Made with Biomass: Bioenergy Technologies Office Impacts

Feeling chilly? Grab a jacket made of biomass! Renewable biobased material can be used in a variety of textile and fabric applications, including carpet, upholstery, and clothing. The Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office is investing in technologies that will reduce costs and optimize the performance of these bioproducts.

Biomass can be used to produce a range of personal care products, such as skin cream, shampoo, mascara, and more. For example, the palmitic acid that gives your hair that glossy shine after you condition it is one of the most common plant acids used to make these products. The Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office is investing in technologies that will reduce costs and optimize the performance of these bioproducts.

Do you love that tangy BBQ flavor? Well, you may be tasting biomass. Many food producers have developed a process to convert biomass into chemicals for use in food flavorings and other products—like BBQ chips! The Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office is investing in technologies that will reduce costs and optimize the performance of these bioproducts.

There may be bioproducts on your desk right now! Over the past few years, the food industry has incorporated renewable biobased resources into packaging materials like potato chip bags and yogurt containers while the electronics industry has started incorporating it into resins used in wiring boards for computers and cell phones. The Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office is investing in technologies that will reduce costs and optimize the performance of these bioproducts.

There’s a good chance your plastic soda or water bottle is made in part with biomass. Over the last few years, manufacturers have been getting some of the raw materials for their plastic bottles from renewable plant resources. The Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office is investing in technologies that will reduce costs and optimize the performance of these bioproducts. We are even working on the development of biodegradable bioplastics made from waste materials.