In Switzerland, recent ECAL design school grad Souhaïb Ghanmi had a particularly unusual final project proposal: repurposing bones from the animal processing industry into home electrical sockets and light switches. Called Ecol, Ghanmi says the goal is to limit waste, not generate controversy. “[Bone is as] strong as a stone but easy to carve, like […]
In Germany, the new electronic concept car from Mercedes is jam-packed with biobased materials, including seat cushions made from mushrooms and a leather alternative made from cactus. Dubbed EQXX, other renewable elements include bamboo fiber carpets. The luxury car brand also says the EQXX can do 620 miles on a charge—much farther than any other […]
In France, luxury brand Chanel is launching its first eco-friendly skincare and makeup line. No. 1 de Chanel products are made from up to 97% natural ingredients, including a new extract from the red “Czar” Camellia flower variety that has shown impressive anti-aging benefits for skin. “This flower blooms during the winter and can resist […]
In Wisconsin, a startup is pursuing an alternative route to palm oil, a renewable product used in many applications but associated with catastrophic environmental impacts and unethical labor practices. Founded in 2007 by Tom Jeffries and Tom Kelleher, Xylome is feeding corn sugar to genetically engineered yeasts, which in turn produce microbial oils similar to […]
In Switzerland, a research group has developed an edible, plant-based coating for produce, which a major supermarket chain in the country will soon begin testing. Empa developed the coating at its Cellulose & Wood Materials Library by converting pomace—what is left after juice is extracted from fruits and vegetables—into a cellulose fiber that can be […]
In Alabama, researchers at Auburn University and University of Idaho have partnered to develop materials from agricultural waste that can be used to 3D-printed homes. The Auburn group will focus on converting biomass into chemicals and nanomaterials suitable for 3D printing, and the team at University of Idaho will conduct the test printing. Brian Via, […]
In Israel, cultivated milk protein firm Remilk has raised $120 million in an oversubscribed Series B funding. Founded in 2019, Remilk uses fermentation to manufacture proteins identical to those in dairy products but with 1% of the land requirement and 96% fewer greenhouse gas emissions. “It is essential for the future of our planet […]
In France, faceless man/heroine of Winterfell Maisie Williams has launched an apple leather handbag in partnership with fashion brand Coperni. Williams, best known for playing Arya Stark on the hit HBO series Game of Thrones, was heavily involved in the bag’s design, according to company Coperni CEO Arnaud Vaillant. “We did everything together,” he said […]
In New York, mycelium materials company Ecovative has partnered with a number of brands, including the group behind Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger, to create a sustainable fashion cooperative to advance mushroom-based leather. Under the terms of the agreement, brands overseen by founding partners PVH Corp. and Bestseller will work with Ecovative to codevelop custom […]
In London, design publication dezeen did a retrospective on the “explosion of interest” in biomaterials in 2021, with sales of plant-based goods skyrocketing as designers, corporations, and architects look to meet demands for low-carbon living. “Biomaterials used to be niche,” Regina Polanco, founder of biobased textile manufacturer Pyratex, tells the publication. “But we’ve seen a […]
