April 2022

Inspired by the bacteria-killing wings of insects like cicadas, scientists have developed a natural antibacterial texture for use on food packaging to improve shelf life and reduce waste.

Goodyear has announced a multiyear, multimillion-dollar program supported by the US Department of Defense (DoD), the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) and BioMADE to work with Ohio-based Farmed Materials to develop a domestic source of natural rubber from a specific species of dandelion. Natural rubber has been classified as a strategic raw material that serves as a critical ingredient in military, aircraft and truck tires.

Food packaging applications help support a CAGR of 5.3% for biaxially oriented polyamide (BOPA) films in the run-up to 2030, study says.

Polymers were the first material group for additive manufacturing and remain the most often used material across all applications. The development and growth of metal AM systems has been a strong focus for the community over the last 10 years. Today, while still expanding use of metals, industries like aerospace, automotive, and energy are looking again to polymers. The availability of more high-performance polymers has the potential to improve the functionality of some critical AM components.

The certified circular polyethylene (PE) is produced via ExxonMobil’s Exxtend technology, which reportedly converts plastic waste into new products that match the quality and performance of products made using virgin resin.

The foaming process does not use substances deemed to be of very high concern, resulting in a smaller carbon footprint than other foaming techniques.

Extensive research into blown film extrusion in recent years has lead to the development of a UK-made problem solving technology for blown film extruders.

Using plastic litter to make new packaging isn’t enough. Who collects that waste and how they are compensated is also an important part of sustainability.

PFAS are called “forever chemicals” because they’re incredibly persistent. It can take four to 15 years for its levels to reduce by half in the human body, and it can take centuries for the substances to disappear from the environment, researchers said.

The local rubber industry has the potential to expand after the country recorded rubber exports worth RM71 billion last year, said Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin.

Vietnam is to tighten inspection of local agricultural products and packaging in a response to recent incidents in which products from the Southeast Asian country were reported to show signs of deliberate tampering with registered trademarks and origins, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).

The cabinet has approved an extension of a 25% corporate tax exemption for bio-plastic industry companies in order to promote Thailand as an Asean bio-hub.

IPG would be activated if the average monthly price of SMR 20 free on board (FOB) is at RM6.10 per kg or if the cuplump farm gate price falls below RM2.50 per kg. The Malaysian Rubber Board (MRB) said the Rubber Production Incentive (IPG) for smallholders was not activated in March 2022 in peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak.23

Malaysia is set to retain its position as the world’s number one rubber glove-producing nation in 2022 with export volume likely to expand by between 12 and 15 per cent, according to the Malaysian Rubber Glove Manufacturers Association (Margma).

China’s lockdowns to contain the country’s worst COVID outbreak since early 2020 have battered the economy, stalling production in major technology and financial hubs like Shenzhen and Shanghai, and halting spending by millions of people shut in their homes.