plastics Archives - Manitoba Co-operator

Solvent casting. PHOTOs: UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA

Creating a canola-based plastic alternative

New research turns canola protein into strong, flexible films meant for food packaging

By Don Norman July 19, 2023

Canola growers may one day be able to add food packaging to their list of markets. New research at the University of Manitoba draws on canola meal protein as a feedstock for biodegradable food product packaging. “I think it’s a more sustainable solution to the challenges created by all the petroleum-based plastic food packaging materials,”

Agriculture has not escaped the pressure to cut back or find alternatives for plastics, including commonly used products like bale wrap.

News, Other

Agriculture an opportunity in the push against plastics

Agricultural residues are often critical pieces in bioplastics, including products now being developed as plastic alternatives for agriculture and agri-food

By Alexis Stockford June 3, 2021

The world according to bioplastic developers would look a lot more cyclical. In an age of campaigns against single-use plastic, zero-waste social media influencers and increased public interest in sustainable packaging, bioplastics — which replace polymers from fossil fuels with biological sources — have been touted as a biodegradable and sustainable alternative. But as much

News, Other

Avoiding the greenwash

Biodegradable does not always mean compostable when it comes to bioplastics

By Alexis Stockford June 3, 2021

“Biodegradable” bioplastics are not always equal, according to Amar Mohanty, director of the University of Guelph’s Bioproducts Discovery and Development Centre. In fact, he says, “the term ‘biodegradable’ is very misused by many people.” Bioplastics have been touted as a more sustainable option to traditional plastics, but not all bioplastics are biodegradable, and not all

News

Plastic shopping bags make a fine diesel fuel, researchers report

Instead of clogging up landfills and poisoning wildlife the bags can be fuelling vehicles

By University Of Illinois Release March 7, 2014

Plastic shopping bags, an abundant source of litter on land and at sea, can be converted into diesel, natural gas and other useful petroleum products, University of Illinois researchers report. The conversion produces significantly more energy than it requires and results in transportation fuels — diesel, for example — that can be blended with existing

Crops, News

BASF sees strong growth tied to GMO crop traits

By Carey Gillam June 16, 2012

Reuters / Global conglomerate BASF is rolling out a series of new plant science and plant protection products for farmers in the United States as it aims to increase its share of fast-growing markets, executives of the German chemical giant said. South America is also a target as BASF shifts its agricultural emphasis — and

Crops, News, Oilseeds

Ethiopian mustard a new biofuel option

By Alexis Kienlen May 14, 2012

Some of those yellow flowers you see blooming in Western Canada this summer might not be canola, but Ethiopian mustard, a new brassica crop intended for biodiesel and bioproducts. Kevin Falk, a research scientist with Agriculture Canada, specializes in breeding Polish canola and Ethiopian mustard, and has been working with them since 1995. He told

News

Fashionistas fancy green as the new black

By Reuters March 14, 2012

Could “green” be the new black? Perhaps if you can imagine wearing stilettos made from pistachio nuts and coffee beans and clothes from orange peel, fungi and mould. While the fashion pack is hitting the catwalks at Paris Fashion Week, students at London’s Kingston University are trying to lower the clothing and accessory industry’s carbon

Crops

4-H Reports – for Mar. 31, 2011

March 31, 2011

TheCo-operatorwill publish 4-H reports once a month. Reports can be submitted by the third week of the month by email to news@fbcpub lishing.com, by regular mail to 4-H Reports, c/oManitoba Co-operator,1666 Dublin Ave., Winnipeg, Man. R3H 0H1 or by fax to 204-954-1422. BINSCARTH HOMETTES “Fuelling the champions of tomorrow” is the purpose of “Project Pitstop,”

Country Crossroads

Questions For Reena – for Aug. 5, 2010

August 5, 2010

Hi Reena, I read your column in our paper and quite enjoy it. I bought an artificial plant, with grass-like plumes a few months ago. This plant has a very strange and disgusting odour. I didn’t notice it at first but some days it is quite unbearable. Is there anything I can do to get

Country Crossroads

Celebrating 10 Years Of Accomplishments

By Kim Langen June 24, 2010

It was a birthday party celebration of a different sort in Ninette, Manitoba. A jubilant group of adults and staff, all part of Southwest Community Options (SCO), recently lit up the candles there to mark 10 years of their progress in the little town. And it has been a remarkable decade. That’s because SCO was

Daily Network News

Huge crops in South America says analyst

U.S. livestock: ‘Cattle on feed’ report supports prices

U.S. grains: Wheat trades near contract lows under ample global supply

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