Latest news with #foam
ABC News
a day ago
- General
- ABC News
Contaminated foam returns to central-west NSW river, more potent than ever
Fresh mounds of contaminated foam have been discovered on a central-west NSW river, with laboratory tests showing it contains the highest amount of the forever chemical PFOS yet. The foam's reappearance on the Belubula River near Blayney comes a year after a group of concerned landholders first called in the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) over foam blanketing the river they rely on for irrigation. Appearing in similar locations to last year, tests show the new foam banks contain 540,000 nanograms per litre of PFOS — 67,500 times the latest recommended drinking water guidelines. PFOS is among the thousands of poly and perfluroalkyl chemicals collectively known as PFAS, and has a wide range of industrial uses. The foam was tested at a Sydney lab after scientist Ian Wright collected a sample to help the community gather data. Cattle farmer Frances Retallack, who made last year's foam discovery, also advised the EPA of the most recent pollution event. "After last year's events, we've monitored [the river] closely," Ms Rettalack said. Ms Retallack recorded video of carp in the Belubula River gulping mouthfuls of the foam. "If you look closely, it's full of dead bugs," she said. A spokesperson for the EPA confirmed it had been made aware of the foam's reappearance. "We have contacted the community to seek more information about this latest report of foam … and will work with water scientists on any further investigations," a spokesperson said. The agency said it had conducted an "extensive surface water monitoring program in the Belubula River" since the initial discovery of foam in May 2024. "We measure pollutants across a range of conditions and seasons to capture any variability in results," a spokesperson said in a statement. Part of the regulatory response also imposed new licence conditions relating to PFAS monitoring upon nearby gold mine Cadia Valley Operations, landscape supplier Australian Native Landscapes and Blayney council landfill whose operations are part of the Belubula catchment. The watchdog said its own test results indicated the foam wasn't wholly PFAS and that it was likely "coming from some other source containing a mixture of surfactants". Impacted landholders have pushed back on the EPA's findings to date, saying its testing program wasn't "robust science" and have alleged information was "left out". "The reports made no attempt to look at the toxicity of the foam, its locations on the river, the volume of [river] flow or the toxic fish [we found]," Ms Retallack said. In a letter to the community, the regulator rejected those allegations. An Australian-first scientific paper on the subject established how the 2024 foam was created. Written by Ian Wright, an associate professor at the University of Western Sydney, alongside Helen Nice and Amy- Marie Gilpin, the study used data collected while assisting affected communities along the Belubula River with research support. The paper established background levels of PFOS in the Belubula River were enough to create significant amounts of foam, once water was aerated in colder temperatures. The foam "hyper-concentrated" the amount of PFOS in the river, with one sample showing levels 18,750 times that of the river water. "It's a steep river so there's lots of turbulence, lots of rapids and very small waterfalls," Dr Wright said. His research was also able to establish the Belubula foam was gathering heavy metals at "hazardous concentrations". "It was often a really strange combination of metals, including cadmium and mercury, copper and lead," Dr Wright said. Dr Wright said the process occurring in the Belubula River was something scientists called "foam fractionation". "As bubbles rise through a liquid, some dissolved metals, PFOS, other substances in the water actually stick to the bubbles." Newcastle University's professor Ravi Naidu established the Cooperative Research Centre for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment, known as crcCARE. He described Dr Wright's findings as "important and novel". He suggested the paper would have benefited from a clearer breakdown as to how the foam was processed for analysis given its delicate form, but that further investigation would be beneficial. "Future studies should include the assessment of likely real exposures: platypus, livestock or humans, together with PFAS fingerprinting," Professor Naidu said. This year, the National Health and Medical Research Council released revised drinking water guidelines for the four types of PFAS most commonly found in the Australian population and environment — PFOS, PFOA, PFBS and PFHxS. The new guidelines for PFOS, which appears to be the main PFAS pollutant in the Belubula, were slashed from 70 nanograms to just 8. Dr Wright said PFOS levels in the Belubula River water creating the foam averaged around 20 nanograms per litre — more than double the revised drinking water limit. There are no guidelines for livestock or irrigation, however PFOS levels in the Belubula exceed the EPA's ecological threshold by 86 times. "The Belubula River is an endangered ecological community," Dr Wright said. "These concentrations just in the river are bad." So far, the EPA has resisted seeing the foam as an indicator of river health or a risk to human health. "Foams in water can collect and concentrate chemicals from the surrounding environment to much higher levels," a spokesperson said. "Higher levels of a chemical contaminant in a foam compared to the level in the surrounding water does not necessarily result in additional risk to human health, if contact is avoided." But Dr Wright describes the foam as being "concentrated patches of pollution", which he says raises serious questions about exposure pathways. "There is nothing stopping livestock wading out or [people] pumping it from the river for irrigation for watering livestock. "I think there should be targeted warnings issued for all users of the waterway in the area. The Belubula's foam problem is now on the radar of those further down the river. Winemaker Sam Statham heads up the Belubula River Users Group, representing landholders between Mandurama and the town of Canowindra. He says irrigators downstream of the foam banks were starting to take an interest. "I raised it at the AGM last week and we agreed the issue should be taken to Lachlan Valley Water," Mr Statham said. Mr Statham will host a community event in September, which he hopes will raise awareness of the issue among the downstream community and give people the opportunity to share knowledge. "Someone might get some reassurance from [meeting up]. Someone else might realise there's a problem. "I'm definitely concerned — I don't want PFAS in my wine."
Forbes
6 days ago
- Sport
- Forbes
Asics Expands Blast Running Shoes With New Foam And Two New Styles
Asics is having a blast moving into the 'bouncy' world of running foam. Following the success of its NovaBlast runner, Asics readies the release of two new running models in the Blast franchise—the SonicBlast and MegaBlast, both releasing Sept. 1—atop a new proprietary ATPU midsole foam, FF Turbo Squared. 'We've got these great, legendary shoes Asics has been making for 20 to 30 years, and in 2020 we brought NovaBlast to market for the first time as an answer to a new experience,' Paul Lang, Asics senior global product line manager of performance running, tells me. 'As we look to evolve this whole bounce category, we will start to see the FF Turbo Squared.' The stories of the new SonicBlast and MegaBlast start with the success of the NovaBlast, which launched in 2020 to create a new running experience for the Japanese brand, allowing it to try fresh technologies and designs focused on a bouncy experience. The silhouette has taken off to the point Lang expects it to be one of the top shoes globally in 2026. Along the way, Asics added the long-distance-ready SuperBlast to the lineup. As the idea of an energized running experience grows in running clubs and greater running population, 'now it is more about going in and saying I want something that feels like this and makes me excited to get out and run.' To double the offerings in the Blast lineup, Asics is introducing its new ATPU light and bouncy foam the FF Turbo Squared, adding it to the two new models. 'As we look to unlock a new chapter of energy, ATPU is a material we are starting to see used,' Lang says, noting that the brand's Metaspeed race shoe uses another type of ATPU foam since the material is known for lightweight and bouncy resiliency. The SonicBlast features a bottom layer of the FF Blast Max foam currently on the NovaBlast, but with a top layer of the new FF Turbo Squared ATPU, all with a 3/4-length PBAX plate sandwiched between the two. Lang says using PBAX instead of carbon fiber allows the shoe to remain flexible for everyday use for a wider range of runners, all with the same propulsive benefits. The MegaBlast focuses on the new foam, using a full 46mm stack in the rear—down to a 38mm stack in the forefoot—for the most 'energy returning' of any of the shoes in the lineup. A single piece of the foam allows the shoe to weigh in at 230 grams, significantly lighter weight than others in the lineup and near where many performance race shoes have fallen in recent years. MORE: The Asics North American Growth Strategy Features Tennis 'This is the ultimate expression of bounce for us,' Lang says about the MegaBlast. During testing of the foam, Lang says the team realized they had an opportunity to create a unique experience by featuring just the FF Turbo Squared. 'We are seeing more runners call for a greater experience through shoes,' Lang says. 'We know [the MegaBlast] isn't going to be the highest volume [seller], but this will bring a lot of people to the brand. The weight to stack ratio, the bounce, we are really excited about what's in front of us here.' On the outsole, both models feature the tackiest rubber the brand has, something Asics uses on trail models, giving the Blast series enhanced grip. For the uppers, SonicBlast features a simplistic and breathable jacquard upper with a soft collar lining and padded tongue for comfort. This up-tempo bounce everyday trainer is priced at $180. The upper on the MegaBlast, a $225 shoe, is inspired by racing uppers but structured for everyday training with breathable lock down. It also features training shoe benefits, such as a pull tab and collar to increase comfort. The new Blast lineup has a hierarchy with NovaBlast as the entry, SonicBlast the next step up, followed by the SuperBlast and then MegaBlast. As the energy-focused runners started to bring a new consumer to running, the NovaBlast normalized that material for Asics and helped bridge the gap between new and old technologies. The 'energized type of runner' now has new options in the Asics lineup with a full line of bounce-focused silhouettes. 'I think we can take the family picture now,' Lang says about the lineup. 'Everybody showed up. These four shoes, if someone had a bag with these four shoes, they are ready to go. I am pleased with where we stand.' MORE: Asics Launching Performance Nimbus Running Shoe Ready For Recycling MORE: Asics Creates Performance-Driven Shoe For Singing Star Taka
Yahoo
24-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Vystar Introduces Ultrasoft Latex Mattress Topper with Vytex 55 Density Latex into the Vytex.com Store
Ultrasoft 55 density Vytex foam topper created with breakthrough proprietary molding technology Provides luxuriously soft supportive comfort, resilience and breathability Transforms too-hard mattresses into snuggly comfort, ideal for pressure point relief Produced from all natural, sustainably sourced Vytex latex for long life, yet completely biodegradable. Worcester, MA, July 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vystar Corporation (OTCQB: VYST) announced today introduced ultrasoft 55 density natural rubber latex mattress topper. The new Vytex ultrasoft 55 density topper uses proprietary molding technology that overcomes the typical challenges of latex foam hardening and stratifying into multiple densities as large items are manufactured, (equivalent to 14 ILD). Previously, our consumers could only enjoy the decadent softness of 55 density latex in smaller items such as pillows and small cushions. 'Being able to produce ultrasoft 55 density latex sheets is a gamechanger for Vystar,' stated Jamie Rotman, CEO of Vystar. 'our consumers can now add a 55 density ultrasoft pure Vytex latex foam topper to their firm mattress and enjoy the gentle embrace of this light as air breathable topper while still benefiting from the support of their existing mattress. With Vytex latex toppers, virtually all the latex proteins have been removed to create a stronger, cleaner, naturally fresh smelling foam with the added advantage of years of buoyant resilience and natural anti-microbial properties of all-natural latex without the dangerous off-gassing and short usable life of petrochemical laden memory foams.' 'Consumers have been asking for years to have their latex mattress toppers as soft and comfortable as their latex pillows and now, thanks to breakthrough technology, we are able to produce Vytex foam sheets as large as a California king in 3-inch thickness all in a beautifully uniform ultrasoft 55 density,' stated Jamie Rotman. Vytex ultra soft 55 density toppers will offer a tremendous advantage for those who experience pressure point pain or spend extended time in bed due to medical conditions. Vytex® 100% Natural Latex Foam are now available on in 1 to 3 inch thicknesses for king, Calif. king, queen, double, twin, and twin XL sizes. About Vytex Vytex® is the healthiest, purest and topper material offering the ultimate in comfort and durability features: Retains bouncy resilience for decades vs 3-6 year lifespan of other foam toppers Provides full body support while easing pressure points: Buoyantly floats your body for easy movement, eliminating saggy, overly soft spots Has 99.8% of proteins and impurities removed to be virtually allergen-free Vytex deproteinization process creates a stronger, more durable foam Breathability ensures sweat-free comfort, resists moisture absorption and bacteria Naturally repels bedbugs and dust mites Isolates movement from others for a more restful, uninterrupted sleep. Won't discolor like petrochemical based memory foam or polyurethane foam Vytex's environmentally-friendly features: Sustainably produced and 100% biodegradable, Eco-friendly – uses less water and chemicals during manufacture. Free of traditional latex odor without other foams' masking fragrances Free of VOCs, phthalates and BPA common to petrochemical foams Naturally brighter and whiter latex – no dyes or bleaching needed Vytex is currently used in multiple mattress lines, toppers, industrial adhesives, apparel padding and threads, shoes, sports equipment and electrical gloves. Vystar continues development of new Vytex formulations and is seeking additional manufacturing and development partners for numerous products including condoms, clothing, medical supplies, household products, sports equipment, shoes/sneakers, and industrial products. # # # About Vystar Corporation: Based in Worcester, Mass., Vystar® Corp. (OTCQB: VYST) is the owner of RxAir® UV light air purification products that destroy harmful airborne viruses and pathogens, Vytex® Natural Rubber Latex (NRL), and Fluid Energy Solutions. Vytex is a multi-patented, all-natural, raw material that contains significantly reduced levels of the proteins found in natural rubber latex for a stronger, more durable, yet environmentally safe, "green" and fully biodegradable product that can be used in a broad range of consumer and medical products. For more information, visit Forward-looking Statements: Investors are cautioned that certain statements contained in this document as well as some statements in periodic press releases and some oral statements of VYST officials are "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "Act"). Forward-looking statements include statements which are predictive in nature, which depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, which include words such as "believes," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "expects," and similar expressions. In addition, any statements concerning future financial performance (including future revenues, earnings or growth rates), ongoing business strategies or prospects, and possible future VYST actions, product development and delivery, which may be provided by management, are also forward-looking statements as defined by the Act. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to materially differ from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and to vary significantly from reporting period to reporting period. Although management believes that the assumptions made and expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, there is no assurance that the underlying assumptions will, in fact, prove to be correct or that actual future results will not be different from the expectations expressed in this report. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and VYST has no specific intention to update these statements. Follow us on social media:Twitter: @VystarCompany @vytex Contacts:VystarMedia & Investors: Jamie Rotman, jrotman@ Media, Investors or To Partner with Vystar, Company Phone Number: (508) 791-9114
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Stora Enso and Novapor to launch pilot for cellulose foam packaging
Stora Enso has teamed up with German company Novapor for a pilot project using Papira, a cellulose-based foam packaging material. The initiative seeks to replace traditional foams with a wood fibre-based alternative that maintains protective qualities while reducing carbon emissions. Stora Enso Biofoams business development director Juulia Kuhlman said: 'Collaborating with Novapor is a natural fit for us. 50 years of experience in developing innovative packaging, they consistently go the extra mile to solve their clients' challenges. 'This curiosity and drive have been key to the success of our pilot project. The rules and regulations on waste management are strict, but they will be even stricter come 2030. Providing the market with a foam that can be recycled in your regular paper and cardboard stream is a really important benefit.' Novapor, which focuses on water jet cutting technology, adjusted its processes to handle paper-based foam to meet client requirements. Its Danish branch, Novapor Nordic, works to deliver packaging solutions to support customers' environmental objectives. Novapor is identifying clients where Papira suits both practical and branding purposes. One pilot project is Københavns Møbelsnedkeri, which needed eco-friendly packaging for its high-end bathroom mirrors, previously cushioned with polyethylene foam. The company sought a recyclable, wood fibre-based single-material solution compatible with paper and board recycling systems. The collaboration between Stora Enso and Novapor Nordic started two years ago, with both teams refining the Papira conversion process over this time. Through consistent testing and aligned environmental goals, the partnership has developed a viable packaging solution, advancing the use of wood-based foams in the sector. Novapor Nordic head Thomas Søgaard said: 'Transitioning to wood fibre-based solutions is an important next step in packaging and monomaterial packaging made entirely of cardboard and paper, rather than plastic combinations, is highly relevant for our client.' In April this year, Stora Enso launched Performa Nova, a folding boxboard solution for consumer packaging. "Stora Enso and Novapor to launch pilot for cellulose foam packaging" was originally created and published by Packaging Gateway, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Amid state inaction, California chef sues to block sales of foam food containers
Fed up with the state's refusal to enforce a law banning the sale of polystyrene foam cups, plates and bowls, a San Diego County resident has taken matters into his own hands. Jeffrey Heavey, a chef and owner of Convivial Catering, a San Diego-area catering service, is suing WinCup, an Atlanta-based foam foodware product manufacturing company, claiming that it continues to sell, distribute and market foam products in California despite a state law that was supposed to ban such sales starting Jan. 1. He is suing on behalf of himself, not his business. The suit, filed in the San Diego County Superior Court in March, seeks class action status on behalf of all Californians. Heavey's attorney, William Sullivan of the Sullivan & Yaeckel Law Group, said his client is seeking an injunction to stop WinCup from selling these banned products in California and to remove the products' "chasing arrows" recycling label, which Heavey and his attorney describe as false and deceptive advertising. They are also seeking damages for every California-based customer who paid the company for these products in the last three years, and $5,000 to every senior citizen or "disabled" person who may have purchased the products during this time period. WinCup didn't respond to requests for comments, but in a court filing described the allegations as vague, unspecific and without merit, according to the company's attorney, Nathan Dooley. At issue is a California ban on the environmentally destructive plastic material, which went into effect on Jan. 1, as well as the definition of "recyclable" and the use of such a label on products sold in the state. Senate Bill 54, signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2021, targeted single-use plastic in the state's waste stream. The law included a provision that banned the sale and distribution of expanded polystyrene food service ware — such as foam cups, plates and takeout containers — on Jan. 1, unless producers could show they had achieved a 25% recycling rate. "I'm glad a person in my district has taken this up and is holding these companies accountable," said Catherine Blakespear (D-Encinitas). "But CalRecycle is the enforcement authority for this legislation, and they should be the ones doing this." The intent of the law was to put the financial onus of responsible waste management onto the producers of these products, and away from California's taxpayers and cities that would otherwise have to dispose of these products or deal with their waste on beaches, in rivers and on roadways. Expanded polystyrene is a particularly pernicious form of plastic pollution that does not biodegrade, has a tendency to break down into microplastics, leaches toxic chemicals and persists in the environment. There are no expanded polystyrene recycling plants in California, and recycling rates nationally for the material hover around 1%. However, despite CalRecycle's delayed announcement of the ban, companies such as WinCup not only continue to sell these banned products in California, but Heavey and his lawyers allege the products are deceptively labeled as "recyclable." In his suit, Heavey includes a March 15 receipt from a Smart & Final store in the San Diego County town of National City, indicating a purchase of "WinCup 16 oz. Foam" cups. Similar polystyrene foam products could be seen on the shelves this week at a Redwood City Smart & Final, including a 1,000-count box of 12-ounce WinCup foam cups selling for $36.99. Across the aisle, the shelves were packed with bags of Simply Value and First Street (both Smart & Final brands) foam plates and bowls. There were "chasing arrow" recycling labels on the boxes containing cup lids. The symbol included a No. 6 in the center, indicating the material is polystyrene. There were none on the cardboard boxes containing cups, and it couldn't be determined if the individual foam products were tagged with recycling labels. They were either obstructed from view inside cardboard boxes or stacked in bags which obscured observation. Smart & Final, which is owned by Chedraui USA, a subsidiary of Mexico City-based Grupo Comercial Chedraui, didn't respond to requests for comment. Heavey's suit alleges the plastic product manufacturer is "greenwashing" its products by labeling them as recyclable and in so doing, trying to skirt the law. According to the suit, recycling claims are widely disseminated on products and via other written publications. The company's website includes an "Environmental" tab, which includes a page entitled: "Foam versus Paper Disposable Cups: A closer look." The page includes a one-sentence argument highlighting the environmental superiority of foam over paper, noting that "foam products have a reputation for environmental harm, but if we examine the scientific research, in many ways Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) foam is greener than paper." Heavey's suit claims that he believed he was purchasing recyclable materials based on the products' labeling, and he would not have bought the items had they not been advertised as such. WinCup, which is owned by Atar Capital, a Los Angeles-based global private investment firm sought to have the case moved to the U.S. District Court in San Diego, but a judge there remanded the case back to the San Diego Superior Court or jurisdiction grounds. Susan Keefe, the Southern California Director of Beyond Plastics, an anti-plastic environmental group based in Bennington, Vt., said that as of June, the agency had not yet enforced the ban, despite news stories and evidence that the product was still being sold in the state. "It's really frustrating. CalRecycle's disregard for enforcement just permits a lack of respect for our laws. It results in these violators who think they can freely pollute in our state with no trepidation that California will exercise its right to penalize them," she said. Melanie Turner, a spokesoman for CalRecycle, said in a statement that expanded polystyrene producers "should no longer be selling or distributing expanded polystyrene food service ware to California businesses." "CalRecycle has been identifying and notifying businesses that may be impacted by SB 54, including expanded polystyrene requirements, and communicating their responsibilities with mailed notices, emailed announcements, public meetings, and workshops," she said. The waste agency "is prioritizing compliance assistance for producers regulated by this law, prior to potential enforcement action," she said. Keefe filed a public records request with the agency regarding communications with companies selling the banned material and said she found the agency had not made any attempts to warn or stop the violators from selling banned products. Blakespear said it's concerning the law has been in effect for more than six months and CalRecycle has yet to clamp down on violators. Enforcement is critical, she said, for setting the tone as SB 54 is implemented. According to Senate Bill 54, companies that produce banned products that are then sold in California can be fined up to $50,000 per day, per violation. According to a report issued by the waste agency last week, approximately 47,000 tons of expanded polystyrene foam was disposed in California landfills last year. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
