Advanced, Renewable Materials
Bioplastics, Composites, and Biopolymers

 

This space is sometimes called renewable materials, biodegradable materials, "industrial biotech" or "white biotech," including biopolymers, bioresins, biocompsites, and so on.

With the recent upswing in biofuels, there is reason to believe that one or more of these markets will be next. Still, it takes many years to commercialize a new material and make money at it. See the In3-listed venture under the Manfacturing technology arena.

Contact us at 831-761-0700 or send email to info(@)in3inc.com for details of commercialization ventures that represent economically-advantageous businesses "in partnership with nature." A better design means better use of capital, better profits, and better ecology.

Bioplastics -- Carbohydrates, not Hydrocarbons

The so-called “Biorenewable Economy” is based on carbohydrates and other renewable feedstocks that can replace petroleum-derived materials for plastics and foams (such as those used as packaging or in food service), chemical fabrics used in automotive and buildings (from uphostery to wall coverings), and industrial films (used in "biobags," as wraps, coatings, and in agriculture) and more.

For example, starches (pea, potato, corn) can be modified and used to make cost-effective, durable, moisture-resistant cups, bowls, plates, foils, wraps, and flatware that can be composted along with food waste. Food-friendly versions of these materials have already been commercialized; some suppliers are working with industrial byproducts such as sugar cane bagasse or beet residue. Containers can be composted or in some cases returned directly to the earth as plant food.

This approach is perfect for one-time food services. Wal*mart and McDonalds have already figured this out. Others will follow.

The only commercial competitor in this arena had been EarthShell Container Corporation (IPO in July 1998) until current market lead NatureWorks LLC came on the scene in the late 1990's. NatureWorks LLC (formerly a joint venture between Cargill and Dow) initiated a $300 million manufacturing facility for its polylactic acid (PLA) materials in 1997; first shipment were in 2001. Only recently (Summer of 2006) has NatureWorks sold their full annual manufactured capacity, thanks to Wal-mart's Sams Clubs stores. Several other players are now competing with NatureWorks™ for control of this potentially huge and growing market, such as BASF, Metabolix (PHA's), and DuPont's Sorona™ material.

In contrast, see an October 2005 article about BioPlastics from In3 affiliate CleanEdge, Kernels of Hope for Bioplastics, taking a conservative view of the future of these materials. It is a fact that commercializing a new material is a slow process that requires patient money.

See article written by In3 advisor Rona Fried from the Buckminster Fuller Institute entitled The Carbohydrate Economy: Return to BioBased Products.

Shipping Logistics

Integrated closed-loop process innovation in transportation, commodity packaging, and waste management.

Unless you happen to work in one of these industries, few people realize how much waste and inefficiency exists in most produce, livestock, food-service, medical, agricultural and manufacturing industries. From redundant packaging to fuel-inefficient shipping logistics, waste can be extracted and substantially reduced from poorly designed products and processes yielding a significant increase in profit, with strong social and environmental benefits.

Industrial-scale Recycling of Textiles, Fabrics and Carpets

Large-scale composting and commercial recycling

Large-scale nylon carpet recycling creates pellets for the commercial felt padding and "greenboard" construction industries.

Other Biomimics and Closed Loop Innovations -- From Automotive to Clothing

An array of business innovations have arrived, with many more being proven, that use "closed loop" ideas to improve the way we manufacture, package, use, and "dispose" of things. The key is that waste equals food to another process. The most elegant designs eliminate the concept of "waste" altogether and, in the process, approach zero waste processes with zero useless output.

Other, fast-growth business arenas based on closed-loop principles:

Renewable Energy	Life Science & Agriculture	Water	BioLubricants, Cleaners and Solvents