Sustainability News

RSS

New Findings Could Accelerate Development of Low-Cost, Commercially Available Plastic Solar Cells

Scientists have spent decades trying to build flexible plastic solar cells efficient enough to compete with conventional cells made of silicon. To boost performance, research groups have tried creating new plastic materials that enhance the flow of electricity through the solar cell. Several groups expected to achieve good results by redesigning pliant polymers of plastic into orderly, silicon-like crystals, but the flow of electricity did not improve.

5 Aug 2013

Algae Biomass Organization Begins Second Annual Summer of Algae Campaign

The Algae Biomass Organization (ABO), the trade association for the algae industry, announced today the kick off of its second annual "Summer of Algae," a national campaign sponsored by ABO and implemented by member companies, to raise awareness about the promise of commercial algae production to create jobs, domestic fuels, feed and food products, as well as plastics and biochemicals.

5 Aug 2013

Potsdam Specialty Paper Receives NYSP2I Award for Green Initiatives

The New York State Pollution Prevention Institute (NYSP2I) has recognized Potsdam Specialty Paper Inc. (PSPI) for innovative environmental efforts that have resulted in significant reductions in the plant’s waste and energy usage.

5 Aug 2013

Corn Ethanol May Become Sustainable Raw Material for Petroleum-Based Products

Ethanol from corn and other plants could become the sustainable, raw material for a huge variety of products, from plastic packaging to detergents to synthetic rubber, that are currently petroleum-based. This was the conclusion of an article published in the ACS journal Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research.

2 Aug 2013

Diverse Species of Algae to be Tested Together for Producing Environmentally Sustainable Biofuels

A team of University of Michigan researchers has been awarded a $2 million federal grant to identify and test naturally diverse groups of green algae that can be grown together to create a high-yield, environmentally sustainable and cost-effective system to produce next-generation biofuels.

1 Aug 2013