With PVC in the news again for its hazards as well as manufacturing practices, it’s time to focus on alternatives. Are there safer options that we can use instead of PVC?
Read MoreThere are a lot of chemicals in cosmetics, and that’s not a bad thing! With the current trend for natural and organic cosmetic ingredients, it may seem like there’s no place for chemicals, even green ones. But green chemists are bringing fresh ideas to an industry in need.
Read MoreAs the bioeconomy picks up steam and the chemical industry transitions to renewable feedstocks, production of biobased solvents is an increasingly important goal. ABE fermentation uses specialised bacteria to produce the popular solvents acetone, butanol, and ethanol from biomass.
Read MoreSilicone is largely recognised as a sometimes colourful, smooth, rubbery material, finding uses in children’s toys, kitchenware, and most controversially, breast implants. With recent movements to cut down on plastic, people looking for greener, more sustainable alternatives sometimes turn to silicone. But is silicone really a green material? What makes it different from plastic? Much like silicone itself, the answers aren’t so black and white.
Read MoreIt’s hard to imagine a world without vanilla. Used for flavouring and medicinal purposes in the ancient past and in everything from ice cream to perfumes today. It has commanded our attention since its first use around 3500 years ago. Now, a new green chemistry technique uses enzymatic technology to give us bio-vanillin, proving that vanilla’s ‘plain’ reputation is undeserved.
Read MoreTrue caffeine-free tea is only found in the realm of herbal “teas” (more accurately, tisanes) which are made from different plants that never contained caffeine in the first place. The desire for an afternoon cuppa that won’t risk your sleep has motivated the development of an entire industry of decaffeinated (decaf) products. Although you might assume from the name that decaf tea is entirely devoid of caffeine.
Read MoreLCA puts a number on how environmentally friendly a product is throughout its entire life cycle. It can also apply to processes, services, and even companies. LCA targets...
Read MoreWe spend about 87% of our time indoors between home, work, and shops. Sustainable chemistry innovation is critical to creating the materials we need to build safe, healthy indoor spaces.
Read MoreDid you know that bees can perceive time? Not even just simply tracking the Sun. Actual time measurements.
Read MoreEarth’s supply of helium is running low. Since we currently use a lot of it, we need to find alternatives. Here are some of its most common uses and the alternatives.
Read MoreCosmetics labelling regulations are confusing. We’ve put together this short guide to smooth the way and help you figure out what labels to put on your new beauty product.
Read MoreGreen chemistry start-ups are playing a vital enabling role in the UK's transition to a bioeconomy. But searching for the right funding or business support as a green chemistry business in the UK can be overwhelming. We’ve put together a list of sources to help.
Read MoreOur current problem with plastic recycling is that we aren’t doing it enough. Between 1950 and 2015, only 9% of the total plastic produced around the world was recycled, whilst nearly 60% of virgin plastics were used once and discarded. The figure below visualises what this plastics system looks like, with the tiny green section at the bottom showing reuse and recycling.
Read MoreDo you feel ready to bring your biobased products to market? Are you giving your products the best chance of survival? Research funded by the European Commission (EC) could give you the edge you need. The 2019 report analyses 15 successful biobased products, identifying the drivers for biobased success.
Read MoreThe green industrial revolution is happening right now. Governments, companies, and universities are all moving in the same direction. The UK government has made it clear that after the COVID-19 pandemic, their intention is to ‘build back greener’ and urgently pivot toward a green economy.
Read MoreRecently, we’ve started to question whether we can use solvents more sustainably. Many common solvents are hazardous petrochemicals, creating a big environmental footprint problem as well as putting workers at risk. So what can we do? Are there green alternatives to hazardous solvents?
Read MoreConsumers are increasingly informed and concerned about the impact products have on the environment. Brands are recognising this en masse and are pivoting their value chain toward a more sustainable biobased approach. The resulting demand for biobased products has brought forth a slew of new and innovative biobased products, some direct replacements for their petrochemical equivalents, and some considerably stranger.
Read MoreAcetone is a solvent with a broad range of uses. There’s a lot of research underway on how acetone replacement can be done – it’s quite a challenge. But why go to all the effort?
Read MoreHave you ever wanted a simple way to tell which chemical giants are trying to go green, and which aren’t? Now’s your chance.
Read MoreThe internet has been abuzz for years with facts about wombats – they can run at up to 25 miles per hour, take two weeks to digest a meal, and have frighteningly tough bums. Perhaps the most beloved wombat fact is that they poo in cubes.
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