In China, Nextchem, through its technology licensing subsidiary Conser, has been awarded a licensing and Process Design Package for its biobased dimethyl succinate and 1,4-butanediol coproduction technologies, dubbed NX CONSER MAN and NX CONSER Duetto. The licensee was not named, although Nextchem did reveal it was a major state-owned chemical player in China. The agreement […]
In Canada, Saskatchewan Polytechnic and EnviroWay Detergent Manufacturing are developing biodegradable, bottle-grade plastics from fiber left over from flax and hemp crops. The project, which will be led Dr. Satyanarayan Panigrahi, Sask Polytech Biomaterials Testing and Prototyping research chair, has been granted $250,000 in funding from the Agriculture Development Fund through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural […]
In the Netherlands, Dutch quick-service restaurant Kwalitaria is using home compostable trays made from Notpla’s seaweed-based plastic. Developed in collaboration with Compax, a Dutch company that specializes in packaging solutions, particularly disposables and food packaging, rollout of the fries and snack packaging at 160 Kwalitaria locations is expected to prevent 102.5 metric tons of CO2 and […]
In the United Kingdom, plant-based colorants maker Sparxell has raised $5 million in a pre-Series A funding round. Located at the University of Cambridge, Sparxell’s patented technology converts cellulose from wood pulp to structural color. The round was led by SWEN Capital Partners‘ Blue Ocean fund. Alpha Star Capital and Cambridge Enterprise Ventures also participated. […]
In the United Kingdom, The Bland Company has raised $2.67 million to convert agricultural waste into proteins that can replace eggs. Although several companies offer egg substitutes, none have fully solved the performance and cost challenges. Precision‑fermented egg proteins remain expensive due to high capital and operating costs, Rubisco‑based options require intensive downstream processing, and mung‑bean […]
In Hong Kong, lab-grown fish startup Avant is shuttering its marine peptides unit, Avant Proteins, to focus on gaining regulatory approval for its fish in Singapore. Founded in 2018, Avant began with cultivated fish but expanded into cell-based marine protein ingredients for skincare in 2021. Dubbed Zellulin, the platform could be used in moisturizers, creams […]
In Germany, microbial protein producer MicroHarvest has been awarded €5.5 million (US$6.5 million) from the German government. MicroHarvest’s process feeds local agricultural waste to the same bacteria found in kimchi, kefir and sauerkraut to produce proteins that can be used in pet food, human food, and aquaculture. The funds will be used to open a 15,000 […]
In Portugal, designer Adonis Evangelista has unveiled Biodegradable Pots, a material‑research initiative demonstrating how organic waste can be transformed into renewable planting containers to reduce the horticulture industry’s dependence on single use plastics. Evangelista sourced organic waste from three major streams: natural fibers and plant residues from floriculture operations, eggshells and other food scraps from […]
In Singapore, N&E Innovations has developed an edible antimicrobial coating that extends the shelf life of fruits, vegetables, and meats and reduces spoilage along the produce supply chain. Dubbed ViKANG, the coating is made from agricultural wastes like cashew nut seeds. It can replace toxic coatings like chlorine, sulfur, or wax that have to be […]
In Kansas, Invista and Epoch Biodesign have partnered to co-develop post-consumer recycled nylon 6,6. The deal leverages Epoch’s AI-engineered recycling enzymes and Invista’s polymerization know-how. Nylon 6,6 has numerous applications in apparel, automotive, and industrial applications, but few recycling options exist at scale “Invista is committed to exploring innovative technologies that can improve the sustainability […]
