In Paris, venture capital firm Sofinnova Partners has raised €150 million ($168 million) for its third industrial biotech fund dedicated to early-stage, environmental impact investments. The fund will continue to finance early-stage companies harnessing biotechnology to develop sustainable solutions across the food, agriculture, chemical and materials sectors. The current portfolio includes companies developing biobased crop […]
In Australia, Emile Theau has won the inaugural Generation Impact Incubator Award for his surfboard enterprise using fast-growing paulownia wood. Designed in partnership with environmental scientist Alastair Pilley, the boards are 95% biodegradable. “Most wooden boards today still use foam and fiberglass with no sustainable advantage,” Theau tells GearJunkie. “It’s clear that we need an […]
In Spain, leading meat processor JBS is taking a majority stake in cultured meat startup BioTech Foods. The deal, which marks JBS’s entry into to the lab-grown meat market, is part of a $100 million investment in the sector. Just over $40 million of the funds will be used to construct a 1,000 tons/year cultivated […]
In New York, long-standing natural skincare brand Origins has tapped urban framer/mushroom expert Indy Officinalis as a global influencer partner. Officinalis will help support Origins’ Green the Planet global ecosystem restoration and environmental justice support program, as well as appear in ad campaigns for the brand’s Mega Mushroom and GinZing lines of products. “We are […]
In California, a startup has developed a compostable bioplastic using seaweed as feedstock. Named Sway, the bioplastic is stronger than low-density polyethylene and can be delivered clear or in colors and textures that make it obvious it is based on seaweed. And, unlike the corn-based bioplastics that make up most of the market, Sway’s material […]
In Georgia, two leading bioplastics companies have partnered to support demand for blends of polyhydroxyalkanoate and polylactic acid. Danimer Scientific, Inc. and Total Corbion PLA have signed a long-term arrangement for Total Corbion PLA to supply its Luminy® PLA to Danimer as Danimer works to scale up the commercial production of its Nodax® PHA. Danimer […]
In Taiwan, polyester producer Far Eastern New Century Corp has developed surgical masks using sugarcane bagasse. The new masks have a 60% lower carbon footprint compared to petroleum-based masks, but also cost about three times as much, FENC tells Central News Agency. Nonetheless, interest has been firm, particularly from Japan and Europe. The fibers can […]
In France, designers at Atelier Luma are using salt crystals to produce interior cladding for the eagerly anticipated Arles tower. Over 4,000 glass-like panels—comprised of salt crystals grown on metal mesh using only sunlight and wind—have been installed in the Frank Gehry skyscraper. Henna Burney and Kalijn Sibbel of Atelier Luma, who created the panels, […]
In the UK, researchers have made fully biodegradable glitter that sparkles just as brightly as its persistent plastic predecessor. University of Cambridge scientists used wood pulp, but say other cellulose-rich wastes could be used. The sparkle was achieved by coaxing microscopic surfaces of cellulose to align in such a way that they bend light—thus creating […]
In Virginia, researchers with Virginia Tech developing lab-grown crab meat gained the distinction of being among six recipients of USDA’s first grant pool for cellular agriculture. “Overall we are trying to produce meat without killing animals,” Reza Ovissipour, a food science assistant professor and lead at Virginia Tech’s Future Foods Lab and Cellular Agriculture Initiative, […]
