In Toronto, a designer has launched a Kickstarter to fund production of a biodegradable shoe that, if buried, can be grown into an apple tree. Luc Houle, 33, calls the shoe Johnny—a nod to Johnny Appleseed, who introduced apples to North America in the 1800s. Houle spent seven years designing Johnny from biodegradable materials with […]
In the United Kingdom, research is underway to convert seafood waste into adipic acid, a precursor material for nylon. The consortium includes researchers from the University of Edinburgh, Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre, seafood producer Farne Salmon, and Impact Solutions, an independent plastics laboratory in Scotland. The group has genetically modified bacteria to convert the fatty […]
In Israel, a startup is converting algae into natural fibers and dyes in an effort to combat the heavy environmental cost of the fashion industry. Founded in 2016 by fashion industry veteran Renana Krebs, Algaeing sources its algae from Algatech, another Israeli company that uses solar energy, seaweed, and vertical farming techniques to produce algae. […]
In South Africa, cultivated meat startup Mogale Meat has a bank of more than 500 cell samples from antelope and cattle that it hopes to commercialize into slaughter-free, low-cost protein. However, unlike most lab-grown meat companies targeting beef, pork, and poultry, Mogale Meat wants to create an alternative to the game meats common in local […]
In Brooklyn, Vice Media has offered an in-depth review of various adult toys that are trying to create both pleasure and good “vibes” by incorporating renewable materials. One toy, dubbed Womanizer, uses biolene bioplastic and is fully biodegradable. As for performance, the Womanizer received a rating of four and a half eggplant emojis—losing half an […]
In the United Kingdom, X-Factor and One Direction alum Zayn Malik has released a sunglass collection with Arnette that features biobased acetate frames. Dubbed Zayn x Arnette, the collection consists of five “edgy, yet easy to wear styles” with an emphasis on 90s nostalgia. “I’m very interested in design and the creative elements of […]
In Denmark, Grüezi Bag has introduced a compostable sleeping bag made of 100% natural materials. According to Yanko Design, the bag’s insulation is made from an RDS-certified down and wool material, called DownWool. “In DownWool we combine the good properties of down and wool,” says Grüezi Bag. “All individual parts on the sleeping bag […]
In France, Stella McCartney has featured a bag made out of mushroom leather at the recent Paris Fashion Week. The material, trade named Mylo, was produced by Bolt Threads using mushroom root. Stella McCartney, a UK-based design house that has been a leader in sustainable fashion innovation, has previously displayed tops and pants made from Mylo, […]
In Norway, startup NoMy has raised funds to develop and commercialize fungi-based materials for markets including food, materials, alternative protein and bioplastics. Founded in 2020 and based in Oslo, NoMy says participants in the undisclosed seed funding include We Are Human, TRK, StartupLab Founders and Firda. The fungi is locally produced using no land or […]
In California, primatologist/environmentalist Jane Goodall is narrating a new documentary on cultivated proteins. Called Meat the Future, the film chronicles the technology and market development of Upside Foods, a Berkeley-based foodtech startup targeting cell-based chicken. The film is directed by Liz Marshall, the voice behind other environmental and animal rights documentaries like The Ghosts in […]
