Dear EarthTalk: what are the environmental pros and cons of corn-based plastic as an alternative to conventional petroleum-based plastic?
Dear EarthTalk: What are the environmental pros and cons of corn-based plastic as an alternative to conventional petroleum-based plastic? --Laura McInnes, Glasgow, Scotland Polylactic acid (PLA), a plastic substitute made from fermented plant starch (usually corn) is quickly becoming a popular alternative to traditional petroleum-based...

China BlueChem develops environment-friendly plastic bags.
On July 1st, 2008 China BlueChemical Ltd.(China BlueChem) and Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Science, have successfully developed a kind of environment-friendly plastic bags made from carbon dioxide degradable materials. The bags can be wholly biodegraded in compost, leaving no impact on the environment. ...

Yingkou Yifeng develops special resin.
The special resin for rare earth modified environment-friendly plastic packaging material jointly developed by Liaoning Yingkou Yifeng Environmental Protection Materials Co., Ltd. (Yingkou Yifeng) and Fujian Modified Plastics Base has recently passed appraisal. The project uses rare earth compounding agent based on cerium and alkali inorganic powder...

Projects released in CCR February and March 2008.
Projects Released in CCR February and March 2008 Company Product Capacity Location Ticona Compounding 15 000 t/a Nanjing, Jiangsu province Jilin Fuel Alcohol Co., Ltd. Alcohol demonstration 3 000 t/a Yancheng, Jiangsu province Tianjin Boda Sulfuric Acid Industrial Co., Ltd. Sulfuric Acid 200 000 t/a Tianjin Hubei Dongsheng Chemical...

Dear EarthTalk: What's going on in the music industry with all the CDs and plastic CD holders undoubtedly generating a lot of plastic waste?
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), CDs and DVDs are typically manufactured by combining various mined metals (aluminum, gold, silver and nickel) with petroleum-derived plastics, lacquers and dyes. Given what complicated beasts CDs and DVDs are--products with thin layers of different materials mixed together are nearly impossible...

Green chemistry ensures the bright prospects of the chemical industry.
While promoting the progress of mankind, the development of the chemical industry, we must admit, has also brought with it negative impacts such as environmental damage and the greenhouse effect. Some well known environmental events including the hole in the ozone, white pollution, acid rain and eutrophication of bodies...

Tax on Plastic Bags Nixed by Senate Committee.
ENERGY RESOURCE-8 August 2008-Tax on Plastic Bags Nixed by Senate Committee(C)2008 JeraOne - http://www.jeraone.com A bill which would have placed a 25 cent tax on every plastic bag provided by a grocery store in California failed to pass the Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday. The...

Mazda commences development of cellulosic-based bioplastic.
Mazda Motor Corporation of Japan has signed a collaborative research agreement with Hiroshima University to launch the Mazda Bioplastic Project, which aims to develop a bioplastic from non-food-based cellulosic biomass and have it ready for use in vehicles by 2013. This bioplastic will not consume food resources...

World's fastest biodegradable plastic wins award for innovation.
A Malaysian university professor has been awarded a gold medal at the International Invention, Innovation and Technology Exhibition (ITEX 2008) for developing what is claimed to be the world's fastest biodegradable plastic. Hanafi Ismai of the Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), a lecturer in the Engineering and Mineral...

Lumson certified for green packaging.
* Cosmetic packaging manufacturer Lumson was formally recognized for its eco-sustainable philosophy by obtaining an Ecocert certification. According to the company, Lumson's policies, resource conservation and continuous improvement in environmental performance were found to be consistent with the stringent standards of Ecocert so as to obtain the...