polymerguru

  4,000 years before Gore-Tex, they invented... Oh my God! Then the world almost forgot. In the brutal cold of the Arctic—where a single mistake with your clothing could mean freezing to death or drowning in icy water—Indigenous communities created something modern science still marvels at: waterproof, breathable fabric. But they didn't use petroleum products or laboratory chemistry. They used intestines! The Inupiat of Alaska, the Yupik of Siberia, the Inuit of Greenland and Canada—Arctic peoples across thousands of miles developed the same ingenious technology independently. They turned the intestines of seals, walruses, whales, and even bears into garments so sophisticated that when Western scientists finally studied them, they found engineering principles that wouldn't be "invented" in factories until the 1970s. Here's the problem they were solving: Arctic hunters spent hours in kayaks on freezing water. They needed protection from rain, ocean spray, and wind....

We are extensions of nature itself. Look at a lung, then look at a tree. Both follow the same fractal blueprint branching structures designed to maximize surface area for efficient gas exchange. A tree creates oxygen; a lung draws it in. A tree also filters and purifies air, preparing the very breath our lungs depend on. In essence, a lung and a tree are the same evolutionary idea, expressed in different forms: living networks trading gases to sustain life. Spiritually, they are twin symbols of the same universal intelligence reminders that every breath links us to the planet. Nature speaks in patterns. What does this one say to you?

As performance requirements continue to increase, conventional particle foams such as polypropylene and polystyrene often reach their limits. High temperatures, long-term mechanical stress or exposure to aggressive chemicals are difficult and often uneconomical to manage with traditional materials. As a specialist in high-performance plastics, Ensinger now offers a forward-looking alternative in the form of engineering particle foams based on thermoplastics such as polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polyethersulphone (PESU) and polycarbonate (PC). These materials offer the structural advantages of traditional foams – such as lightweight design and energy absorption – alongside the exceptional performance characteristics of #engineeringpolymers . Fine cell structure and tailored density: Manufacturing is carried out using an energy-efficient, newly developed process that enables a fine and homogeneous cell structure. The density and material properties can be precisely adjusted to meet specif...

The recently published EU Bioeconomy Strategy signals Europe’s intent to lead in sustainable growth and innovation. While the vision is clear, concrete delivery mechanisms and binding commitments are still missing. The chemical industry is at the heart of the bioeconomy, and the bioeconomy is core to our industrial transition.  The Strategy recognises that the chemical industry will play a central role in enabling Europe’s transition to a sustainable, circular bioeconomy. It also reflects key industry priorities by focusing on five pillars: scaling innovation and investments, building lead markets for bio-based materials and technologies, ensuring sustainable biomass supply and circularity, harnessing global opportunities, and fostering collaboration and delivery. Positive steps include: Stimulate demand for bio-based chemicals by introducing bio-based content requirements for products placed in the EU single market Removing barriers to investment and innovation, includin...

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share German scientists plan natural-fiber blades to tackle wind turbine waste A new initiative led by Kiel University of Applied Sciences (HAW Kiel) and boatbuilder Nuebold Yachtbau GmbH aims to build rotor blades made entirely from renewable materials—flax, balsa wood, and paulownia—in a bid to replace fiberglass and shrink the industry’s mounting waste footprint. Backed by roughly €175,000 from the Schleswig-Holstein Energy and Climate Protection Agency (EKSH), the team plans to develop a prototype for small wind turbines (with rotor areas under 200 square meters) by 2027. “We want to demonstrate that sustainable rotor blades made from #flaxfibers and other renewable raw materials can meet all technical requirements and thus make a real contribution to a more sustainable wind energy sector,” said Prof. Dr.-Ing. Sten Böhme, project manager from Kiel University of Applied Sciences. Engineering a circular blade lifecycle Despite the expansion in wind energy,...

Emirates Biotech has launched its Embio product range, its new line of PolyLactic Acid (PLA) biopolymers designed to offer a sustainable alternative to traditional plastics. The name Embio reflects the company’s Emirates roots, signifying a biopolymer made in the UAE, while highlighting its commitment to biotechnology and sustainability. With the Embio product launch, Emirates Biotech begins pre-marketing across the Middle East, offering customers the opportunity to source locally stocked #PLA for faster delivery times and smaller minimum order volumes. This approach is designed to make it easier for regional converters, brand owners, and packaging manufacturers to start application development and facilitate the transition to plant based materials. Marc Verbruggen, Chief Executive Officer of #EmiratesBiotech , said “Our launch of Embio products marks a major milestone in our journey to make renewable and compostable plastics accessible across the Middle East. The E...

Europe’s plastics recycling industry is facing its most severe decline yet, with turnover falling by 5.5 per cent and the latest annual data revealing the largest capacity contraction ever recorded. Preliminary figures for 2025 indicate a further deterioration, including a 50 per cent increase in recycling facility closures and the loss of nearly one million tonnes of recycling capacity over the past three years. This downward trend threatens Europe’s circular economy ambitions, industrial resilience and thousands of local jobs. “Now is the time to stand united for the sector not only to protect jobs and businesses at risk, but to safeguard Europe’s environmental and technological progress, ensuring a sustainable future for all,” said Ton Emans, President of Plastics Recyclers Europe. “We call on the EU institutions and national policymakers to act decisively and implement supportive measures to preserve the sector and Europe’s circular economy. Despite a total installed capacity of 13...