UK biotech company Toraphene says it is preparing to unveil the world’s first truly biodegradable, compostable and commercially viable alternative to plastic packaging. The company has developed a new material, also called Toraphene, that uses biopolymers that “compost naturally and biodegrade without human intervention, even in the ocean.” The biopolymers are combined with graphene, a variant of carbon (or allotrope , to be precise) whose modern rediscovery and isolation at the University of Manchester in 2004 led to a Nobel Prize. While biodegradable plastics currently exist, they rely on commercial composting, which uses energy to heat the compost, as well as presenting other logistical challenges. For example, in 2019, the BBC found that compostable plastics in Wales were going to landfills rather than being composted because almost all local councils were unable to deal with them. In addition, some bioplastics produce methane gas when they decompose, a compound with a global warming potential 25 times that of CO2. Toraphene can be optimized to mostly produce CO2 along with mulch that can be used to fortify topsoil. Gaute Juliussen, CEO and Founder of Toraphene, commented: “Amidst a climate crisis, plastic waste is known to be a huge, global problem and […]

Latest Articles
Bamboo Diapers are Better for your Wallet and the Planet
Takeaways: DYPER bamboo diapers have no latex, alcohol, chlorine, lotion, phthalates or TBT.
These diapers are made out of fibers from responsibly-sourced bamboo.
“We...
10 Ways Sustainability and Your Health Go Hand-in-Hand
Takeaways: Some ways sustainability and health are interconnected include how we manage the food we eat and how it impacts climate change.
The way...
Digital Management System Can Substantially Reduce Wastewater Facilities’ Energy Use
Takeaways: Xylem has created a digital platform that can help wastewater utilities manage aeration and chemical use.
This will help operation improve nutrient removal,...
How do Octopuses Change Color?
Takeaways: Octopus change colour to blend in with their surroundings.
They are able to change colour because they have chromatophores which are tiny, colour-changing...
Vladimir Putin, Climate Hero
Vladimir Putin, Climate Hero
By Grant Brown, Founder, Happy Eco News There is little doubt that Vladimir Putin is a bully. He is the worst kind, a...
10 Delicious and Climate-Friendly Superfoods You Should Be Eating
Takeaways: Our diets might be impacted by the effects of climate change but luckily there are several superfoods that are low in carbon emissions...