In New England, university scientists have reported the first known robot reproduction, enabled in part by the tiny organisms’ Pac-Man-like shape. The research team, comprised of members from University of Vermont, Tufts University, and Harvard’s Wyss Institute, earlier this year created programmable organisms, which they dubbed xenobots, using African clawed frog stem cells and artificial […]
In New York, popular Bravo reality show Project Runway has featured a competition where contestants had to create designs out of Koba, a biobased faux fur made from DuPont’s Sorona fibers and developed in collaboration with Ecopel. Episode 1907, entitled Are You Fur Real, aired last week. Designers had access to Koba in varying […]
In Tokyo, Suntory Group has unveiled a 100% biobased polyethylene terephthalate prototype developed in collaboration with biobased chemicals company Anellotech. The material was used to create bottles for the company’s popular Orangina beverage in Europe as well as Suntory Tennensui, its mineral water sold in Japan. The prototypes are a major milestone in Suntory’s decade-long […]
In Italy, sneaker brand ID.EIGHT has launched a new design using waste from fruits, including apples, grapes, and pineapples. More specifically, ID.EIGHT uses Piñatex, Vegea, and AppleSkin, emerging materials looking to provide eco-friendly alternatives for the fashion industry. Piñatex is a leather-like material made from waste leaves from Philippines’ pineapple industry. Vegea, made from wine […]
In Colorado, DMC Biotechnologies has raised $34 million to help advance its biobased chemical intermediate, which has applications in home care and human nutrition. The Series B funding included investment from Cibus Enterprise, Capricorn Partners, Sofinnova Partners, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, SCG, Boulder Ventures, Solvay Ventures and Michelin. “Building back better after the pandemic means we […]
In Finland, forest products company Stora Enso has launched two lightweight, biobased foams made from wood that are fully recyclable and can be used for protective and thermal packaging. The first—Fibrease™—is available now and made with up to 98% renewable materials. It is designed to replace polyurethane foams and polystyrene. The second, Papira®, just began […]
In California, cultivated meat major Upside Foods has told the USDA that cultivated meat should be called cultivated meat, noting that any regulations on labeling should avoid terminology misleading to consumers. “The labeling of cultivated meat and poultry products will be a crucial component of how our industry conveys the basic nature, essential characteristics, and […]
In North Carolina, two entrepreneurs who took their plant-based laundry sheets onto the popular Shark Tank product pitch reality show have walked away with an investment deal. Daniel Lubetzky, a guest “shark” on the November 19 episode of the ABC hit—as well as the billionaire behind KIND Snacks and SOMOS foods—declared “we have a deal” […]
In the Netherlands, furniture and home goods giant Ikea has vowed to eliminate plastic packaging by 2028. While much of that plastic will be replaced with paper, some applications, like food, will require more outside-of-the-box thinking. “Paper is a very good material to use because it does come from renewable sources, and it has quite […]
In the Netherlands, a test section of road using biobased asphalt has held up well over 6 months—encouraging news for efforts to decarbonize road construction. The trial section of N987 in Groningen was laid in early June using asphalt that swapped a portion of petroleum-based bitumen, which binds the asphalt together, with lignin. The material […]
