The global market for color pigments and dyes is currently estimated at $20 billion. China has become the world's largest producer. Textiles are the largest consumer, while demand is growing...
Case 7: Silk versus titanium
The global market for biocompatible polymers is estimated at $10 billion. According to the German Nova Institute, demand for bio-industrial plastics and composites is experiencing double-digit growth despite the economic crisis. Polymers...
Case 6: A fuel derived from forests
The market: Global production of gum resin extracted from pine trees is approximately 1.5 million tons. The resin is processed into rosin and used as an ingredient in the paper, paint, ink, adhesives, and turpentine industries.
Case 5: Glass as a building material
The battery market
Case 4: No more batteries!
The battery market
Case 3: Coffee, exports and food security
The Market: In 2009, the world consumed 126 million bags of coffee, or 7.5 million tons of green beans ready for roasting. Few people realize that harvesting, processing, roasting, and preparing coffee release approximately 99.7% of...
Case 2: Maggots, natural nurses
The market: According to one estimate, the amount of slaughterhouse waste worldwide amounts to 200 million tons. The average weight of animal waste per European inhabitant is approximately 150 kg per person per year, which brings the continent's share to 60...
Case 1: The Vortex
The global market for water treatment and drinking water production represents one of the safest investments ever made. Water is essential to society and industry. The availability of clean water is increasingly...
Should solar power be subsidized?
April 11, 2011. Governments are bankrupt. Not only has the management of public finances gone off the rails, but bank bailouts, subsidies to uncompetitive industries, and generous aid risk enslaving citizens of nations...
UNEP Blue Economy 2010
An article published in 2009 on the HBR List. Download the article