Bio-resin Scores on Two Wheels and Four

 Japanese automaker Honda has adopted Durabio, a bio-based polycarbonate engineering plastic from Mitsubishi Chemical, in two of its latest models traversing Japanese streets. The plastic is being employed on two wheels for the colored bodywork and windshield of its X-ADV motorcycles sold in Japan since December 2024. Further, Durabio has been utilized in the instrument panel of the N-ONE e — a new mini passenger electric vehicle launched by Honda in September 2025.

Colorful paintless options:

As well as providing the toughness and other features required for motorcycle bodywork parts, Durabio can be given a glossy, sophisticated finish via the addition of colorants. The added value derived from eliminating the conventional painting process was a major factor in the decision to adopt Durabio for this application, marking its first use for paintless bodywork for motorcycles. Honda was also cognizant of the ability to reduce VOC emissions by opting for a paintless process.

Durabio has already won acclaim for its outstanding protection against headwinds when used in the windshields of Honda motorcycles. Eco-conscious riders in Europe may like to know that Durabio has also been adopted for the bodywork and windshields of the FORZA 750 and NC750X models available there.

Plant-based isosorbide origin:

Durabio is a bio-based engineering plastic made from isosorbide, a renewable plant-derived raw material. It exhibits outstanding toughness, scratch resistance, and excellent colorability, and is being used in a range of fields, including automotive interior and exterior parts, components for optical and electronic devices, and other products used in everyday life. Besides its transparency and optical properties, the plant-derived polymer also, by nature, excels in weather resistance and durability.

source : Plastics Today

 

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share : Hemp vs Flax

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

Hemp vs Flax: Which Natural Textile is the Most Eco-Friendly?

‍Both hemp fabric and linen are eco-friendly natural textiles with a neutral pH that makes them perfect for sensitive skin. Both materials have been used for thousands of years to make clothing, bedding, and other fabrics.

 

What is hemp fabric?

Hemp fabric is a natural textile made from the fibers of the hemp plant. Originally cultivated in northern China and later in Europe, hemp has been grown for thousands of years and has many uses. Hemp fabric is made from fibers taken from the plant’s inner bark and is naturally long, strong, and durable. The long fibers allow the fabric to be woven into many different types of fabric, including linen, denim, and canvas. Hemp fabric is naturally eco-friendly and biodegradable, making it a great choice for fashion designers, home decorators, and eco-conscious consumers. Hemp fabric is also naturally strong and durable, making it a great material to use for clothing and home textiles as it is simple to maintain. It even has medical benefits for people with sensitive skin. Hemp fabric is naturally anti-microbial and anti-fungal, which makes it a great choice for people who are allergic to certain fabrics or cannot tolerate synthetic materials.

 

What is flax linen fabric?

Flax linen fabric is a natural textile made from the fibers of the flax plant. The flax plant has been cultivated for thousands of years and is most commonly found in Northern Europe. Flax linen fabric is made from the fibers taken from the plant’s stalk and is traditionally woven into linen fabric. Like hemp, flax linen fabric is naturally eco-friendly and biodegradable. Flax linen fabric is also naturally strong and durable, albeit less so than hemp.

 

The competition

Both fabrics boast eco-friendly qualities. The main reason that flax linen bedding is widespread while hemp linen is only just making a come back is because of the harsh regulatory conditions that the hemp industry was up against in Australia between 1937 and 2017. The production of hemp fabric tends to require fewer harmful chemicals and pesticides that flax as the low levels of THC present act as a natural pest repellant.

 

Why hemp makes the best bedding

One of the most common uses of hemp fabric is as bedding. All of the reasons you love your flax linen bedding are matched by hemp bed linen. Hemp fabric is naturally anti-microbial and anti-fungal, making it a great option for people with sensitive skin. Additionally, hemp fabric is naturally anti-bacterial, so it can help protect against dust mites, which are common causes of allergic reactions and asthma in people with sensitive skin. Hemp fabric is also naturally breathable and insulating, making it a great option no matter the season. 

 

source : Calvi Co

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share : Magnesium’s Industrial Comeback

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

🚀 Magnesium’s Industrial Comeback - From Risky to Reliable 🌍

Five years ago, magnesium was on every “too risky” list.

Too costly. Too unstable. Too dependent.

Today, that perception is finally changing, and not by chance.

Working with OEMs scaling beyond 50k units/year, we’ve seen first-hand how magnesium has evolved from an experiment to a trusted industrial reality.

⚙️ Why Magnesium Matters Now

🛠 Longer die-life → −15% maintenance, +uptime

⏱ Faster HPDC cycles → +20% throughput

💵 Stable pricing → predictable budgets

🌏 Multi-regional supply & vertical integration → full traceability and reduced regional dependency

⚡ +25–45 kg Mg per EV → lighter, safer, more efficient

This isn’t theory, it’s what happens when OEMs and suppliers build stability, transparency, and scalability into every step of production.

📊 Real-World Proof

🈸 China’s “Technology Roadmap 2.0”: ~25 kg Mg per EV (2025) → ~45 kg (2030)

🚗 Chery eQ5 frame: 94 kg, 100% Mg (AZ91), industrially validated

🔩 Seres Motors: 19 kg/EV with AM60 & AE42, HPDC at scale

🏭 Baowu Group: AS21 & AE44 components, consistent throughput & quality

Magnesium alloys like AZ, AM, AE, AS are no longer experimental, they’re industrial standards shaping the next generation of EVs.

🔮 Looking Ahead

Aluminium solved yesterday’s EV challenges.

Magnesium is solving tomorrow’s.

Because the future of lightweight design isn’t about chasing the lowest cost, it’s about ensuring stable price, stable supply, and scalable performance.

💬 Join the discussion:

➡ Do you think magnesium will have its “aluminium moment” in EVs?

➡ Which component could lead that transition first?

➡ Tag an engineer or OEM who should weigh in on this conversation.

If you’re watching this shift in real time, you’re already part of the magnesium comeback.

source : Francisco Barea Silva

*Quality & Production: A Winning Partnership 🚀

 *Quality & Production: A Winning Partnership 🚀*

"Quality is not the enemy of production, it's the foundation of success!" 💯

When Quality and Production teams work together, everyone wins 😊

*Why It Matters*

- Rushing production without quality leads to defects, rework, and unhappy customers 😕

- Quality is a shared responsibility – everyone plays a part 📚

- "Quality should be 'built in', not 'inspected in'" 🔄

*The False Dilemma*

The conflict between Quality and Production hurts the entire organization 🚨

- Defects cost time and money 💸

- Customers remember poor quality 😞

*The Winning Approach*

- Collaborate, don't compete 🤝

- Focus on long-term success 📈

- Make quality everyone's priority 💪

*Together, Quality and Production drive success! 🚀*

source : Six Sigma Manufacturing

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