Beech, or rather beech wood is on the rise in Germany and is even used to manufacture bioplastics. However, similar to other tree species, beech also has to cope with the changing climate, meaning increasing temperatures and prolonged periods of drought. The researchers hope that the complete analysis of the beech genome could enable the targeted breeding of more climate-stress tolerant beech trees.

While the packaging industry has been moving towards using more renewable materials for quite some time now, the electronic industry has yet to adopt that strategy. The outer layers of coffee machines, computers and other devices are still mostly made of petrol-based plastics.

The global population is growing while resources are decreasing. Thus, the hitherto predominant diet of the industrialized nations, where people cover up to 70% of their protein needs from animal sources, will therefore no longer be sustainable in the near future. Although proteins are a necessary part of our diet, they can be obtained from a variety of sources. In addition to conventional meat and fish products as well as protein-rich vegetables such as soybean, there is another excellent protein source: insects.

Huge amounts of packaging waste accrue every day and much of it ends up polluting our oceans. However, not only the large pieces of plastic are dangerous to the environment but also the much smaller pieces of microplastic. And yet, they are still widely used in cosmetic care products such as scrubs and wash peelings. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Microstructure of Materials and Systems IMWS now developed a bio-based and – perhaps even more importantly – biodegradable alternative. 

Specialty chemicals company Clariant and biotechnology company Global Bioenergies have announced the development of a new bio-based polymer of renewable isobutene for cosmetic creams and lotions. 

The wide-spread disappaerance of insects has many causes, including environmental toxins and climate change. But regarding the high bee mortality of the past years, there is another culprit: the Varroa mite. This parasite has infected almost all bee colonies. The mites suck at the larvae and bees and weaken them. In addition, the Varroa mite also transmits pathogens.

The so-called heterosis effect is not only well-known among plant breeders, but also very popular. It describes the fact that a crossbreed of two maize inbred lines provides a significantly higher yield than either of the two parent plants. However, until now it has been unclear which molecular mechanisms this effect is based on.

Evonik and Siemens have entered into a joint research project called Rheticus. Approximately 20 researchers from both companies will be working on electrolysis and fermentation processes for the next two years. The first test plant is scheduled to go on stream by 2021 at the Evonik facility in Marl, Germany. This plant produces chemicals such as butanol and hexanol – both of which are the basis for special plastics and food supplements.

Surgery is always risky and a burden on patients, even if they are successful. A research cooperation of several companies and the Thuringian Institute for Textile and Plastics Research (TITK), which is funded by the Federal Ministry of Economics, now wants to eliminate a major inconvenience of these treatments: They are developing a suture made of bio-based synthetic fibers, which would besafer and more comfortable for the patients.

Twenty years ago, the Great Pacific Trash island turned the world's attention to the problems caused by plastic waste. In particular, if, over time, the waste decomposes to microplastics, it endangers life in the seas.