Just because you fit does not mean you belong.

Just because you fit does not mean you belong.

You can meet the expectations.

You can check every box.

You can play the role.

And still feel out of place.

Fitting in is about adapting.

Belonging is about alignment.

Here’s the difference ↓

→ Fitting in asks you to shrink parts of yourself

→ Belonging lets you show up fully

→ Fitting in requires constant effort

→ Belonging feels steady, not forced

→ Fitting in focuses on approval

→ Belonging comes from shared values

If you constantly feel drained, cautious, or muted:

Pay attention.

That discomfort is information.

You do not need to force yourself into spaces

that were never designed for who you are.

The right environment does not just accept you.

It supports you.

Repost now with others

source : Jen Blandos

Sunday's THOUGHTFUL Post : Seaweed packaging! Myth versus reality!

Sunday's THOUGHTFUL Post

Seaweed packaging! Myth versus reality!

Seaweed-based bioplastics offer promise as an alternative to conventional plastics, but they still face significant hurdles before becoming a mainstream choice. Here's why:

1. Performance Limitations:

- Mechanical Strength: Seaweed bioplastics are often weaker and more brittle than petroleum-based or PLA/PHB bioplastics.

- Water Sensitivity: Many seaweed bioplastics are highly hydrophilic, limiting their use for packaging liquids or in humid environments.

- Durability: These bioplastics have a limited shelf life and degrade over time, suitable for composting but challenging for usability.

2. High Cost of Production:

- Raw Material Costs: Harvesting, drying, and processing seaweed are labor- and energy-intensive.

- Low Yield: Extracting usable biopolymer components results in relatively low material output.

- No Economies of Scale: Limited mass production leads to higher costs compared to fossil-based plastics.

3. Supply Chain and Scaling Issues:

- Limited seaweed farming infrastructure and suitable farming conditions.

- Lack of processing facilities equipped for seaweed feedstocks.

4. Inconsistent Material Quality:

- Variability in seaweed species' chemical composition leads to difficulties in standardization and inconsistent product performance.

5. Lack of Industry Adoption and Certification:

- Few major companies have embraced seaweed-based materials.

- Biodegradability and compostability standards are not consistently met.

- Regulatory approval, especially for food-contact materials, can be slow and costly.

6. Niche Applications Only:

- Seaweed bioplastics are currently more suitable for single-use, low-performance items and local or artisanal products.

7. Communication:

- Seaweed has a great potential in feed, biostimulants, fertilizers, food, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. it also represents a true natural candidate for bioremediation or biogaz. Meanwhile it has been too often presented as the golden ingredient and many entrepreneurs have failed due to the slow demand or the cost of farming and transformation.

In conclusion, while seaweed bioplastics show potential in niche applications, they are not yet a viable replacement for conventional plastics. The technical limitations, high costs, and scalability challenges hinder their widespread adoption. At the same time Seaweed remains a good opportunity for industrial applications but the time and investment is more important. I'd like to advertise a few key actors that have found the way to make seaweed and industrial success.

source : Pierre Erwes

Innovation Acceleration : The Cost Nobody Talks About

 💡Innovation Acceleration: The Cost Nobody Talks About

When growth slows, leaders love to say:

👉 “Let’s accelerate innovation.”

👉 “Let’s double the pipeline.”

Sounds bold. Sounds visionary.

But here’s the hard financial truth:

Developing innovation is cheap.

Launching innovation is expensive.

Scaling innovation can break your supply chain.

Supply chain often needs 18–24 months of lead time.

That means CAPEX, tooling, automation, hiring, and regulatory prep all start long before revenue shows up.

Now imagine you “double the pipeline value.”

Great headline.

But what if you later discover you can’t afford the rollout?

You just created a perfect storm:

• SC already invested in capacity

• Depreciation is locked in

• Volumes don’t materialize

• Standard cost explodes because capacity is underutilized

• Margin collapses

So the real question every CFO should asks is:

“Can we afford the pipeline we’re accelerating?”

Innovation is easy to announce.

Hard to scale.

Expensive to commercialize.

Risky to accelerate blindly.

Look at your pipeline.

Think about it.

source : Urs Wigger

#InnovationStrategy

PRF Composite Materials launch year-long out life prepreg RP5365

Building on PRF’s sustainability philosophy – to look at their prepreg materials from every angle – PRF’s R&D team have developed RP5365 to virtually eliminate the need for the constructor to have any freezing or refrigeration for this product, whilst still maintaining the curing characteristics of PRF’s standard component prepregs and good mechanical properties for structural applications.

Providing the materials are stored in reasonable ambient temperatures, the PRF team also see this prepreg should help reduce or even eliminate the need for refrigerated transportation as well, subject to the maximum temperatures it might be exposed to. The team also envisaged that this material could provide significant benefits for component manufacture in hotter climates, where standard out life can be very limited and difficult to manage.

Robert Burnell, CEO and head of product development at PRF, comments: “We believe that while bio-based materials will play an important role in the future of composites, there is still much more we can do today to improve sustainability using well-established materials—without compromising their high performance. These are changes we can implement immediately to start reducing our environmental impact. By developing a product like RP5365, we can achieve significant environmental benefits, including reduced energy consumption, lower fluorocarbon emissions, and offer overall cost savings for our customers.

Cover photo: PRF Composite Materials

source : Jeccomposites

Syensqo’s Tecnoflon® FFKM NFS selected by Innores to advance sustainable semiconductor manufacturing

Syensqo, a global leader in advanced materials and specialty chemicals, announces that its innovative #Tecnoflon® FFKM NFS portfolio has been selected by Innores, a premier Korean sealing solutions provider, for use in semiconductor manufacturing processes.

This milestone marks the first commercial adoption of Tecnoflon® FFKM NFS, Syensqo’s proprietary perfluoroelastomers renowned for their exceptional chemical and plasma resistance as well as outstanding thermal stability, while manufactured without the use of fluorosurfactants from the PFAS family of chemicals. Innores is integrating these advanced materials into sealing products such as O-rings, bonded seals, gate valves, chamber lids, and vacuum pump components, serving some of the world’s largest semiconductor companies.

This partnership is more than a commercial achievement, it is a reflection of Syensqo’s values and our commitment to making a positive impact through science and collaboration. Working closely with partners like Innores allows us to expand our reach in the global semiconductor market, supplying advanced materials to some of the industry’s most influential players. It also strengthens our reputation as a trusted partner for customers seeking both performance and sustainability in their supply chains.

Andrew Lau, Senior Executive Vice President of Electronics & Industrial, Syensqo Specialty Polymers

The collaboration between #Syensqo and #Innores is founded on a mutual vision for responsible manufacturing and environmental stewardship. Innores continues to drive improvements in energy efficiency, waste minimization, and emissions tracking, values closely aligned with Syensqo’s mission to advance humanity through scientific innovation.

source : Syensqo

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share : Plastic lids

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

Plastic lids

Provocative I know………

Thanks you McDonald's UK for doing the right thing and bringing back plastic lids…….. far safer as they click into place, don’t taint the taste of the drinks, lighter and do exactly what they’re designed to do.

Their short term move to paper lids was driven by misguided attempts to save the planet, now they’ve returned to a packaging design fit for purpose

We need sensible debate around many similar decisions in the sustainability arena.

source : Paul Morgan