technologies to lower ongoing costs associated with prospective emission reduction programs.

More aluminum recycling
Aluminum producer Hydro is investing EUR 14.3m ($22.4m) in a new aluminum recycling furnace in Germany with a capacity of 50,000 tonnes/year. The recycling plant will start producing in 2010. Hydro said most aluminum fabricated in Europe is already recycled metal.

And in ICIS news (which requires subscription):
Dow Chemical said the outlook for renewable monopropylene glycol is dimming on the back of high-priced glycerine. A producer of methyl methacrylate (MMA) noted the increase demand from paint manufacturers for acrylic-based paints as alternative to vinyl-based formulas. The Canadian government fined Suncor Energy $200,000 for two chemical leaks at its Sarnia refinery in 2006.

Several Greenpeace activists exercised their climbing skills last week when they scaled several towers inside Ciba's chemical complex in Basel and put up banners demanding Ciba and another Swiss chemical firm Syngenta to pay towards toxic waste spill clean-ups in the region.

Greenpeace wants Ciba to pay CHF 400m (Euro 245m, $400m) and Syngenta CHF 200m for the clean-up. Ciba's former parent company, Novartis, already paid a one-time full payment of CHF 590m last year for its environmental responsibilities, according to Greenpeace.

In a statement, Ciba said it would defend itself from the allegations, calling the group's protest as a wrong way to engage in a constructive dialogue.

The company refused to pay the sum to an independent foundation as demanded by Greenpeace although Ciba said it has a reserve of CHF 426m in total for any environmental liabilities including possible remediation costs for any discharges in Basel.

Syngenta also reportedly said that they put aside $450m for its global environmental responsibilities.

If you want to see Greenpeace's blog and an audio about their chimney stack climbing escapade (in Swiss German), just click here.

I think these guys are enjoying themselves too much...all for a good cause of course...

As previously mentioned in my last blog, consumer watchdogs continue to smear the safety reputation of certain cosmetic chemicals such as the sunscreen oxybenzone.

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) is demanding the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to investigate the safety of oxybenzone after a recently released study is said to link the ingredient to mothers giving birth to underweight baby girls. EWG said low birth weight is a critical risk factor linked to coronary heart disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and other diseases in adulthood.

A new study by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said 97% of Americans tested are found to have oxybenzone in their urine.

EWG said 600 sunscreens sold in the US contain oxybenzone.

US industry group, the Personal Care Products Council, stated that the use of oxybenzone in sunscreens has been deemed safe in a study in 2002.

In another news, the Cancer Prevention Coalition is also lambasting the FDA on ignoring the risks of cosmetic grade talcum powder when used to mask genital odors. The group says several studies related ovarian cancer with the genital use of talcum powder.

Sustainability-driven consumers and natural beauty products will continue to play significant roles in the retail market this year.

According to market data provider Information Resources Inc. (IRI), the consumer market for sustainable products and packaging is still in the early stages of development and majority of the business is still carried out among niche players. Four primary areas for market opportunity include organic products, green products, fair trade products and eco-friendly packaging.

"This market is on the verge of transformation," says IRI President of Consulting and Innovation Thom Blischok. "Growing consumer awareness of the environmental and social impact of their purchases will drive product innovations and assortment options."

Cosmetic and skincare innovations, meanwhile, are expected to expand further into all-natural ingredients. In IRI's recently released 2008 Consumer Trend Watch report, natural and organic personal care products are expected to grow annually at 9% through 2012.

No surprise here since consumer activists constantly released new findings on the alleged toxicity of chemicals that are traditionally found in cosmetics and personal care.

It seems that every trade shows on the planet, from electronics to cosmetics to auto, are now featuring green products or has a green theme.

In this year's National Hardware Show on May 6-8 in Las Vegas, new green products ranging from trash cans to purifiers to storage, will be highlighted on a separate show floor called Green Product World, according to Reed Exhibitions, which manages the event.

Here's a sneak peek on some of the green products to be launched at the show. Prepare your greens to leave your wallet if you want these green products to enter your home!

1. Miracle Toilet Faucet The Miracle Toilet Faucet allows the homeowner to drastically lower toilet paper and water usage while enjoying improved hygiene and comfort. The product uses the existing water supply from the toilet and can be installed with a few common tools in about fifteen minutes.

2. Smart Bin The Smart Bin makes home recycling and waste management easier then ever. The stainless steel design looks attractive in any home or office and can also be used for storage purposes.

3. Pop-Up Boxes The Smart Box is a reusable storage and gift-box system that is constructed from advanced biodegradable materials. Smart Boxes are available in dozens of different sizes, colors and set configurations and are ideal for storage and space saving.

4. The Smart Sac A 100 percent biodegradable and compostable refuse bag made of cutting-edge environmentally-friendly materials. The bags are stronger and more reliable than traditional corn starch-based compostable bags. They fit most large size kitchen receptacles.

5. Nestle Pure Life Purified Water Nestle Pure Life has developed a uniquely shaped bottle that is better for the environment because it is made with up to 30 percent less plastic.

6. Effbe Floating Recycle Bins Recycling no longer has to take up needed floor space in your home. Effbe’s Floating Recycle Bins can easily be affixed to any wall and support up to 50 pounds. The Bins can also be used for handy home storage.

8. Smart Stone™ Smart Stone is a new sustainable stepping stone made from 100 percent recycled raw materials. The lightweight stones are composed of recycled and sustainable resources that would otherwise end up in landfills and waterways.

9. Smart Dyer Smart Dyer is the ultimate clothes drying rack with 10 meters of drying space. When not in use, the Smart Dryer collapses to a mere six-inch width, saving more space then a traditional dryer. Not only does Smart Dryer cut back on unhealthy air emissions, but it saves consumers money on their electric bill and extends the life of clothing.

10. Brill Razorcut Manual Reel Mower Grandpa’s old-fashioned push lawn mower is back. This mower features a superior blade cutting system and light-weight design easy for pushing that saves energy.

11. LogEEZ This log splitter was developed for homeowners who want an easy way to reduce the cost of buying firewood and making their own kindling. It eliminates the use of an expensive, noisy, dirty, gas-powered machine and does not require frequent maintenance. LogEEZ is also cleaner and safer to use then a traditional maul or axe.

Climate change activists in the US, Canada, the UK and Australia, have declared April 1 as their Fossil Fools Day and to show their holiday spirit, they simultaneously protested today in front of several sites, stores and facilities of companies they accused of responsible for runaway carbon dioxide emissions.

Activists in Nottingham blockaded the offices of power company E-on who is said to be building a coal-fired power stations in the UK. Another group in Wales tried to halt work at one of the biggest opencast coal mines in Europe.

In the US, several activists in North Carolina locked themselves to bulldozers to stop the construction of Duke Energy's coal-fired power plant being built 50 miles west of Charlotte. Eight people got arrested after being tazered.

Hmmm, I smell a lawsuit coming...

According to the International Rising Tide group, more than 150 protests were carried out today worldwide.

The group and their networks are also giving out Fossil Fools award to these companies with some wearing their finest 'don't kill the polar bears' suit like this photo below taken from Porsche's London showroom in Berkeley square.

One thought comes to mind... don't these people realize that they won't be able to wear these suits without using fossil resources??

Plastics and wastes seem to be the focus of new green products and technologies launched last month and here are some of them:

1. Plastinum blendymer plastics - Plastinum Polymer Technologies commercialized its first compounds made from recycled mixed post-consumer plastics manufactured using the company's Blendymer technology. Plastinum said the technology is currently the only environmentally-friendly mechanical process to treat mixed-plastic waste in an economically viable way.

2. Chemtura plastic additives - Chemtura's new plastic additives showcased last month at Chinaplas 2008 reportedly offered a greener profile such as its Mark® OBS® non-heavy metal heat stabilizers; Weston® NPF 705 100% Nonylphenol-Free Phosphite Stabilizers: and the newly reformulated, 50% more efficient Polybond 3029 lubrication agents.

3. Rohm and Haas adhesives - Robond, the company's water-based acrylic and solvent-free polyurethane laminating adhesives are said to offer competitive advantages to the dynamic food packaging industry, which is starting to replace solvent-based materials.

4. Cognis axle fluid - The synthetic axle lubricant Emgard FE enables truck builders and heavy-duty drive line manufacturers to lower the fuel consumption of their vehicles.

5. Panasonic recycling technology - Panasonic together with Kusatsu Electric Co. developed a catalytic reaction using titanium dioxide that can decompose plastics from electric and electronic equipments into harmless gases, thereby enabling the recovery of metals as well as eliminating the need for plastic incineration or landfill.

6. Planet Resource's waste oil treatment - Planet Resource Recovery said it was able to reduce barium contaminants in water from oil industry waste stream to an acceptable environmental levels. Current chemical treatment processes are said to be limited and can only effectively reduce the barium level by fifty percent.

7. Eastman copolyester - Eastman Chemical's Tritan copolyester is said to enable the manufacture of a new water bottle product line without the use of bisphenol- A. Eastman says the copolyester combines the chemical resistance and low residual stress of traditional copolyesters with higher heat resistance.