June 2009 Archives

Speaking of California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, did you know that he is listed as the second greenest governor in the US following Governor Bill Ritter of Colorado?

This is according to Greenopia, which recently released its ranking of 50 Greenest Governors in the US. Following Schwarzenegger is Ted Kulongoski of Oregon. Sarah Palin of Alaska, Mitchell Daniels of Indiana, and Piyush Jindal of Louisiana were at the bottom 3 of the list.

"We looked at all 50 governors in the US and compared their policies, transparency, and interest group ratings and ranked them. It was a monumental task," said Doug Mazeffa, Greenopia's director of research. "Greenopia readers want to know which Governors are the eco-leaders, neutral or laggards, and especially identify those making repeated eco-gaffes."

Greenopia's Top 10 greenest governors list:
1. Bill Ritter (D) - Colorado
2. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) - California
3. Ted Kulongoski (D) - Oregon
4. Christine Gregoire (D) - Washington
5. John Baldacci (D) - Maine
6. Martin O'Malley (D) - Maryland
7. Bill Richardson (D) - New Mexico
8. James Douglas (R) - Vermont
9. Jon Corzine (D) - New Jersey
10. Jodi Rell (R) - Connecticut

There had been a lot of news on electric vehicles launch and development and I was unable to post them until now

First stop, last week, US petrochemical company ExxonMobil Chemical launched an electric car sharing and rental program called AltCar in Baltimore, Maryland, alongside Canadian battery developer Electrovaya.

Vehicles in the program called the Maya-300, are powered by lithium ion battery technology that uses ExxonMobil's battery separator film, which the company manufactures in Nasu, Japan, together with Japanese affiliate TonenGeneral.

ExxonMobil said Baltimore residents and tourists can rent the vehicles at the science center in the Baltimore Inner Harbor during the day. (I wonder how much is the rent though?) Aside from the program, the company also invested in an exhibit for the science center that includes hands-on activities for children and a full-scale car that showcases clean transportation technologies currently being used in the automotive industry.

Got this email this morning from the Natural Marketing Institute.

Top 10 Clues That You're an Environmentalist:

1. Your workplace doesn't have recycling so you bring everything home
2. Your Tupperware® collection consists of reclaimed takeout containers, yogurt containers, and salvaged jars
3. You have maximized the number of places to dry Ziploc® bags in your kitchen
4. You glare at people at the store who don't have a canvas bag
5. You double-glare at the ones who ask for things to be double-bagged
6. You don't blink when paying $5/pound for local, heirloom tomatoes
7. Your conscience prevents you from jet skiing, despite it looking SO fun
8. You worry about cow flatulence
9. You have visions of drowning polar bears each time you adjust the thermostat
10. Your friends have finally stopped asking you for advice on how to be green, knowing you will offer it soon enough...
    

Scientists at the University of Delaware say they have developed a new hydrogen storage method that can hold vast amounts of hydrogen at a far lower cost than other hydrogen storage systems under consideration.

The researchers used chicken feather fibers, which they said are mostly composed of keratin, a natural protein that forms strong, hollow tubes. When heated, the protein strengthen its structure and becomes more porous, increasing its surface area. The net result is carbonized chicken feather fibers, which can absorb as much or perhaps more hydrogen than carbon nanotubes or metal hydrides, two other materials being studied for their hydrogen storage potential.

"Carbonized chicken feather fibers have the potential to dramatically improve upon existing methods of hydrogen storage and perhaps pave the way for the practical development of a truly hydrogen-based energy economy," says Richard P. Wool, professor of chemical engineering and director of the University's Affordable Composites from Renewable Resources (ACRES) program.

Wool estimates that it would take a 75-gallon tank to go 300 miles in a car using carbonized chicken feather fibers to store hydrogen.

Biomethane and fertilizer from chicken poop, hydrogen from chicken feathers....plus a delicious fried chicken meal...I might have to start my own chicken farm soon!

My colleagues from ICIS are in full-force covering this week's largest plastic trade show in North America, NPE2009, in Chicago sponsored by the Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI). I've been also getting a lot of bioplastic updates from twitterer @Wi_Bioplastic (thanks!).

As ICIS reported, bioplastics, recycling, energy conservation, and additives regulation were the talk of the show. Bioplastics are said to be increasingly showing up in durables as manufacturers compete to make their products stand out.

Still, the industry as a whole, is not yet familiar with bioplastics which is a challenge, a member of the Society of Plastics Engineers said.

Maybe that's why it's good that the NPE has its green pavilion featuring various bioplastic exhibitors such as Metabolix, Cereplast, DuPont, Enso, Arkema (100% biopolymer for textile) and Sabic. I asked Wi_Bioplastic about Sabic and he said they offer a biocomposite plastic with 30% ag-feedstock-based.

Wi_Bioplastic also twitted that the show's IT pavilion featured exhibitors such as Samsung and LG who are showing their latest bioplastic-based gadgets. SPI's bioplastic council also gave a speech about supporting market development for bioplastics, working hand-in-hand with traditional plastics, and overcoming challenges such as greenwashing and lack of consumer education about bioplastics.

Finally, I was able to read more about the new Cash for Clunkers bill now to be officially called Car Allowance Rebate System (C.A.R.S) by July 22, which was passed by the US Congress last week and about to be signed by President Obama. This bill generated several debates as well although not as intense as the ACES bill.

Inserted as a tiny small bill called "Consumer Assistance to Recycle and Save Act of 2009" under the War Appropriations Act HR 2346, this $1 billion stimulus bill aims not only to help revive the auto industry but to also supposedly drive purchase of more fuel-efficient vehicles.

The "cash for clunkers" bill provides a cash incentive to dealerships to be applied to a consumer's purchase of a new vehicle. The vehicle to be traded in and scrapped must get less than 18 mpg combined, be manufactured since 1984, be in drivable condition, and have been insured for the past year. Consumers must then purchase a vehicle that gets 4 more miles per gallon than their old vehicle for a $3500 incentive, or 10 more miles per gallon for $4500.

For light trucks, a 5 mpg gain nets a $4500 incentive, while a 2 mpg gain is worth $3500. This incentive will be, for all intents and purposes, exclusive to vehicles with a resale value that is lower than the incentive value, meaning the greatest concentration of eligible vehicles will be large cars, pickup trucks, and SUVs that are more than 8 years old.

And once the $1 billion appropriated for the program runs out (good for an estimated 250,000 vouchers), it's over unless Congress extends the program. For more information, a new organization "Cash for Clunkers" was set up to educate the public about the bill. And yes, they're on tweeter too!

As mentioned, this bill should help the environment by trading in their gas-guzzling cars with more fuel-efficient vehicles right?

Last week Friday, Canada's Minister of Health announced their planned proposal to ban phthalates in soft vinyl toys and child-care articles as well as further reduction limits of lead in consumer products.

Canada is proposing regulations to prevent the use of six phthalates DEHP, DINP, DBP, BBP, DNOP and DIDP citing studies that suggest these chemicals are hazardous to reproduction and development in children.

The proposed Consumer Products Containing Lead (Contact with Mouth) Regulations would limit the lead content for all affected products such as toys for children under three years of age; mouthpieces used in sports equipment, (i.e. snorkels); mouthpieces of musical instruments; pacifiers; teethers; baby bottle nipples; plastic beverage straws; and drinking cup spouts; to a maximum of 90 milligrams of lead per kilogram of product (90 mg/kg).

The American Chemistry Council (ACC) released a statement saying that the Health Canada's proposal about phthalates has no scientific basis in meeting the stated objective of protecting the health and safety of Canadian children.

ACC said they are willing and able to demonstrate the sound science behind phthalates.

"We urge the agency to review the strong body of scientific evidence and to consider carefully the real risks to children in addressing potential restrictions."

"The bottom line is that CBO predicts the net costs of the global warming reduction program in H.R. 2454 will be relatively modest. The lowest-income households would actually gain under the bill. The second-lowest income households would face average daily costs of only 11 cents. And energy efficiency measures alone would save the average household nearly as much money as the pollution reduction programs would cost under this bill."

I haven't seen this yet but definitely worth checking out during my lunch break.

A new real-time global carbon counter was unveiled last week in the heart of New York City at 33rd Street and 7th Avenue, outside Madison Square Garden and Penn Station (near Macy's). The installer, Deutsche Bank said this world's first scientifically valid, real-time carbon counter is part of their climate-change awareness and education initiative.

The 70-foot-tall digital billboard Carbon Counter displays the running total of long-lived 24 greenhouse gases (excluding ozone and aerosols) in the atmosphere based on measurements developed by scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

The current quantity of GHG in the atmosphere as shown by the Carbon Counter is 3.64 trillion metric tons, increasing by approximately 2 billion metric tons per month. Businessgreen.com reported the counter would lag slightly behind real time (according to MIT) as the rate of increase in emissions would be based on data collected on a monthly basis.

If you're wondering the footprint of this billboard, Deutsche Bank said it is generated by low-energy light emitting diodes (LEDs).

The Carbon Counter Number is available 24 hours a day at know-the-number.com and widgets can also be downloaded at Deutsche Bank's website.

This news came in this morning from Procter & Gamble (P&G) Chemicals about their green alkyd resin Chempol® MPS winning this year's EPA Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge award under the category Greener Chemicals Design.

The resin is based from P&G's Sefose technology which is produced from combined sugar and vegetable oil. Chempol® MPS enables formulation of paints and coatings with less than half the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of traditional, solvent-borne alkyd coatings, according to P&G.

The resin was developed and jointly being commercialized by P&G Chemicals and Cook Composites and Polymers (CCP). According to the companies replacement of conventional alkyd resins by Chempol® MPS could:

(1) reduce VOCs equivalent to the emissions from 7,000,000 cars per year;
(2) reduce ground-level ozone by 215,000 tons per year; and
(3) save 900,000 barrels per year of crude oil from the solvents and alkyd polymers it replaces.

CCP launched the resin in October 2008 and began actively sampling the coatings industry. P&G said it is also evaluating and testing Sefose® oils as biobased alternatives to replace petroleum-based lubricants.

Other recipients of the 2009 EPA Green Chemistry award include:

• Eastman Chemical with their "Solvent-Free Biocatalytic Process for Cosmetic and Personal Care Ingredients" (Greener Synthetic Pathways Award)
  

• CEM Corporation's "Analyzer Tags Proteins for Fast, Accurate Results without Hazardous Chemicals or High Temperatures" (Greener Reaction Conditions Award)
  

• Virent Energy Systems for their BioForming® Process: Catalytic Conversion of Plant Sugars into Liquid Hydrocarbon Fuels (Small Business Award)
  

• Professor Krzysztof Matyjaszewski of Carnegie Mellon University for his study "Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization: Low-impact Polymerization Using a Copper Catalyst and Environmentally Friendly Reducing Agents" (Academic Award)

For this week's upcoming posts, the green blog will have more plastic updates to coincide with this week's plastic feature from ICIS Chemical Business (ICB). Included in the feature is the state of plastic recycling as well as new regulations driving plastic research and development.

The blog will also look at the recently passed Cash for Clunkers bill, the emerging issues in the US organic industry, and maybe some tidbits from this week's Green Chemistry conference by the American Chemical Society. Stay tune!

For now here are this week's news roundup:

New bioplastic company
Bioethanol producer BioEnergy Int'l. has formed Myriant Technologies LLC to incorporate all of its biobased chemicals business and intellectual property. Myriant will encompass the same team of molecular biologists, engineers and chemists that developed BioEnergy's D(-) lactic acid, which started production at commercial scale in June 2008 for use in polylactic acid (PLA).

Dow's GHG reduction project
Dow Chemical and Gazprom Marketing and Trading Ltd. formed a deal to develop and implement greenhouse gas reduction projects on a global basis. They will identify projects that could cumulatively reduce millions of tons of carbon dioxide emissions through the implementation of Dow technologies and other cooperative efforts.

• Bisphenol-A Exposure In Utero Leads to Epigenetic Changes and Altered Developmental Programming, by Hugh Taylor, MD
• Low-Dose Bisphenol A Promotes Arrhythmogenesis in the Female Heart Via Alteration of Calcium Handling, by Scott M. Belcher, PhD
• Oral Exposure of Female Rhesus Monkeys..., by Frederick vom Saal, PhD.
  

"With 30,000 chicken farms in the United States alone, the market for this technology could be ripe for the picking -- particularly given that American consumers, over the last several decades, have been eating more and more chicken."

Following Mickey Mouse's carbon footprint, Bugs Bunny and the rest of Six Flags amusement park's characters are joining to save world from the evil greenhouse gas emissions...and save money at the same time.

Six Flags said all their vehicles and trains will now use vegetable oil (as biodiesel) generated in Six Flags kitchens. They will also be able to save energy consumption using LED lamps and lights throughout each four parks.

Other initiatives include:

* The installation of low-flow, high efficiency water fixtures throughout the parks
* The purchase of fuel efficient vehicles to replace older models
* The use of water saving plants and groundcover at all parks
* Paper recycling programs at all parks

Six Flags is also looking at solar energy to reduce the amount of their electricity purchase.

• Demand for Energy-efficiency Offers High Potential for Electric Drives in the European Chemical Industry.
  

• Government Incentives for Renewable Energy to Boost the North American Renewable Energy Market.

• China Heading Toward 'Green' Cars.

• Smart Grid Industry Opportunities in China.
  

• Energy-Efficient Lighting Products Boost Revenues in South Africa.
  

• Breakthrough Thin-Film Technologies to Dominate the Solar Power Sector
  

• Emission Targets are Forcing Vehicle Manufacturers to 'Lose Weight'

SusChem Chairman Rodney Townsend said "We welcome the launch of the F3 Factory - another example of the SusChem approach - and thank the companies and the EU for their support. If the F3 production model were extended on a broader scale, massive savings in cost and energy could be made - almost 4 billion euro according to the consortium".

Adding to the confusion of bioplastic definition (see comments on previous bioplastic post) is another growing sector, the development of biodegradable petroleum-based plastics.

I'm sure petroleum-plastics eventually degrade give or take a century or so (maybe even several decades if we're lucky). But brilliant chemists have found ways to make petroleum-based plastics degrade faster - either by combining them with natural-based materials (e.g. polylactic acid, starch, sugar...) or by adding plastic degrading additives.

In April, American Trade Products (ATP) introduced its Earth Plastic, a 100% biodegradable and recyclable post-consumer plastic that has a proprietary blend of additives that enables it to break down in landfill and compost environments.

ATP said the resins are already being used in a line of 100% biodegradable paint
trays and sundries available at The Home Depot, select Wal-Mart stores, and Sherwin-Williams across the US.

Also in April, Enso Bottles launched their biodegradable polyethylene (PET) bottles EcoPure that uses plastic degrading additives from Bio-Tec Environmental.

According to Enso, the bottles have the same physical properties as standard PET, can be recycled like PET, but do not fragment, degrade or break down from environmental conditions such as UV, moisture and oxygen. EcoPure biodegrade through natural microbial digestion.

ENSO bottles assured that the degradable bottles have been tested and validated for recyclability and biodegradability through an accredited third-party laboratory using American Society of Testing Materials' (ASTM) standard methodologies. ATP also had their products tested and certified as biodegradable by independent laboratories using the ASTM methods.

Why these assurances?

Because the Association of Postconsumer Plastic Recyclers (APR) and the National Association for PET Container Resources (NAPCOR) are worried that there are no publicly-available data and testing on the potential impacts of these degradable additives to petro-based plastics' function, properties, and recyclability.

These additives are now termed as biodegradable, oxo-degradable and some photodegradable.

Both groups are calling for resin and packaging manufacturers especially PET to refrain from introductions of degradable additive-containing products until data is made available for review and verification.

Another company, Planet Green Bottle Corporation, said it has developed a masterbatch additive through its joint venture partner, Wells Plastic of the UK, which causes a PET plastic bottle to become oxo-biodegradable in landfills, ditches, rivers and oceans.

Planet Green launched its oxo-biodegradable PET plastic bottle last March.

Stay tune for more bioplastic information from my upcoming article on June 29.

Another addition to my biopesticide saga, although this might be my last this summer.

For this post, SC Johnson is making sure that one of their key natural insecticide ingredient, Pyrethrum extracted from the dried flower heads of chrysanthemums, is benefiting farmers in East Africa (as well as them of course).

SC Johnson initiated a U.S. Agency for International Development (US AID)-funded project starting this month where Rwanda pyrethrum farmers by helping them enhance the collection, drying and transportation of higher-quality pyrethrum flowers. The 28-month long project will not only ensure sustainable supply of Pyrethrum for SC Johnson but will hopefully increase the farmers' incomes.

The new project will focus on improving pyrethrum yields, quality and production through farmer organization, advanced technology and more effective agricultural practices.

SC Johnson said global demand for pyrethrum is twice as high as current supply. The company plans to increase pyrethrum content and production from last year's 400 tons of dried flowers to 1200 tons in 2010.

SC Johnson has purchased pyrethrum from East Africa for more than 40 years.

Speaking of natural pesticides, I came across several recent announcements about them. One of course is from DuPont's new catnip-based insecticide, which I already posted last month.

Another is using carbon dioxide "dry ice" snow to freeze bed bugs and their eggs/larvae. NJ-based pest management company Bell Environmental Services (BES) said that they are one of the few companies that use the Instant Freeze technology.

Researchers from the University of Saskatchewan, meanwhile, are developing new fungicides called "paldoxins" found in plant-produced natural chemicals called phytoalexins, which kills disease-causing fungi.

The researchers discovered the most powerful phytoalexin in a flowering plant called camelina or "false flax." The researchers now have developed six different synthetic versions of the paldoxins, which are essentially potent inhibitors of fungal enzymes.

Got the copy of my latest article about biopesticide, with pretty cool (and a little gross) graphic of a venus flytrap.

As previously tweeted, I was intrigued by how the biopesticide industry have been struggling in the overall pesticide and crop protection market despite their products having the benefits of being environment- and regulatory-friendly (especially in the US when it comes to EPA regulation).

The truth of the matter is (and like what the chemical industry has been warning for years), companies cannot just simply market a product as green or environment-friendly. It has to be efficient in doing what it's supposed to do.

I guess that's what happened in the biopesticide industry which is mostly populated with small-to-medium enterprise. Pesticides in the US, whether traditional or bio-based (as according to the EPA biopesticide definition) has to be registered, and that cost money as well. How can small companies compete with big global agchemical giants especially when it comes to marketing and registering their products? Farmers will probably choose a well-known, efficient maybe even cheaper, brands over a privately-labeled, albeit a greener product.

That's what I use to do (and still is most of the time) when buying a cleaning product.

The good news is that the green trend itself is empowering biopesticides to be more noticeable these past few years. Consumers clamor food and agricultural products that have less or no chemical residues on them. Growers and farmers are also demanding safer pesticides for health reasons.

Agchems are now actively seeking out or having marketing deals with biopesticide businesses. It is much like the cosmetics, personal care and cleaning industries where giants such as Clorox, Church & Dwight, L'Oreal, Colgate have dipped into the natural (and organics) market - some through acquisitions (remember Burt's Bees and Toms of Maine?).

This year alone, BASF formed a marketing deal with US biopesticide company AgraQuest; Bayer acquired certain businesses of Israel-based biopesticide firm Agrogreen; and Bayer is also rumored to have acquired a stake at Dutch biopesticide company Koppert. The blogger was unable to get a confirmation from Bayer (ignored my request more likely).

It is encouraging for the biopesticide industry to see this kind of activities but they remain vigilant for any "snake oil" companies that could ruin their reputation. According to one member of the US-based Biopesticide Industry Alliance (BPIA), the industry is trying to become much better stewards of their technology in the marketplace so that people who use their products will be more confident that what they claim is credible.

A new report from consulting firm Kline & Company said that the green trend is affecting customers of specialty biocides within the cleaning products sector.

Biocides are chemicals used as antimicrobials (and disinfectants). Specialty biocides used in disinfectants and sanitizers in household, industrial, and institutional cleaners was estimated at $130 million in 2008, with growth at 2.9%, said Kline.

The overall U.S. specialty biocide market was just under $2.0 billion last year.

Kline points out the rising use of more environmentally friendly biocides in disinfectants and sanitizers compared to other biocide formulations. Biocides which are highlighted as being environmentally friendly are those which break down quickly to non-polluting constituents with no potential to bioaccumulate.

"Although green cleaning products only comprise a small percentage of the total household, industrial, and institutional cleaning products market, sustainability and environmental responsibility is where the industry is focused," says Anna Ibbotson, Industry Manager at Kline's Chemicals and Materials practice.

"As there is currently no uniform industry definition for green, it creates a huge challenge for chemical suppliers to develop and then position their products to address this market movement."

Speaking of Clorox, the company just launched last week their latest green cleaning products, Green Works™ Natural Laundry Detergent and Green Works™ Natural Laundry Stain Remover. The new Green Works laundry products will be available next month.

Clorox said the products are specially formulated to work in both standard and high efficiency (HE) washers.

As mentioned in this week's news roundup, I attended Dow Corning's worldwide press conference (this one held in New York last week) where part of their agenda is to reinforce the company's goals toward sustainability.

Dow Corning is a major silicone producer based in Midland, Michigan. The company plans for more than 50% of its R&D projects to geared towards sustainability. In an interview with Dow Corning's CEO Stephanie Burns, she noted that 40-45% of the company's innovation projects are already linked in sustainability.

"So that 50% target is expected to increase soon," she said. "For us sustainability is a business opportunity, the way in which we can become the supplier of choice and a business partner of choice, by meeting the needs of both our customers and of society."

I saw this bit "How to check if your compost is ready" a few months back and forgot about it until somebody retweeted it today (thanks to @greenbiztweets).

It is very timely as I just finished my bioplastic article, which talked about compostable plastics. Check that one coming out on June 29!

If you really want to learn how to compost your organic stuff (food waste...etc) the Fun Times Guide blog and natural personal care products producer Seventh Generation have some tips to share.

Underwriters Laboratories or UL is well known for its safety product testing (just look at the back of your electric appliances for their symbol). Now their venturing into the Eco logo categories with their first-ever green validation announced a few days ago.

UL (through its new subsidiary UL Environment) said it has validated environmental claims for a new drywall product, EcoRock(TM), manufactured by green building materials manufacturer Serious Materials. (seriously, I don't know how they came up with these company names lol!)

UL verified that EcoRock contains 80% recycled content; produces low volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions that meets California standard 01350; that it is mercury free; and is highly resistant to mold.

Serious Materials claimed that EcoRock is the only true green alternative to gypsum drywall right now (can UL verify that??) and that EcoRock, is said to be five times more environmentally friendly than standard gypsum drywall.

"Its manufacturing process eliminates heaters, dryers, calcining, and the burning of fossil fuels. Using EcoRock instead of gypsum drywall would eliminate up to 20 billion pounds of CO2 emissions per year in North America," said Serious Materials. (verify pls!)

Natural-based glycerine production and reducing greenhouse gas emissions are Cargill's recent top green news.

Cargill said today that it has successfully registered and sold over 400,000 tonnes of Verified Emission Offsets through the Canadian Standards Association. The emission offsets originate from a methane gas capture project at the wastewater treatment system of its beef processing facility in High River, Alberta.

Blue Source Canada, an emission offset service and marketing company, worked with Cargill to develop a means to quantify the environmental impact and market the resulting emission offsets. 25% of the Alberta facility's natural gas usage is said to have been displaced by the project through the capture of biogas.

Meanwhile in Europe, Cargill just started its new glycerine refinery in Frankfurt, Germany, adjacent to its biodiesel production in the Höchst Industrial Park after nine months of construction.

Glycerine is a co-product of biodiesel manufacture and is used in many diverse applications.

The opening of the new refinery has created seven new positions at the Frankfurt site, Cargill said. There has been an increase in demand for refined glycerine in Europe, according to the company.

PS

In relation to glycerine, I received a press release two weeks ago that major oleochemical (chemicals made from natural fats and oils such as glycerine) producer Cognis Oleochemicals has now renamed itself as Emory Oleochemicals.

Malaysian-headquartered Emory is owned by Sime Darby Plantation Sdn Bhd and PTT Chemical International Private Ltd, after they acquired it from German specialty chemical company Cognis.

Aside from glycerine, the company produces fatty acids, fatty alcohols, triacetin, ozone acids, plastic additives and oilfield chemicals with manufacturing facilities in Germany, Malaysia, US, and Canada.

The palm oil industry has been the center of environmentalists' focus because of widespread deforestation going on (especially in Indonesia) blamed on some palm plantation owners.

Unilever have already promised to sustainably source their palm products feedstock while European fuel producer Neste Oil announced yesterday that they too will use solely certified sustainably-sourced palm oil for their biodiesel production by the end of 2015.

In the US and South America, however, soybeans are the main feedstock used for biodiesel production. South America is also the target of environmetalists' ire as soybean farming (Argentina and Brazil are the world's largest producers aside from the US), threaten to destroy some of the region's forests and savannahs.

Like the Round Table on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) association, where Unilever and Neste are participants, a Round Table on Responsible Soy Association (RTRS) was formed (in 2006) to guide the soy industry into being a responsible producer and consumer of soybeans and products.

Last week, RTRS agreed to implement a pilot program of voluntary production standards aimed at reducing the negative impacts of soy production on the environment and people, particularly in South America.

The World Wildlife Fund, which is a member of both RSPO and RTRS, said the new standards will include prohibitions on the conversion of areas with high conservation value - such as forests and savannahs - reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and eliminating the most hazardous pesticides in soy farming.

WWF said the RTRS now needs to develop a certification system to verify compliance with the standards and establish methods to trace the soy.

I have no idea that there is such a thing as World Environment Day but I was reminded from this corporate e-mail that came in from Reed Elsevier (our parent company) this morning:

--------------------------

Dear Colleagues,

Today, on World Environment Day, I would like to reiterate RE's support for environmental improvement.

While we work to meet all our environmental targets, our focus this year is reducing carbon emissions from transportation. Between 2007 and 2008, we reduced transport emissions by 16%, but I believe we can go farther, and new tools we are introducing across Reed Elsevier. In doing so, we can reduce consumption and also cost.

We are also today formally launching an Environmental Standards programme to help us meet our environmental targets. Last year, over ten locations across all four divisions achieved five of the RE Environmental Standards, which include per person consumption targets. In addition, Elsevier Philadelphia became the first Reed Elsevier location to achieve a US Environmental Protection Agency Energy Star award.

We are committed to advancing our environmental activities. For example, last year we began collecting environmental data from our supply chain to understand the full impact of our products and services. We also identified our offices in water stress areas and have begun to review further water reduction efforts in these locations.

Our greatest environmental contribution is our extensive internal expertise. We have leading environmental products and services such as the International Journal on Climate Change, New Scientist, The Environmental Law and Climate Change Centre, and Pollutec, the world's largest environmental engineering show. In addition, over 400 employees are involved in Green Teams - local networks of environmental volunteers across the group. You can also play a part; please share your thoughts on the Reed Elsevier Green Forum.

Thank you for your help in this important area.

-----------------------------------

"Climate change is a bottom line issue and investors have a right to know which companies are best positioned for the emerging clean energy global economy."

The study reports that while some climate related disclosure was common in the electric power, coal and oil & gas industries, most filings in these sectors reportedly lacked the level of detail that investors require. Many companies in the insurance and transportation sectors reportedly failed to provide any disclosure on climate-related risks and opportunities whatsoever.

A recent Reuters survey indicate that green collar workers (about 68% of those who were polled) felt secured in their jobs because of heightened response in the past few years from government and business to the threat of climate change.

The Reuters' Carbon Salary Survey, conducted along with green sector recruiters Acre Resources and consultants Acona, polled nearly 1,200 professionals who work in areas like renewable energy and greenhouse gas emissions trading.

The average green collar worker makes $76,000 per year, the survey showed, with half of respondents receiving an annual bonus of around $11,000. The other half received no bonus.

U.S.-based workers were said to be the best paid, receiving salaries averaging $100,000, while Australasia followed closely with $93,000. Workers in Asia earned the least at $41,500.

Those working in the financial and legal sectors had the highest average salary ($116,000) and annual bonus ($95,500) while people working in green marketing, PR or media were the worst paid at $58,000 a year --> Hmmm, something should be done about this!

Below are some of the recent survey's results:

Interesting debate from ooffoo.com about the sustainability of the organic food industry.

In the US, organic food sales still grew 16% last year already occupying almost 4% of all food products sales in the US, according to the Organic Trade Association. UK-based Soil Association reported that UK sales of organic food products increased by 19% in 2008 to £23.7 million ($38.2m).

In the ooffoo.com post, Tim Worstall of the think tank Adam Smith Institute thinks that organic farming is unsustainable because of the lack of land needed not only to produce organic crops but to provide and feed animals that are needed because of their manure to fertilize crops.

Molly Connisbee of the Soil Association turned the table around and asked if non-organic food is sustainable. Folks, she said, have to start eating more seasonally and locally; have less (but better quality) grass-fed meat (rather than the grain-stuffed beasts of industrial farming), and less dairy.

I doubt this will happen though as that would mean the demise of fast-food chains around the world. Personally, I think organic farming will always stay as a niche market. That's what the biopesticide industry thinks so too based on my recent interviews with several biopesticide companies (watch out for that June 15!).

A lot of chemical investments going on for next generation alternative energy storage (specifically lithium ion), which could accelerate the use of plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles in the near future.

Just this week, BASF announced its plans to build North America's largest cathode material production plant in Ohio as soon as it gets a grant under the Department of Energy's Electric Drive Vehicle Battery and Component Manufacturing Initiative (part of Obama's Recovery Act).

DOE's Argonne National Laboratory and BASF signed a global licensing deal to mass produce and market Argonne's patented composite cathode materials to lithium-ion batteries manufacturers.

Last month, BASF also started its new membrane electrode assembly (MEA) unit in New Jersey. MEA is a major component of fuel cell.

High-tech battery manufacturer Saft is also seeking a DOE grant to build a new high-volume lithium-ion cells and integrate batteries manufacturing plant in Jacksonville, Florida, for military vehicles, aviation, smart grid support, broadband backup power and other emerging applications. Saft proposed plant will cost up to $200 million and the company is expecting (or hoping) to get at least $100 million from the DOE, which will be announced in July.

I read an article from the New York Times' Green Inc. blog about their interview with hotelier Richard Spigler, president of Great Addresses, the company that manages the Carlyle and also the Savoy Suites in D.C.

Spigler talked about, among other green things, their hotel's green soap called Green Natura, which he said prevents soap from being wasted because of its hollowed-out doughnut like shape.

"With the Natura product, you still have a feeling like a nice big bar of soap," but without wasting as much."

Googling the Green Natura soap, it is labeled in several internet shopping sites as a waste reducing exfoliating body cleanser with this introduction:

"This innovative ergonomically shaped "waste reducing" soap has been designed to eliminate the unused center of traditional soap bars. This soap is cruelty free and contains no animal fat or byproducts. The carton is made from natural recycled packaging and printed with soy based inks."

There goes green soaps for you!

Consumer goods producer Unilever said governments especially in Southeast Asia particularly Indonesia should call for a moratorium on deforestation of tropical rainforest.

Unilever CEO Paul Polman said the destruction of the world's tropical rainforests accounts for about 20% of greenhouse gases, more than the entire transport sector.

"The consumer goods industry must exert pressure on the growers, through the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil and through buying decisions and commitments to purchase certified sustainable palm oil made available by suppliers."

Palm oil products account for 5% of total agriculture raw material volume Unilever consumed last year. The company plans all palm oil and derivatives used in its products to be sustainably sourced and traceable by 2015.

This has been going around the twittering world (in my twittering world anyway) which led to various outraged comments and further cynicism from various environmental/health advocates on bisphenol- A's (BPA) supposed safety as according to BPA manufacturers and the Food and Drug Administration.

A private meeting held on May 28 at a Washington, DC social club (The Cosmos Club) by members of the North American Metal Packaging Alliance (NAMPA) regarding BPA was leaked by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on May 29.

According to the memo supposedly obtained by the Sentinel, the meeting's goal was to develop potential communication/media strategies around BPA (there goes the communication strategy out of the window!).

Attending companies include Coca-Cola, Alcoa, Crown, North American Metal Packaging Alliance, Inc., Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA), American Chemistry Council (ACC), and Del Monte.

Unfortunately, the memo also include stated objectives such as:

• Attendees suggested using fear tactics (e.g. "Do you want to have access to baby food anymore?") as well as giving control back to consumers (e.g. you have a choice between the more expensive product that is frozen or fresh or foods packaged in cans) as ways to dissuade people from choosing BPA-free packaging."

• Finding their "holy grail" spokesperson who would be a "pregnant young mother who would be willing to speak around the country about the benefits of BPA."
  

• Focusing on more legislative battles and befriending people that are able to manipulate the legislative process. They believe a grassroots and legislative approach is favorable because the legislators worry about how the moms will react.

ICIS co-blogger Paul Hodges of the Chemicals & The Economy blog reported about this article from China Daily stating that after a year of plastic bag ban in China (which started on June 1, 2008), supermarkets cut their plastic bag use by 66%.

Statistics from China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) showed that the 106 outlets of Wal-Mart China had reduced plastic bag usage by 80% in the past year.

This could be a good PR weapon for plastic bag ban advocates here in the US. Some of the cities here in the US considering plastic bag ban or taxing plastic bags include Palo Alto, California; New York City; and Seattle. The states of Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, Texas and Virginia are also mulling on possible ban or tax.

Outside the US, even the Sultanate of Oman*; governments* of Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya; and the United Arab Emirates have certain regulations banning the production, trade and use of plastic polyethylene shopping bags with a thickness of less than 30 microns.

*ICIS articles - subscription required.

[Photo: Creative Commons]

Green chemical development heats up in May with new product launch announcements emailed to me. Do they deserve to be in the green chemical category or not?

1. Low VOC construction chems - Specialty product manufacturer RectorSeal® has added Low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) solvent cements, primers and cleaners to its line of quality products for the building and construction trades.

2. Battery separator for electrics - ExxonMobil Chemical developed two new grades of V series co-extruded battery separator films to help make lithium-ion batteries safer than ever before for hybrid and electric vehicles, power tools and electronic devices including laptop computers.

3. Bio-hydraulic fluid - Dow Chemical's Performance Fluids Business introduces DOW™ SYMBIO base fluid and hydraulic fluid, containing more than 50% high oleic canola oil. The biodegradable fluids is available on a direct sales basis or through authorized Dow distributors starting this month.

4. Green fuel additive - EthosFR+ fuel additive, which reportedly reduces vehicle emissions by 30% and increases gas mileage by 7%-19% is now available for direct purchase by consumers by the group ReduceMyEmissions.com.

5. New green propellant - Honeywell said its new HFO-1234ze propellant is reducing the global-warming impact of some industrial aerosol cleaning products by up to 99.6%. In some aerosol applications, HFO-1234ze can reportedly serve as a direct replacement for HFC-134a.

6. PVC replacement - Spartech Corporation introduced EnviroSeal™, a family of sealable, polyester products designed to replace clear, rigid PVC packaging such as blister packaging, clamshells, produce containers, display boxes and containers.

7. Natural flavors - Flavors and fragrance company WILD Flavors has developed an acid-stable, naturally-derived blue color additive for use in food and beverage applications. WILD's blue color additive is manufactured completely with fresh fruit.

I'm back from my short vacation and I am swamped with looming deadlines unfortunately. Because of that, some of my weekend news this week are from ICIS news (which is subscription based) so pls. bear with me if the links do not go straight to the company/organization's press releases.

Arizona closes plant
Arizona Chemical confirmed to ICIS news that will permanently close its chemical plant in Port St Joe, Florida, in July, affecting about 77 jobs. The Port St Joe plant produces pine-based rosins, rosin esters and fatty acids for the adhesives, oleochemicals and inks industries.

Green cement JV
The Polish office for Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) has approved a 'green cement' joint venture between Ciech and French construction materials giant Lafarge, reported ICIS news. The base material for the cement would come from converting industrial fly ash from a Soda Polska Ciech sodium carbonate plant in central Poland.